, 1891-02-18
rhe Needhnm-Rrnn EIrhl.

the club room Of the Twin City Athletic
club tonight to witness the much-talked-
OF fight between the welterweights, Dan
ME Needham Of California and Tom Ryan
OF Chicago, for a purse of 81 900. $500 to
the winner, Queensberry rules to a finish.
Needham weighed in at 1874 and Ryan
at 1897. Charles Kemmic and the
Australian. Smith, were Needham's
seconds, while Billy Myer and George
SldGons acted for Ryan. Joe Manuix
was chosen referee. Four ounce gloves
we're u ed. There had been much talk
duriog the day about Needham's hands
being in bad shape and that be would
fight with them in plaster. The Ryan
men strenuously objected TO this, but the
directors OF the club, at a conference Just
before the fight, to the surprise OF every
one, allowed the plaster to go. The men
entered the ring at 9:l5. The betting
then was about even and both appeared
in good condition.
The first round ended m Needham's
favor after a sharp interchange of blows,
with no harm dones Ryan then forced
the fighting. bnt Needham countered
successfully and so the fight went on.
round after round, without any great
apparent damage on either side.
In the fifth Ryan poked his left into
Needham's left eye, partly closing it, and
thereafter persistently tried to disable the
other one, his tactics being evidently to
blind Needham. The latter was guarded,
however. and kept playing for Ryan's
wind. There was much sparring and
msny good blows interchanged. Neelham
devoting most of his fayors to Ryan's
body.
In the twenty-seyenth round Ryan
rushed right and left, getting in three
good blows and driving Needham against
the ropes. Needham at this time, and
for several rounds alter, was not using his
right.
Iu the thirty-frst Needham forced the
fighting aud in a rlinch Ryan tried to
throw him. Needham received a hot
right hand smash. which swelled hrs up
per mp.
la the thirty-fourth Ryan opened with
an awful right, which sent Needham to
the ropes. The latter her began using
his right again freely and there was some
vicious fighting.
In the thirty-fhh and t~hirty-sixth
Ryan got in two more good smashes on
Needbam's ribs, but without doing much
apparent damage.
In the thirty-seventh the fighting was
fast and furious, but ended 10 Ryan's favor.
Needham's face showed evidence of
severe punishment, but both men. aside
from that, appeared in good shape. So
1t went on, many blows being exchanged
without visible results. zach taking turns
a.. -..k..u A. H. r.t.l H. EE,,- .o.,-l
when Ryan rushed Needham to the ropes
without effect and narrowly escaped a
Knockout blow, getting two good smashes
in the neck. Up to this time the sport
ing men pronounced the fight one of the
most scientific ever seen. Not a foul had
been hit or claimed.
At the end of the sixtieth round, at
I:30 a. M, the referee announced that he
understood the fight was to be to a finish,
aud that he would make the men fight.
This stirred up the audience and a bet of
800 that Ryan wins found no takers at
even odds. The men resumed fighting
with vigor. Up to this time Ryan didn't
show a mark of punishment.
At 800 a. m. President Harris of Twin
City club announced his intention of
making the men fight to a finish. Up to
this time seventy-three rounds had been
fought and the men were simply walking
around each other.
In the seventy-fourth round Needham
forced the fighting, but did little damage.
He got 10 a smash on Ryan's face and
Ryan returned it, almost scoring a knock
down.
In the seventy-ffth h fighting was
hot and fast, and Ryan scored first blood.
The audience went wild. Desperate in
fighting followed.
In the seventy-sixth Ryan knocked
Needham down with his LETT. A clincL.,
and Needham went down again. RYAN
then upper-cut with his right and left.
knocking Needham down repeatedly, and
only the call Of time saved MIN from be-
ing knocked out. As it was he was car
ried to his corner IN a dazcd condition.
Before time was called again his seconds
threw MP the sponge. Ryau's admirers
went wild and as the audience dispersed
were hugglng and tossing him.