Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-19

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MA a WH great many good
I'm .A$h WIFI stories, which, served
SENMFW up in his own mimi
ar table style in the
II q Dallas News, made a
good advertisement
for the mill which the enterprising citi-
zens of the Texas town were endeavoring
to pull off" between the big bruisers.
The colonel got a number of stories ahead
and was knocked out Of several on account
of the interference of the governor of Tex
as He did not publish the history of the
great international match which settled
the dispute over the claims of the New
Northwest" as it was then called, and our
ancient and always-to-be rivals, the sub
1ects of Queen Vic in the province of Mani
toba. as to who possessed the champion
pugilist. Until that question was definitely
determined the progress of the two sec
tons was sadly interfered with
The particular portion of the northwest
agitated by the pugilistic championship
was the northern part of Minnesota and
what Is now North Dakota. In those days
the farmers were raising forty bushels of
wheat to the acre. Money was plenty and
patriotism was at the top notch.
The Sporting Headquartcrs.
Winnipeg was the headquarters of those
VINO bore allegiance to foreign poteatate,
while Grand Forks was the center for
those who were protected by the stars and
stripes. The boundary was about equally
distant from the two town and that i'm
aginary line separated two peoples almost
alke, but who yet held the same animosi-
Ties, Kept up the same rivalry and contest
ed with as much strength and yigor the
various sports and games as do our eastern
friends with their cousins across the water.
Sometimes they would do" us and some
he hos 80
But skating matches, putting the shot
ara dozen or more of the lighter sports
got tame. and no sooner had slugging
matches been inaugurated than each side
began to hunt for champion.
1t Is possible that this change was en-
couraged and fostered by John Barnes
John came to Grand Forks a lightweight
pugilist. He brought many sluggers to
town. white black and yellow. but there
was one man across the border that could
do the best of them
The Manitoba Giant.
Ed. McEwoen, the Manitoba Giant"
kept the banner of ST. George and ST. An
drew high above our heads in the realm of
pugilism, and Manitoba tainted us in our
weakness.
But all the time Barnes was looking into
the future
then flashed up with a great unknown"
and challenge to fight for the champion
ship of the northwest and Manitoba.
A match was arranged between Nc
Ewoen and the unknown" who was none
other than Joe Lannon, who has since
gained some prominence as a fighter, but
who was then really unknown in the west.
The fight came off in a ring twelve feet of
which was in the United States and twelve
feet In Manitoba. 1t was but preliminary
skirmish. But little money was bet, and as
Lannon proved the best man, Barnes got
that little.
For the Championship Fight.
Then began negotiations for the real bat
tie, but McEwoen would r OF put up his
money, and the Manitoba sports would not
tack him.
But Barnes was foxy, and this is what
was said to have occurred:
whats the use," he asked McEwoen, one
day, "of US sports going in to lose when
We can make winning? These Dakota
dubs will bet all they have on Joe. You
come down to Grand Forks and fight. 1t
will be a dead sure go, and we will fight
for $500 a side, but the stuff needn't go up.
Then there will be the gate money. JOEL
fight just as hard as 1 tell him to, and no
harder. He'll be licked in five or six
rounds You and your friends can bet on
So arrangements were finally completed
McEwoen told his friends that 1t was
dead-open-and-s shut. and they were told TO
bet their money on him. He furnished his
friends with all his MOI ey to bet on him
self, and thus encouraged, Manitoba money
was freely offered and as quickly taken by
the sports at the Forks.
A barge belonging to one OF the steam
boats was chartered The sports were no
titled to get aboard, and when all crowded
on the broad deck that it would hold it was
rushed from the bank and fioated down
the Red River of the North. Barnes APP
peared like ticket seller at a circus, with
his little satchel strapped ever his Shout
der. and collected 50 a head from all on
beard.
The barge soon ran ashore and the crowd
Jumped off in the mud and clambered up
the bank.
The International Contest.
The stakes were driven and the rope
stretched, and the great international con-
test was about to begin. The men stepped
into the ring in their gaudy trappings.
Gentlemen, are you ready?" asked the
referee.
The gentlemen" were ready.
Shake hands," he commanded, prompted
by Barnes, and echoed the word time
from the same individual.
The great international contest had be-
For three minutes the Great Unknown
made a punching bag Of the Manitoba
Giant The latter did nothing except to
fight in a chicken-hearted manner, trying
to avoid punishment.
When the round closed one of his seconds
went over to see Barnes. and protested that
the giant did not like the way things We're
going and limited that he thought all was
not Ion the square,
Tell the sucker to fight" answered
Barnes Eve have got to give these fell
lows show for their money, ard if me
man lays down and they lose their stuff
in that way the town :Fill not be big
enough for me. Amt the duffer got no
saEd?"
"Time-' and again the gladators in skim
tight gloves. sprang to their feet. McEwoen
evidently thought he was getting the worst
of the deal and desperate. He rushed
at Lannon and was hit hard and often.
He clinched and threw his opponent to the
ground and struck him after he down.
After taking more hard punishment he
again clinched and threw his man and be-
gan pummelilg him. 1t was a palpable
foul. and Barnes insisted upon it. The ref
cree allowed it.
"Give s the fight said Barnes.
'Iannon wins the fight said the referee
The champion went to his corner The
great International contest was won.
Turning on the Referee.
Then ensued q most remarkable scene.
McEwoen turned upon the referee and de-
clared he had been duped. Every dollar
had in the world was on this fight" said
T Io,j