The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-22
PRIZE FIGHTS.
a Mot@ Crowd Witnessed the Disgust
ing Exhibition at az Church Strent

a MotH Crowd Witnessed the Disgust
ing Exhibition at 80 Church Street.
Several days ago young white man
called ut HE VIRGINIAN office and re-
quested the publication of II news brief
OF glove fight at SO Church street.
between negro aud white man. The
request was politely refused with the
statement that The VInGISIAS would
not encourage AL exhibition so de-
moralizing aud degrading,
well, said the agent OF the mana.
ger, these men are the champions and
the white mau is willing to fight tho
| negro. lie is no better than the negro
aud If he Is willing L do not see why
you should object"
This pnper is opposed to such
lights aud Will not encourage people to
go to such dives"
Inc performance came of last night
us advertised and The V1RGlNIAS's man
who paid his way was present and the
exhibition was equally as disgusting as
anticipated. Talking about color line,
there WINS mono there, white man tipht.
ing negro for tho amusement OF ali an.
dlence composed of merchants, sports.
TIL horn gamblers aud toughs and n
sprlnkiing of newspaper men who had
contributed 50 cents each to see the
fun.
The affair took place in back room
OF the building formerly known as the
tentress Concert Garden. The fight
was upon the bare floor and the
audience stood while witnessing the
mill. The purses were the receipts of
the evening which will be used To de.
Tray the expenses of trip TO Balti.
moro where Jack Smith, the white man,
aud Boston Boy, jes black son of
Ham, expect to make reputation in a
real fight.
Alter long wait, at $3.50 the first
contest was announced, winch was To
oe between "Ai --, of Baltimore,
horseshoer by profession, and II
'scrupper' with auburn hair. 1t was
TO DE Tor SIX rounds. but the horse.
shoer made 1t SO hot for the red haired
man that after four ard.fought rounds
| Jack Smith, the referee, announced
| that he of the red hair was in no con
dltion to continue the fig hit, wLereupon
the decision was given to AL" Some
oil the spectators wished the fight con
| tlnned; others said 1t was becoming too
brutal, but as all parties concerned
were satisfied the "buut" ended then
| and there.
| At 1O:l5, the "stars" of tho evening
the black and the white stnrs made their
appearance. They were Jack Smith,
white, who claims to be champion light
weight OF Norfolk, aud "Bostou Boy"
the negro. Frank Batten acted us
time keeper, aud Guy Hall rs referee.
The Negroes second was white man
called Cannon Ball." aud Smiths was
an unknown. Time wns called aud
America and Africa stepped to the
center OF tho ring" Smith was the
AGGRESSION from the stuit, but found the
colored champion more clever than he
mad anticipated, as his attempted blows
were sKilltully warded oil. The rounds
ended among good deal of applause.
| Honors about even.
| The next minute was taken ND in
| sponglpg down. and the enthusiasm OF
tue white second for the staying quail
ties OF his Jet black principal would
nave been amusing If feeling of dis.
gust could have been avoided,
The second aud third rounds we're
repetitions OF the first, in which the
negro was most literally applauded MS
he thunped his white antagonist,
At the end OF the fourth round a
draw was declared and the exhibition
closed. This WAS one of the fights not
witnessed by the police and could have
been knock out affair If tho managers
desired. That there was no knock ont
| ls doubtless due to want of dollars in
the TIL. Fifty persons at 80 cents each.
| making ouly SO ior two fights,