The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-16
TWELVE ROUNDS.
ChiIdS Lowers the COlOrS
of Billy Smith.
A Nights Fistic Sport at the CaIifOr-
MIA Club Which Pleased the
Spectators.

many hard battles in this city, was de-
feated in twelve rounds after most des-
perate battle by Frank Childs, the heavy
weight of Los Angeles.
1t will be remembered that Childs
whipped Soldier Walker in the Pastime
Club not very many weeks ago In short
order
The colored pugilist made such very
poor impression upon the spectators that II
was generally thought that matching him
against Billy Smith was a most foolish
idea.
The betting yesterday proved conelu-
sively that Childs had very few supporters,
and only those who had strong confidence
In his powers yentured 81 in the box as
against $50 on the Australian.
The general suppositiOn was that Smith
had cinch, and would bowl over ChIlds in
few rounds.
The unexpected happened. however, on
this occasion, and Smith was the most sur
prised man of the many who fell by the
side of the poo-box.
There have been some great fights in this
city In the past five years. but the one OF
last night was the most exciting.
From the clash of the bell, which sent the
pugilists to action. until the referee an
nounced Childs the victor, there was no lei
up to the order Of battle.
| 1t was # bangi with rights and lefts
and only the men who had invested golden
! eagles on the Australians proves felt dis
| posed to grOwl at the contest which, OF
! course, did not please them.
Smith was so confident of winning the
| long end Of the purse that be positively re-
! fused TO enter the ring when ordered TO do
! so by the athletic committee until measures
! were taken guaranteeing him the purse in
| case we proved the successful competitor.
Smith was Informed that the club was in
a bad condition financially and that his
money might possibly be tied UP in lltiga-
ton on the day following the fight; hence
! the kick" he made to secure himself
against any possible trouble.
! Childs. on the other hand. was perfectly
| satisfied that the club would act an honor
able part by him, and he entered the ring
when ordered to do so.
He was fully twenty minutes at his post
! before Smith put in an appearance with his
seconds, Patsy Hogan, Frank Allen and
| Charles Connolly.
Chlds, who sat as meek as a lamb in the
| northeast corner Of the ring facing his oppO-
nent. was esquired by Harris Martin. ''the
| Black Pearl" aud Joe Cotton, the cele-
| brated kaoeker-out of San Bernardno. He
scaled 10 pounds and Smith 10 pounds.
The latter appeared much the stronger
man, notwithstanding that he vas slightly
handicapped in weight.
When Referee Paddy Ryan waved his
hand at the official CLOCK man and said
shake hands" Chiids leaped from his
chair as nimbly as a California lynx, and
with an Outstretched glove he met Smith in
the center OF the ring. The latter refused
to shake hands and mutiered something
which sounded like III not shake with
/ any black man."
Childs smiled and Winked his left pepper
/ as much,,as to say. All right, Mr. white man,
| you will be glad to prefer NE your mauley
! when We have finished this little dispute.
! The first round was as the spectators eX-
! pected, lot one. There was no fiddling or
/ sizing up CT each other as is the general
| custom. Smith shot out his left and
| Chllds did the same. Both scored on the
| face. Chids executed few fancy moves
| on his teet, and dashed at Smith in man
ner that took he Australian by surprise.
Right and left hits were planted on
| Smiths mug, and as Childs warmed up 10
| bis work Smith laid back looking for q
! chance to cross the cOlOred man with his
| right, but the opportunity did not come,
| and Smith finally had 10 fight back as best he
! could. He put In few stiff rights in Chllds'
! stomach, but tire latter did not seem to
notice them. as he kept up a hot fire Al
/ Smiths neck and face. The round was all
in favor of Chlds.
The second round was very exciting.
/ After Childs had scored a few good smashes
/ on Smiths face the latter grew angry and
challenged Childs to a rally. Smith made
! ChIlds' stomach the objective point
| of attack, and while be was engaged
| in punching Il with right-handers.
Childs was warming Smiths neck and
| face with rights and iefts, which came very
! speedily from the shoulder. 1t was give
and take until the rally ended when Smith
! fell TO the floor from the effects of right
| hand punch on the point oflthe chin. He was
UP In a few seconds and had just begun
| the smashing engagement when the gong
| sounded.
The third round was even more wlckedly
contested than the previous one. Smith was
! very angry aud went at Chllds determined
| to put him to sleep without further cere-
mony. Childs anticipating what was
| coming met Smith In the center OF the ring
| and then they had it.
1t was the hardest fighting that has been
witnessed in club for years. Smith actu-
| ally raised Childs from the floor with heavy
right-hand punches in the side and stomach.
ana, after two minutes of give and take,
Chiids had Smiths left eye Ia mourning.
The fighting was so fast and furious that
every one expected TO see the end come at
any moment
When the fourth round was called the
spectators expected to see the fighters take
a breatbing-s spell, and again they were dis
| appointed.
Smith, stung by the thought of having to
| suffer defeat by colored pugilist of little
note, made another desperate attempt to
| bore hole in Chids' stomach, but while
he was engaged in this practice Childs was
planting several heavy right and left punches
| on the Australians mug. As the desperate
rally was drawing TO a close Childs smashed
| Smith heavy right-hand punch In the lett
eye, which staggered the white man.
Following up his advantage Childs tried
IN. AMI mil N Cln md n h., .
! to deliver another right he slipped and fell
on his knees. This was the only time dur
| ing the contest that Childs went to the car
pet. He was up in iiffy and was smash
| ing at Smith when time was called.
After this round there was a rush of
! sports who had bet on Smith to the street.
where they expected to hedge by betting on
| Childs.
In the fifth round Childs came mp to the
| scratch as fresh as a daisy and began to
! dance Southern country hornpipe in front
| Of his opponent
! Childs suddenly quit his dancing tactics and
as quick as n fash he planted his right on
! Smiths Dl00d-cOvered mouth. This was
followed by another desperate rally at close
range, from which Childs came out best
| man.
Smith was bleeding freely at the mouth
and looked very distressed. Childs ducked
away beautifully at the end OF the round
from right-handers at his neck, any Of
which would have knocked him down had
they hit the mark. He proved much
| quicker On his pins than Smith. who is a
rather clumsy fighter
Childs had the pest Of the In-fghting of
| the sixth and seventh rounds, and in the
eighth he came very near finishing the Aus
| tralan. Smith was knocked down three
| times and went to his corner very groggy.
In the eleventh round Smith was foored
four times, and only his indomitaDle cour-
age kept him on deck so to speak, until tile
! gong sounded.
In The twelfth, after a hot engagement,
| Chlids caught Smith swinging left-hander
! in the pit Of the stomach which doubled up
the Australian like a jaekknife. Childs
saw The effect OF his blow Immediately and
rushing at his quarry he banged Smith four
| lefts In the mouth and the latter fell under