Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-28

CoSEY ISLAND, Sept. 25.-George
Dixon of Boston is still featherweight
champion pugilist of the world. He
met Solly Smith tonight at the Coney
Island Athletic Club and knocked him
out in the seventh round. Smith prob
ably punished Dixon more than any |
fighter has ever done before; but while |
he hit hard and showed some science, |
he was out-classod by the champion. |
Dixon was wonderfully scientific aud |
used the better generalship. He also |
hit fully as hard as Smith, and was
clever enough to keep away from his |
opponents heavy swings until the time
came to rush matters and put on the
finishing touches.
The largest crowd on record at the
Coney Island Club, fully 5000 persons
being present, went away more than
satisfied. After the fight Smith admitted
he was beaten, and said that Dixon's
terrific blows upon his stomach did the
business more than anything else.
Dixon's left eye was closed and his lips
cut. Smiths body was black and blue,
and there was big lump on his fore
head.
Fred Morris beat Jim Burge in the
preliminary battle of 10 rounds.
A more disagreeable night at this end
OF the earth could scarcely be imagined.
Coney Island has been deserted by the
summer resort public for some time, so
that those sporting gentlemen who
| jumped off the cars at the various rail
road depots tonight found themselves
in the very midst of desolation. There
were no rry-go-rounds, no hand
organs, no concert hall performances,
and very few brace games. Several enter
| prising shell men held sway at SIS
guess outside the big club house, while
the frankfurter vendors and dispensers
of Coney Island beer did thriving
business.
The betting was of the liveliest nature.
A big delegation of Chicago sporting
men, headed by the Ullmans, the we'll
known bookmakers, had corpulent rolls
of greenbacks to place on Smith. They
were quickly accommodated, as the
knowing ones figured on Dixon to be a
sure winner. John Humphries of Cali
fornia laid $1,000 to $4,000 with Phil
Howell, the bookmaker, HUMPHREYS
taking the Smith end. Billy West, the
minstrel, bet 81 200 to $500 on Dixon.
Mike Bradley of East Boston bet 81 900
to $500 on Dixon. Barney Michae!s,
the bookmaker, made two bets of $500
to 5000, taking the colored lads end.
Arthur Moore bet $500 to $500 on the
Boston boy. Joe Ullman bet 81, 300 to
2,750, the former taking the Smith end.
Ed Noel laid $4,000 to s, 500 on Dixon.
Warren Lewis placed 800 to $65 on
the colored boy, while Joe Lewis, Billy
Smiths hacker, put 5000 to $125 on
Dixon. w. A. Brady bet $4,000 to
$4,000 on Smith for California syndi-
cate, and Colonel Hopkins wagered 800
to $75 on Dixon with Proprietor Kraus
of the Imperial Music Hall. Almost
every one in some way or the other
caught the betting fever and the finger
: ing Of greenbacks became general long
before the time for the great battle ar
rived.
In spite of the penetrating rain the
: crowd was immense. The sports came
/ from all directions, and rapidly filled
s the vast amphitheatre to an uncomfOrt
3 able degree. Big money for choice
. boxes and seats was cheerfully passed
Z through the ticket office window, while
> New York's great unwashed seemed
!. highly elated at the privilege of seeing
/ the show off the lofty bleacheries at S;
e head. Nearly every one who claim!
). to be genuine sport was there, from
r Charley Mitchell, Jack McAuliffe, anc
= the heavy bettors and bookmakers
a down To the mixed-ale scrappers an(
n tin.horn gamblers of the Bowery. Then
$ too, were bankers, brokers, lawyers
d doctors, and merchants ranged arount
. the roped platform; every one of then
\ with strange glitter In his eyes tina
y betokened a lingering, longing hop
q that blood might be spilled, and slug
a ology exhibited to It's fullest degrees
Fans, cigars, and black bottles wer
popular. Blue cigar smoke formed
heavy, lowering cloud above the ring
81 while the palm leaves whisked more G
n 1t high among the rafters. The bottle
g were exposed to view constantly, an
ID proved invigorators of the highest dc
Y gree.
d AS early as 7.30 o'clock the majorit
IL OF the seats had been taken. Abou
N this time cheer, rather scattering in il
IS way, announced the arrival OF Tor
ID O'Rourko and his dusky champion
D. George Dixon. They walked throug
he the crowd quietly to the dressing room
le in the ocean end Of the building
~ Dixon's weight was said to be lis
pounds, and the boys admirers prC
claimed him to be in tho very pink {
:, condition.
=, % at l WIN this fight" said he, ~ wi
n. take on Plimmer ~ finish, as | unde
To stand he thinks he can defeat me-"
IN While Dixon had the bulk of syn
ly pathy from the crowd, Solly Smith, th
m 1.-the little California wonder, was nj
IS without admirers. His great hittir
X powers and Champion Corbett's ei
m dorsement of his skill convinced man
ii that ne would be the pugilist to low
Dh Dixon's colors at last. When he entert
Is; the building he was cheered franticall
n, but lie never for an instant showed no
lr. he felt about the matter. He was solem
as judge, though cool as cucumbe
He weighed close to III pounds, al
NO was pronounced by his trainers fit
~ fight Tor his life.
OK Owing to Mick Dunn's illness, il
~ Burge, the "Iron Man." was substitut,
III IL to meet Fred Morris, Madden
sts "Cyclone." They were to fight
,se rounds at catch weights, for purse
nj $500, OF which the loser would recei
~ $780, Burgess seconds were Ste
O'Donnell, Hugh Napier and Ja
Jones, all of Australia. Morris W
handled by Billy Madden, Dan M
nd Ginnis and Prof. Nixey. p. j.. Donah
be was the referee and Bob Stoll the time
M Fred Burns was the master of Gel
the monies. They entered the ring at o.
to o'clock and shock hands 10 minul
later.
THE FIGHT By ROUNDS.
Round /. Both men clinched imme
lal ately and hammered away at ca
Al others ribs. After breaking away Dix