The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-12
James j. Corbett's sparring Partner
Bested by Peter Maher, the Irish
Champion, I'm One Round.
SENT TO GRASS THREE TIMES
BY QUICK, sLEDGE-HAMMER-L
SMAsHEs ON THE JAW.
Wild Scene I'm the Arena-Speech by
ssGentleman Jim"-GOdfrey-WOO
"Milp' Awarded to the Former.


uled twenty-five-round mill between Peter
Maher. the Irish champion. and Steve
ODonnell. of Australia, who has been long
associated with champion Corbett as SPAR
ring partner, came to an untimely end to-
night. 1t was one of the quickest battles
on record. for O'Donnell was knocked out
in one round, only sixty-three seconds from
the start. Maher never gave his opponent
chance, but knocked him down three
times in succession and the last time
ODonnell could not rise.
Never since the opening of the Empire
Athletic Club has its arena been so densely
crowded as it was tonight. AS early as
o'clock there were hundreds of people out
side of the clubhouse, including many rep
Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore and Chi
cago. drawn by the long-promised mill. In
the betting. of which there was a good
deal. Maher was the favorite at to l on,
while there were some bets snapped up at
100 to 60 and 100 to 70 on the Irishman, as
soon as they were offered by those who
were taking the O'Donnell end of it.
The preliminary bout was a six-round go
between Casper Leon, of New York. and
Billy Smith. of Philadelphia, at catch
weights. While the boys were being pre-
pared in the ring big shout went UP as
James Corbett was seen pushing his way
through the crowd. Charley White. who
trained Fitzsimmons for the fight which did
not come off. was busy handling Casper
Leon when Corbett took his seat in box
at the ring side and he greeted the cham
pion warmly. Tim Hurst was announced as
referee and the boys shook hands at 8
o'clock. In the first two rounds Leon con-
tented himself by tiring out his man, but
in the third he sent his right and left into
the Philadelphian's face heavily. In the
fourth each made the others nose bleed
Smith received an overcut and was weak at
the close of this round. Leon banged the
visitor badly in the fifth, swinging twice
heavily on the head and jabbing with both
hands on the body and face. Smith landed
a good one with his right on the head and
body and Smith was remarkably strong in
the final round, but he was no match for
the New York boy and the referee de-
clared Leon the winner.
AS soon as the boys left the ring there
were loud cries for Corbett TO make a
speech. Some one called Three cheers for
Fitzsimmons," and they were given with a
will by 'Isanky Bob's" partisans, many OF
whom were among the spectators. Corbett
climbed through the ropes and from the
ring he addressed the audience as well as
he could amid cries and cheers. He said
"Gentlemen-I thank you very much. You
have all the representative newspaper men
of America here tonight. and all / can
say is this: If was in England or Aus
match ! would be chased out Of the coun-
try" Vociferous cheering)
O'Donnell was the first to enter the ring
after Cqrbett had Hs &
McCabe and Benny Murphy. 1t was then
s:S5 o'clock, and Maher followed a minute
Peter Peter Burns a and Buck Cornelius, Of Pitts.
burg. Jack McAuliffe sat at the ringside
right behind Maher: and Billy Brady was s
not have to wait long, as the men got
together. and Maher. quick as lightning.
smashed his right on ODonneirs jaw.
sa hf fell ese ss oT gut seysn rsanMsa Mahss ns
gave him no quarter and fioored the Aus
tralian with another blow on the jaw with
ns fos TlRn ne seconds The moment he got up
Maher held him in the same corner and
sent his left with sledge-hammer force on
back, and, after being counted out. had to
be carried to his corner, while the referee
announced Maher the winner. Time. sixty
Men threw up their hats and yelled like
demons. Many of them succeeded in get
ting into TIE ring and hugged Maher. Cor
bett jumped into the ring and pushed his
way over to the victorious Irishman,
grasped him by the hand and congratulated
him. He said: "Maher. you have fought
a good fight" 1t was rumored that Cor
bett had presented Maher with the heavy
weight championship. but this rumor was
denied later The actual time that both
men were on their feet was thirty-seven
seconds. The arena was not cleared for
fully thirty minutes after the fight was
over. ODonnell's party had no excuse to
offer for the Australians poor showing.