The morning call., 1892-12-30
A FOUL FIGHTER.
How SoIly Smith Whipped Johnny
Van fieeSt

head.
The occasion was a fstie contest to a
finish between the featheI-weigbts SOily
Smith of Los Angeles and Johnny Van
Heest of Wisconsin.
The crowd expected to see 6 hurricane
battle and they were not disappointed.
Il was more than a hurricane as the con-
test was fought under London prize-ring
rules, excepting that the contestants wore
gloves. The referee, Billy Jordan, seemed
perfectly satisfied to please the club mem
bers and some friends and by so doing he
allowed all kinds OF fouls 10 &c.
The fight was brought to a sudden ter-
mination in the fourteenth round by the
defeat of Van Heest, who, after receiving q
ieft-hand smash in the neck, was thrown
foTeiby on his back his skull hitting the
floor.
1t was $50 when the pugilists put up their
/ dukes. They scaled us pounds and both
were IN splendid trim. Van Hsest was
looked after by Danny Needham, Jack
Hicks and Billy Daey. Smith was esquired
by San Fitzpatrick anu his brother The
betting favored Van Heest ii $50 to SIC.
IAN HeeSt, who is smaller by a few
inches IN stature than his opponent,
crOuched like leopard and attempted 10
draw Smith 10 HIM by peculiar way he
a good chance to use his left and, sending
that member out. the glove Landed lightly
on Van heests chest. Like flash Smith
shot out his right and the blow went over ths
Wisconsin lads head.
ln the attempt 70 get away from Smith,
Van Heesf stumbled and the Los Angeles
lad went spraNllng over him. Smith
iuugeo again and missed. 1t was now Ndn
! Hees~s turn to Try for a point and, swing
ing his left az Smiths neck, he uvershOt
ne 1gd ha oil
nIshed by gore. Smith scored isft on the
Eastern mans chest just as the gong
sounded
In the second round Smith stopped Van
deeSt by poke IN the mouth. The latter
tried the left swing again and missed. The
Los Angeles champion p.a eQ hs left on his
opponents mouth, and missing another left
drive at Van Heesi he pivoted quickly and
caught tie latter on the head with the right.
v an was seemingly puzzled at Smiths
way OF hghIlng, and came TO the conclusion
that 10 win he must mix things ap some.
AS Smith was III the act Of maxim. one of
his southern country Tushes the WISCONSIN
| lad caught him fairly this time with.a left
! swing Cd tile left eye. which dazed tae
receiver, Smith was back at his quarry in
an instant. and as his right fst few over
Van Heesi's head the latter slipped and fell
under the ropes on his face
The third round was as hot as two men
/ eould make IL Smith dashed at bis op-
] pDnens as il be Intended To knock his head
OF his shoulders. Van Heest dueked and
Smith ran his stomach bang against the
formers hsad. There was clinch and
Smith took q sharp twist on Van Heest's
neck. Another rush and clinch. Then.
both swung lefts and missed.
Smith was at this luncture fighting like q
wild man and smashing al his opponent
with right and left He upper cut Van
Heest near the ropes as the latter had his
head bent. but tile blow was too high on
the forehead 10 be effective. Van uueked;
away from tie corner, and as Smith was IN
the act OF chasing him he. turned quickly
and swinging his left, caught Smith bad
smash on the nose. Again Smith charged
and IN the rally Van Heest went down, with
Smith OF top.
Wten the Eastern lad got on his pins his.
I mouth was bleeding. Smith continued to
force the pace and Van HeeSt had all he
c0nld do t. keep away from the several
right and left hand swings that were in
tended for his Jaw. The Eastern man went
20 the floor several times, and both were
fighting hard IN Van Hesst's corner when
the gong sounded,
The fcnrlh round was another hurricane,
and m II Smith showed his foul style of
fighting by showing has opponent down
whenever az opportunity offered Van
Heest missed several left swings al Smith s.
mouth. any OF which might have endsd the
fight had they landed
The Eastern man gauged his blows badly.
and, as consequence, ne received most
pNUtSiintHEs as OulltI never lei uU smash
Ing pace from start 10 finish of rOuud As
the terTlhcalsy fought round was drawing
10 = close Van Heest made desperate
lunge al Smith, aud, missing his mark,
Smith struck back quickly and landed
heavily on has opponents mouth and nose
The blow staggered Van and Smith in
creased his pace By sending IN rights and
iefts as last as they.cOuld 70. IL was very
exciting now and every one looked TO see
Van Heest done-np brown, when the latter
Nd
the msnlh The belt finished the most ex-
citing three minutes baItle that has been
seen in the clubs for long time.
Smith came to the scratch as strong as an
OK for the fifth round. which was repeti-
ton OF The former round. Smith used the
foulest ef tactics he was nut satisfied ia
having knocked the senses almost out of
his opponents head by throwing him.
bodily to the floor, but when Vun Heest
was down he tSmthl frequently ran his
knees into the dOwned mans neck and face
The referee considered that tnis order of
/ battle was perfectly right and did not
attempt to reprimand the aggressor.
Smith had all the best OF the round. as
] Van Dfest was completely Gverpewered and
uaZrC by repeated falls. When clinched,
Instead of breaking away, Smith would
either hiHg Nah Heest to the floor or push
him down and then sit on his face IL ne
e0uid not use his knees. The London prize
ring fighting was Knocked IN the shade BIZ
| Smith.
Smith. who was BY long odds the stronger
man OF the two, made an0ther desperate
attempt to finish Van Heest in the sixth
round, and was having all the best of the
play until a few seconds before the gong
sounded, when Van Heest. lust after hav-.
Ing rally ~ ms own corner, turned quickly
and deait smith fearful right hand smash
on the nose, breaking that member and
sending the receiver un his knees.
smith got up IL n very dizzy way and Van
Heest was rushing at him, when the time
bell saved Smith.
The seventh and eighth rounds were
hard fought and both men received hard
smashes. but IL was noticed that il Smith
was allowed 30 wrestle with his opponent it
would be only q question of a few more
rounds when Van Heesi's skull would give
way.
In the ninth and tenth Smith rested. In
the eleventh he challenged Van Heest 10
act the sggressor, and the latter feInsing
with ms left swung his right on Smiths
neck. The same old story WAS again re-
pcated. Smith was fliRging his opponent,
and the referee standing by-notwithstand- d.
lEg That every one was shouting "feui"-
and Jailed to caution the unfair fighter.
The contest was brought 10 a close in the
fourteenth round. In a rally Van Heest
got left jab in the neck and was then
showed down. His head struck heavily on
the floor ana there he remained until
counted ont.
The referee WIS delighted in having the
honor OF pronouneing Smith the winner
There was very little flair field and no
iayor" Tor Van Heest in this match.
A portrait of Grover Cleveland. taken by
Felix Moscheies seven years age. is on exhi-
-, - o.