Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-19
A HOT FIGHT.
KiIrain and 0'DonneII Spar
Eight Rounds to a Draw.
Kilrain Not in Condition and Badly
Punished by 0'Donnell.
John [. Sullivan Present and Makes the Usual
Spectacle Of Himself.

Bosom, March 1s.-After an absence o
four years from the ring, Jake Kilrain o.
Baltimore, faced Steve O'Donnell of Aus
tralia. for eight rounds, tonight, at tn,
Suffolk Athletic Club. The contest wa.
declared draw amid the widest excite
ment ever seen here. Among Kilrain':
many sympathizers present was John L.
| Sullivan. He seemed to give Kilrain en-
couragcment by urging him on. O'Don
nell although much the lighter of tn,
men, did not show up to advantage and
thereby disappointed the spectators.
| 1t was apparent, as kilrain stepped
into the ring, that he had been drinking
and was not in u fit condition to fight.
| His stomach was large and he was very
| fleshy. He has not lost any of his clever
| ness. At times it looked as if he would
not be able to continue on his feet, as his
wind was poor, but at critical times he
rallied and showed wonderful strength.
The first event was a bout of 10 rounds
between Jimmy" Gallagher, East Bos-
ton, and Hugh Martin, Providence, which
resulted in a draw. Sam Tompkins,
Astoria, N. Y, and Billy Hall, "Mul-
doon's pickaninny," faced each other
for eight rounds. They gave an excel
lent exhibition until the middle of the
fifth, when TOmpkins was knocked out
by straight left which landed heavily on
his jaw.
At 9.45, Referee Patsey Shepherd
stepped into the ring, followed by Steve
O'DonneI. In few seconds kilrain
took his place in the northeast corner.
Kirain tipped the scales at 220 pounds,
O'Donnell weighed 175. Tim Mccarthy,
Jim Phelan and 4. j. Gebhardt were in
Kilrains corner and Billy Delaney, Ike
Weir and James Mckay ofIiciated for
O'Donnell. The men shook hands at 0. so.
Kilrain looked twice the size of O'Don-
nell
In the first round both spared for an
opening. O'Donnell with his left foI
Kilrain's heart. but fell short. O'oDnnell
led with his right twice, but was unable
to land. Kilrain landed straight left
on O'Donnell's stomach. O'Donnell
spared Kilrain into his corner and both
mixed. Kilrain landed with his right as
time was called.
Round 2-O'Donnen landed on Xii
rains jaw with his left then made a
feint and struck Kilrain with his right
which landed on the stomach, knocking
Kilrain to his knees. Before the round
ended, Kilrain fell again and O'Donnell
landed several times on his face.
In tho third Kilrain got in a straight
right on O'Donnell's stomach and OF Don
nell retaliated with heavy blow on the
jaw which knocked Kiirain's head back
O'Donnell had the best of the round.
In the fourth, kilrain led with the right
on O 'Donnell's jaw followed with an
other. The latter became groggy. Kilrain
followed up with heavy blow on
O'Donncll's stomach. kilrain punished
O'Donnell so that he clinched. When
time was called, both men appeared
winded
In the fifth, O'Donncll led with his
left on Kilrains stomach, and followed II
with swings, but missed. Both landed
light blows on the face. killrain let out
with his left, but missed, and followed il
with a half right swing which nearly
knocked O. Donnell off his feet.
In the sixth, O'Donpclt started in to
rush matters and landed several times
with his left on Kilrain's f,ce. Zach
played for the others face landing often
Kilrain's nose began to show signs o.
punishment in the shape of lump. Tit
ROUND was ABOUT even.
In tho seventh, O'Donnell landed his
left on Kilrain's face time after time
The latter merely defended himself
against the onslaught of blows with
which o. Donnell attacked him. KiIrain
although slightly dazed, reached O'Don
pell's neck with few slight left swings.
When the bell rang, both were breathing
hard.
Tn the eighth, O'Donnell started in to
finish his opponent, landing number of
times with his left in Kilrain's face Kill
rain gathered himself together and showed
his old time science by keeping O'Don
nell off Kilrain began to pummel o Don.
nells neck with his right. O'Donncll
kept pushing his left into his opponents
face until it was completely covered with
blood In the last minute Of the round
they mixed matters. Many heavy blows
were exchanged. The round closed with
straight right from Kilrsin which
dazed O'Donnell. When the bell rang
the men were nearly exhausted and
neither could have lasted much longer
The referee held his decision a few
while the 1900 spectators yelled
g Kilrain'' at the tops of their voices, but
when the referee called the contest draw
the decision met the approval of nearly
every person In the hall
At the close of the contest, John L.
Sullivan leapcd into the ring, and, rush. |
ing to Referee Shepherd, declared the con-
test should be awarded to Kilrain. |
Shepherd did not appear to mind John.
Billy Delaney said: Don't talk to
that muttonhead, +" referring to John L. |
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