The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-28
AT THE RING SIDE.
Topeka Sports Engineer and Wit
ness q Prize Fight.
BRADSHAW AND LYNCH, PRINCIPALS.

~--O -
County
The announcement-in sporting circles
only-that there would be 'tglove con-
test'' to a finish Sunday between Fran nix
Bradshaw Of Topeka, champion light
weight Of Kansas, and Jack Lynch OF
Philadelphia, champion lightweight of
Pennsylvania, certainly produced the ex-
element calculated among the most elite
of the dead games of the city. Satur-
day evening the number Of persons that
were dead sure going would have been
counted by the hundreds, but when 1t
came to a showdown and a question of
ready money for trans pOrtatiOn and adj
mission an overwhelming majority of the
enthusiasts concluded it was going to be
a fake anyway, and they wouldn't 60.
But the contest came off just the same,
and Bradshaw won after a game fight of
eight rounds.
A special train had been engaged and
was awaiting the pleasure Of the crowd
at the Missouri Pacific depot at eight
o'clock Sunday morning. 1t was under
stood that the gate charge would be 81,
and that the fare to the selected ground
one mile south of Swissvale, would be
sixty cents for the round trip, but the
railroad company insisted upon ad-
vance payment of SO in cash for the
train of two coaches, and the sports were
compelled to "dig up" again. As there
were only about thirty eight on board
who were not in some important way con-
nected with the affair, the additional
amount extracted from each individual
reached the neighborhood of %. Of
course there was kicking at this, but
Dangerous Pete" as he prefers TO be
handled, his right name being too con-
spicuOus. had the collection matter in
hand, and before ten o'clock the greed of
the railroad was satisfied and the train
was of.
After a ride of twenty-one miles,
which was covered in about fifty minutes,
the train stopped at a crossing just be-
yOnd SwissvaIe and the exPectant crowd
a!ighted and followed winding path up
hill through the woods until it came to
the battle ground which was pleasantly
situated in a patch sof timber that af-
forded good shade for all and plenty Of
gallery room for those who cared to
climb to it. Here more time was con-
sumed in extracting anything that could
be obtained from the thirty or forty agri-
culturIsts who had assem- bled to see the
fun The ground had been cleared the
previous day and the twenty-four foot
ring was all ready.
The Principals In the Fight.
The dramatis persona had been ar
ranged beforehand Johnnie Van Heest.
of Philadelphia, light weight champion
of America, was to do the coaching for
Lynch, and Billy Maxted, of Lawrence,
who sometimes puts on gloves himself
was the bOttleholder. Over in Brad
shaw's corner the second was George Rid
ley and Joe Smith held the bottle. johnny
Madoulet was the referee. The fight
was to be governed by the MARQUIS of
Queensberry rules and with four ounce
gloves.
As the time approached the Topeka
ruan seemed little nervous. He had an
idea that Lynch was Pearson, the famous
Philadelphia fighter, "under cover and
that he was to be 'sInade monkey of, ''as
the expression is. On the other hand
Lynch laughed and chatted easily and
carried his good humOr all through the
game, often making humorous remarks
to his opponent who did not always dis
play the same happy gaiety in replying
TO them With the exception of the
seventh round Bradshaw was on the ag-
gressive and the visitor seemed to prefer
running and dropping to active argu-
menc
At exactly 11:27 the contestants were
called to the center of the ring and after
shaking hands received their instructions
from the referee and Van Hest Both
men we're IN good condition and the
spectators looked forward to a lively
fight and were not disappointed Brad
shaw is 21 years old and weighs 119
pounds. He wore in the ring nothing
but his shoes and stockings and a very
much curtailed pair Of trunks. Lynch Is
year younger but weighs ten pounds
more and besides raiment exactly similar
~ DAadSndW > ne wore porous plaster.
Inc nght was soon to begin and decide
who should have three fourths and one
fourth Of the 500 purse which Danger
Gus Pete" guarded so iealously.
Time Is Called
At 11:2S the crisis had arrived and
both men sprang jauntily to the center
of the ring. Bradshaw was the aggres-
sor from the first and Lynch seemed
willing that he should be. After sew
eral moments Of feinting and dodg-
ing, Bradshaw landed lightly with his |
right on Lynch's neck. Both men then
landed and soon Bradshaw reached
Lynch with one on the BODY that made
MIN touch the dust but he was up in a
moment and at it again. Once again
Lynch went to his hand and knee, and
was up again and spArring. Time.
Round The men came together in |
the same light hearted wav. and after |
dancing around each other for a few /
moments. Bradshaw reached Lynch's |
body with his right, aud Lynch went
down mostly OF his own accord Brad
shaw retreated, and as Lynch came up |
made a rush and they clinched The
referee separated them. and after little |
n-nghtlng, Lynch went down again. As /
soon as he was on his feet the gloves re-
sumed their work, and soon there was |
another fall TO the Topeka mans credit. !
and time was called.
Round 3-The gladiators were as fresh |
as ever though Bradshaw's face showed /
an increased determination and Lynch's /
smile was little more sarcastic There |
was very little fOolishness when this 1
round began and Bradshaw immediately /
ieit Tor Lynch's stomach, but it wasn't /
there. This did not discouraCe him |
however, and he soon put a neat right /
handler against Lynch's neck that helped |
him to the ground. While Lynch was