The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-04
IN TWENTY-FIVE ROUNDS
jim BURNS FACES TOM ROBERTS
IN THE PRIZE RING.


Round and he Fights the succeed
ing Twenty Rounds one-handed.
TIE Fight Declared Draw After
Ons Hour and Forty Minutes-The
Dstails of the Nil and How 1t Was
Witnessed.
A 25-round draw prize mill was fought
yesterday afternoon at the Forest City Gun
Clubs grounds on Hutchinson's Island, be-
tween Jim Burns of New York and Tom
Roberts Of London. England.
Four-ounce gloves were used, and the
fight lasted hour and 40 minutes. 1t was
conducted under Marquis of Queensbury
rules in a 24-foot ring.
The rounds were Of three minutes dura-
ton, with three minutes intermission.
The fight was arranged during Merchants
week by local sports, but was kept exceed
ingiy quiet for fear Of police interference.
About 200 people purchased tickets at 81
apiece and were rowed across the river yes
terday afternoon and stood for nearly two
hours in the hot sun, with the temperature
averaging 100, to witness the mill.
START OF THE FIGHT.
The principals entered the ring at 1915
prime condition. Time was called five
minutes later aud both men shook hands and
went at it. Honors were about evenly
divided up to the fifth round, although
Burns showed more skill than his opponent
He forced Roberts to the ropes several times,
but did not succeed in knocking him down
Both began rushing in the
blows were passed. Finally Burns gave
Roberts terrific right handler on the chin
that sent him t. the ground like log. He
got up quickly and gamely faced his antag-
onist, only to be sent back TO earth with a
similar blow. The last effort, however dis
located Burns wrist and when time was
called for the sixth round he went into the
ring practically a one>handed man.
FOUGHT WITH A BROKEN WRIST.
Roberts, realizing that his opponent
was disabled, rushed him for all he was
worth, and Burns for the next twenty
rounds had TO act on the defensive. He held
his own in a manner which showed that he
was not stranger to the ring, and with his
one hand forced Roberts to the rope and
came very near knocking him down on sew
eral occasions.
Up to the fifteenth round the fight was
of the gamest kind, and both men received
severe punishment. After that they began
TO show signs of exhaustion, and when the
twenty-ffth round was concluded the
Judges ordered the fight stopped and de-
clared draw.
A TERRIFIC FIGHT.
The fight was full of exciting events, and
had it not been for the fact Of Burns dislo-
eating his wrist in the fifth round he would
have put Roberts to sleep within the next
two. AS 1t was he more than held his own
aud kept from being knocked down, al
though Roberts made repeated attempts to
accomplish this result. He made terrific
rushes at his injured opponent, but was
met and parried each time.
The fight was one of the gamest that
ever occurred. Roberts claims to be the
amateur heavy W eight champion OF Eng
land and is good fighter, but he lacks the
science and hard-hitting qualities of Burns,
and the only thing which saved England's
representative from being defeated was the
lnJuring Of the yankees wrist. Both men
presented q badly battered appearance after
the fight, and Roberts face and breast
looked as If a brick house had fallen on him.
Burns face also hooked as If it had gone
through peeling process.
COMPLIMENTARY AFFAIR.
The fight was termed a complimentary
affair, and was for the gate receipts and
purse made up by the spectators, among
whom were many business men. All tick
cts were stamped complimentary, and were
presented to responsible parties for the con-
Il
The fight was first arranged to take place
over Bryan street saloon, but was after
ward changed for fear Of the police, and
none but the managers knew where il
would take place until yesterday.
The purchasers Of "Complimentaries'
were told TO walk down either Bull, Whit
aker or Barnard streets to Bay, and they
would see man standing at each corner
with red bandana in his hand. The
bandana man would notify the parties
where the fight was to take place and give
their instructions how to get there.
The sign-boards were on hand at the cor
ners mentioned on time, and those who were
not in 1t remarked that they had an unusual
number Of friends from the way folks
stopped to chat with them 1t was also no.
uced particularly that after the brief con-
versatlon the people would go under the
bluH, but the outsiders never had any idea
OF what the business meant.
GOING TO THE FIGHT.
Row boats were waiting at the market
dock. and as fast IS they were filled IN with
people the negro boatmen would ferry them
across the river and return for others. the
15g<roes made a considerable amount of
nioney, as they charged 10 cents for each in @,
dividual for the round trip.
An amusing incident happened at the
close of the ninth round. Two negro BOYS
came running through the bushes yelling
police" and the principals, seconds.
referees, judges, bottle holders and specta
:ors made grand rush to escape.
Many jumped into the bitches and
ruined their Sunday clothes, while
Others hid in the blackberry
bushes, scratching their faces and hands.
and tearing their clothing. The alarm was
soon found to be false, and the crowd started
back to the ring. Much to their surprise
the youngsters who had raised the alarm
were seen sparring inside the ropes. The
boys evidently started the scare for the
purpose of getting an opportunity of trying
the manly art in prize ring They were
driven off and the fight was resumed with
out further interference.
PRETTY WELL BRUISED.
Both men were brought over to the CITY
and taken to their boarding houses. where
their injuries were dressed. They will
probably not be able to get around for
several days. The news of the fight spread
rapidly, aud last night it was the priucipal
topic Of conversation on the streets and
around the hotels. 1t is said that another
fight will take place at on early dav be-
tween Burns and Roberts to decide the
draw.
Solicitor General Fraser was asked by a
MORNING News reporter if he would take
any cognizance of the affair He replied
that there was no law in Georgia against
Cob nd