Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15
Andy Bowen Dies From a Knock
Out Blow.
FATAL END OF LAST NIGHTS FIGHT
Lavigne and His Friends in
Custody.
TONIGHT'S AFFAIR Is OFF

him. He never regained consciousness
from the time the blow was landed by
Lavigne in last nights prize fight, and he
was conveyed from his dressing room al
the club to his home on Thal!a street near
Magazine.
The scene at the house this morning was
a mcst pathetic one. DIR. E. d. Martin was
called in at an early hour, and did all that
human skill could do to save the life that
hung In the balance, but to no avail. The
mother Of the pugilist, when he was carried
into the house, predicted that he would
never recover, while his young wife grew
hysterical in her agony.
They sat beside the unconscious man and
wept and prayed as only a woman can, but
1t was of no avail. His eye had looked on
them Tor the last time, and he never open
ed his lips.
Between 2 and o'clock faithful watch
ers stood by the dying pugilist's side, hop
ing that his eyes would give them some
sign of intelligence. Medical science rack
ed its brain In search of a remedy. how
ever violent, that would quicken the pulse
and set the brain to " working. At o'clock
DIR. Finney thought that Bowen had i'm
proved, and at that hour he did not think
that the fight would have a fatal termna-
ton.
In reply to a request from the chief OF
police office. DIR. Ffnney sent a certificate
saying that Bowen was better 1t was a
message Of relief to LavigRe and Duffy
anu the seconds of Lavigne, who had been
arrested when Bowen's condition became
alarming, and who were prayerfully wait
ing to hear that the unconscious pugilist
had come back to life.
The doctors remained With Bowen to the
end, with his wife standing by his bed
side. Just as the hands of the clock were
creeping around TO Z, Mrs. Bowen leaned
over the bed and said: "Oh! Andy say
something to me-" and her ears were
strained n catch
Andy shivered and groaned. his frame
shook, and then. without ever having come
back to consciousness after Lavigne had
landed, he breathed his last, and the recor'l
of tragedy was with IT.
AS soon as Bowen died a handkerchief
was tied gently about his face and a mes
sage was sent 20 the police station over
the nearest telephone notifying that office
OF the death of the pugilist. The police
station, in turn, quickly sent word to the
coroner.
Spread of the News.
A reporter was at the Bowen residence
shortly after Andy bIeathed his last The
news of his death spread with lightning
like rapidity. and in less time than IL has
taken to write this account the intelli-
gense had been communicated to the four
corners of the United States. Crowds i'm
mediately began to congregate about the
Bowen home, and the newspaper men and
lrielluS VI tHe Uedu puSlllSt, with mis- rela-
tiyes, were permitted to view the remains.
The dead man showed signs of the rough
treatment he had received. Those who
saw the fight said that it was not so much
the blow which Lavigne had struck upon
the jaw that was fatal. but the conclusion
produced by his falling upon the flooring of
the ring.
Bowens body lay on its back when a
reporter saw 1t early today, and what
ever wound there was on the back of the
head was not visible. The lips were swol-
len and there was Ii tinge of purple about
him, and his rather large face seemed
somewhat larger than usual, although
there was no strong sign of pain upon 1t.
The features were natural. the mouth part
ly open.
The news of Bowens death was made
known to Lavigne and his party shortly
after 1t had been communicated by tele-
phone to the central station. Lavigne had
been detained at the station with his Sec
ondS and attendants all night and he alept
but little, being anxious every moment to
get tidings from the bedside of the wound
ed pugilist.
What Lavisne Says.
Lavigne was inexprcssibly shocked when
he heard the news of Bowens death and
expressed his profound sympathy. for Bow
ems wife. In answer to a question, he
said that he did not feel that he had been
the direct cause of Sbe death of the pugi-
list, in other words, the blow which he had
delivered ON Bowens jaw had not been
sufficiently forceful to have carried with
1t fatal consequences. He said he believed
that wheG Bowen fell that his head had
struck the pine flooring and that the con-
cussion had been the immediate cause OF
his death. Lavigne was not only sorry for
Bowen's death, but he was in much ap-
prehenson as to what would become of
himself in connection with the fight and
how long 1t was likely that he would be
kept in prison.
Friends assured him that he would prob
ably have no difficulty in obtaining his
release after the usual formalities OF the
law had been complied with. that he need
have no fear of lack of friends and infiu-
ence to help him out of his dilemma.
At o'clock Lavigne and his party were
told to prepare themselves to be taken to
the third precinct station. An affidavit
against all concerned will be made during
the day in the second recorders court.
Tonight's Fight.
Capt. Frank Williams of the Auditorium
was very much cast down over the acci-
dent.
When asked If It would interfere with
tonight's Dempsey-Ryan fight, he said II
certainly would. The club did not intend
to violate any law. and until the unfor-
tunate result of last nights encounter was
fully investigated would 60 no further
with glove contests. The fight was sub
sequently declared off. When asked about
future events he said that he thought 1t
looked very dark for pugilistic events in
this state hereafter.
Lavigne was later admitted to bail in the
sum of 10000. the others 5000 Duffy
the referee, and Spitzfaden weDe the only
ones to furnish bonds.
The Fatal Blow.
When the men faced each other for the
eighteenth round, 1t was apparent that the
end of the fight was near. Bowen had re-
ceived so many hard right handlers over the
heart that he was weakened and groggy
when he left his corner. He was game,
however. and walked mechanically toward
his strong young adversary. Lavigne
opened with a left jab on the neck, and,
although the blow was not particularly
hard one, 1t brought q look of anguish in
the face Of the thoroughly beaten little
man. His mouth was partly open, while
his eyes wore q wild, frightened look. His
cheeks were bruised and swollen. and his
lips were puffed out. The cut over the left
eye was the only color In his pallied face.
His breath was coming in short gasps. and,
after breathing for moment he would
catch his breath.