The morning call., 1892-08-21
THE TERRIBLE SWEDE."
Max Fenner, the Boxer and
Wrestler, is Probably Dying.
a Result of Brutal Fight in -Four Rounds
With a Soldier Named Ripgy at the
Exhibition of the Phenix Club.
The ''terrIble swede," Max Feuner, wrest-

Inc Terrible SNeue, Max Eenner, wre5t-
Ter and pugilist. lies dying at the house of
Henry Wedekind. $40 Chestnut street, from
injuries received in prize fight at the Phe-
nix Club last Wednesday night, when he
was knocked out in four rounds by William
Ripgy, a private in Company II, First In
fantry. United States army.
The Phoenix Club was formerly the
Golden Gate Club. later the Pastime Club,
but is the same club in which the waiter
La Rue was killed in 1istic combat by a
brother waiter named Mcintyre some two
years ago. and it has always been noted as
place where the most vicious and brutal
combats were allowed in the ring.
The fight Of last Wednesday night was
no exception TO the rule. Fenner. who has
long been noted for his tremendous strength
and bulldog pTopensites when contesting
either as a wrestler or pugilist, boasted be-
fore he went into the ring, that he would
beat Ripgy to DEATH" and there was a
crowd present that wanted TO see him do il.
That Fenner was willing TO keep his word
there is no doubt, but i'll Rlpgy, who fought
under the name of Billy Allen, he met more
than his match and in all probability was
beaten to death.
The frs; two rounds of the fight we re
very fierce, but 1t was not until the third
round that the soldier punished Fenner
severely. In this round he knocked 1.-THE
terrible Swede" through the ropes, and in
the fourth round he beat the Swede when
the latter was hanging on the ropes of the
ring until he dropped to the floor uncon-
Scious.
Professor Frank Allen, formerly an in
structor of the California Athletic Club,
was the referee of the contest.
FENNER UNCONSCIOUS.
After the knockout Fenner lay uncon-
scious for more than half an hour, and it
was with great difficulty he could be reused
| sufficiently TO be put in hack and sent TO
the house of friend. Fred Byers, at &c
| RiIch street Once there Fenner was put TO
| bed and nursed alternately by an American
| girl and Swedish girl, both of whom are
| said to be his sweethearts.
On Thursday Fenner reused up little,
| but when conscious complained OF terrible
| pains in his head. but no physician was
| called in to see him. All day Friday he re-
manned in a semi-consciouS condition, and
yesterday morning he began TO grow rapidly
! worse.
| About II As o'clock Saturday morning DIR.
| w. j. Hawkins of 404 Third street was
summoned to attend the man. He found
| Fenner in precarious condition, and al
| once asked how he had received the injuries
| from which he was suffering. Fenner him.
| self was unable to answer. but some of the
/ people present volunteered the statement
| that he had fallen on the floor and hit his
| leye and when he declined to take charge
| of the case unless facts were told him he
| learned the truth.
The doctor also learned that there was
| quarrel In progress between the two
| sweethearts of the disabled fighter as TO
| which one of them should take care of him.
| and he at once decided that il Fenner was
| to get we'll he must be removed TO Some
| place where neither of the girls could see
him. Mrs. Weekend. with whose husband
/ -.
wagon for the Philadelphia brewery, agreed
! to take care of the sick man, and Fenner
was placed in hack and, accompanied by
! the doctor. driven to her house.
The moving seemed to revive Fenner, bat
| once more in bed he began to sink, and his
| condition became so alarming that DIR.
| Hawkins thought best TO notify the police
| of the case. Calling on Chief Crowley the
| physician stated the facts, and an officer
was sent TO the Presidio at once with q
warrant OF arrest for Private Rpgy.
RIPGY ARRESTED.
Ripgy was brought 10 the Central station
| little after 9 o'clock last night and placed
| for the time being In the prison hospital.
| He is q splendid S eeimen of physical man
! hood and looks as little as prize fighter AS
can be imagined. He took his arrest coolly
and talked freely Of his part in the affair Of
| Wednesday night.
IT'S not my fault" he said, 'if Fenner
dies, but the fault of his seconds In the
| third round OF the fight / rushed Fenner
| and uppercut him twice with my right. The
second time l hit him l knocked him
| through the ropes. His seconds Eadn't
| from the ring, and In falling lie
| struck the back Of his head on the bottom
| of the chair. i suppose that is the way he
| got hurt. but / couldn't help 1t. 1t was a
| lo-round 60 and knockout for one of US.
| l am very, very sorry. but do not see how
| j ain TO be blamed, whatever may be the re-
| suit. / hope he will pull through all right"
About midnight last night DR.. Hawkins
1 returned from his third visit to Fenner.
having taken brother physician with him
| for consultation. He has allowed no one
| but the nurses to see the sick man since his
removal to Mrs. Wedekind's, and will allow
| no visitors.
II consider Fenner in a very dangerous
condition." said Dr. Hawkins, ''and thin <
the chances are against his recovery. He
| is suffering from conclusion of the brain,
| and 1t may be fracture OF the skull as we'll
| We shaved his head and examined ii to.
night and found many Jumps and old scars,
evidently received in previous encounters
or even swollen and 1t 10 quite possible that
in one of the falls he got on Wednesday
| night last he reOpened an old wound or
struck some portion of the skull that had
been before broken. l will make more
| thorough examination tomorrow, and will
| / hope, be able to tell definitely the extent
of the injuries. All can say is that Fennel
is in a very bad fix"
At the Phoenix Club the most intense sur.
| prise was manifested over Fenner's liniu.
ries, and TO listen to the stories told by
| those who witnessed the fight, it was merely
a most ordinary set-to. notwithstanding rhG
| Swede was knocked through the ropes anC
then knocked out and remained uncon
scieus for half an hour.
Ripay will be held 10 await the result o
Fenner's injuries.
NEW WORK EnR WnMrN