Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-03-03
BorH FOUGHT sAVAGELY.

Russell Forced the Fighting and
Badly Punished Moore-The Men
= Were Separated by the Police.
BIRNrNaHAM, March 2.-The Sterling
opera house was crowded to the doors to-
night with sports from all parts of the
state who assembled to see the twenty
round fight between Danny Russell of
Bridgeport and Frank Moore, also of that
city, for q purse of $500 and side bets
amounting to several thousand. The fight
was held under the auspices of the Anso-
mia Athletic club, and the evenings e1hi-
bition Of pugilistic science was rounded
out with another battle between Oliver
Brusson Of. Boston and John Nelson of
Waterbury. z@h~. -
This fight was to be to a finish for, a
purse of 5000 and aide te It's, 50 large num-,
Ger of Waterbury town officials csmed own
with the delegation from that city, and the
parties from Bridgeport and Ansonia also
included many public men and well known
citizens. A large force of police was In
attendance. p.
The fight between Brusson and Nelson
was first on the program, but It afforded
the sports but little chance to become
enthusiastic, and with the exception of
two or three rounds was very tame. But
little hard hitting was done, and the men
faced each other for twenty-five rounds be-
fore the referee decided to call the fight
draw.
The spectators were evidently glad to
see It over, and cheered loudly when the
RusselleMoore ego. wasannounoed. Rus
sell seemed to be the favorite, the betting
being 10 to z In his favor before the fight.
When the fighters were called, however. q
long tedious wrangle which disguised
everyone followed. Both men were in the
pink of condition and seemed anxious for
the fray. Russell was weighed and tipped
the scales at 100 pounds. -.
Moore refused to 60 on the scales, eayiDg
there had been no agreement about weigh
ing at the ringsfde and claimed that they
had agreed to weigh at O'Clock. Russell
said he would not enter the ring unless
Moore was weighed then and there. For
over an hour the men wrangled while the
crowd shouted and Missed in turn. Rus
sell was finally induced by his friends to
go'in, and at 1855 the fighters stepped
over the ropes. Russell weighed 100 while
his opponent was about three pounds over
weight. -.
In Russslps corner Ike Williams and
Mike Gillespie, both of Bridgeport, ofiioi-
ated as seconds; Charles Norwon of New.
| ark, N. j., aud Harry Lane Of Bridgeport
| fulfilled similar duties for Moore. D. j
Delany and G. F. O'Briep, both of the An
sonia Athletic club, acted as referes ant
time keeper, respectively.
From the very start the fight was savag,
and hard and had 1t been allowed to CON
tinue both men must have been badly usei
| up IN short time. Russell showed him
self to be the better man early In the con
test, although Moore fought him he1cel,
In the first three rounds. Each round the
excitement grew more intense, and whel
the oHlcers ste pped into the ring and stop
ped 1t at the end of the fifth round tn,
crowd was bowling with delight.
In the fifth round Russell forced tn
fighting and crowded Moore to the rope
again and again. There were frequen
clinches, the referee being called upon 3
interfere several times. Russell landed o.
Moore's jaw, clinched, and - they sepal
ated Russell landed his left on Moore's nee
and then followed with his right on Moore
stomach. He rushed his man to the rope
again and landed two more heavy blow
when Chief of Police Nolan, Warden Sull
van, Officer futile and Deputy Sheri
johnson pushed their way onto the stag
and pulled the men apart. They Al
nounced that If the fight was continued a
| present would be prosecuted If poseibl,
and the chief commanded the fight to
ended.
The referee announced that he woul
i mais public his decision tomorrow an
the fighters and spectators left the hall.