The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-26
STEVE QUICKLY PUT TO SLEEP
MAHER KNOCKS O'DoNNELL OUT IN
ONE ROUND.


Three Left Hand Punches All the
Irishman Had 20 Land in Order to
Settle the AustraIian-O'DOnn
Appeared Afraid of His Opponent
Before the Mill Opened-Thirty-
Five Hundred sports Disgusted at
the Poor Run They Got For Their
Money.
New York, Dec. est took Peter Maher
just one minute and a half in the first
round to send Steve O'Donnell down and
out this afternoon at the Greater New
York Athletic Club at Coney Island, form
erly the Seaside Athletic Club. The men
were matched to go for twenty rounds or
more, which practically meant a finish
fight, but Maher saved the management
from infringing on the Horton law by Civ
ing the Australian his quietus with three
left-hand punches. Maher also sent a
right-hander to the head but 1t was too
high to do any damage.
O'Donnelrs solitary contribution was a
very short left, which opened the battle
and barely grazed Peters breast. The
last time the pair met in the Empire Ath-
letic Club at Maspeth, l.. l., Peter sent
his man to sleep with three punches in
one minute and three seconds
This afternoon O'Donnell was just as
nervous and III at east as he was at Mas
peth, and showed plainly that he was
afraid of the Irishman. The Australian
displayed unmistakable nervousness when
sitting in his chair during the preliminary
arrangements of tying on the gloves, etc.
Maher, on the contrary, seemed full of
confidence, and looked in splendid condi-
ton. The betting was not very lively. Big
odds were offered on Maher, but there
were few who were willing to bet on the
Australian.
At 2 O'clock, the hour set for the preli-
minary bout, there were not more than
800 people in the building and 1t looked as
though the frost on the outside was to be
emphasized by another frost of diff
ferent nature inside. However, the beau
many to hurry through the Christmas tur-
key and take the journey to the island so
that when the big fellows shook hands at
337 o'clock there were fully $500 present.
After Alec Brown of Brooklyn and John
Suter of the same place had been an
nounced as the official referee and time
keeper, respectively, the opening pair
Peabody, Mass, and. Jerry sullivan OF
Brooklyn, who boxed ten rounds at 12O
pounds, Wright was substituted for FL FL
latter was overweight. The Peabody boy
displayed unusual cleverness, and after
the fifth round had all the best of the
battle The referee declared wright the
Although the principals in the main
event lost no time in getting to the ring
there was some delay before they shook
hands, as O'Donnells seconds insisted on
having one window, through which the
sun was streaming on their corner, dark
ened and then the first set of gloves was
found to be too small for the Australian
and they had to be changed.
O,Donnell was looked after by Billy
Madden sam EtzpatriSSk Gus ides RunIng nr
Burns.
After all the preliminaries were satis-
factorily adjusted Time Keeper Suter gave
the signal at 3:S O'Clock.
Round 1.-The men spared for about
five seconds. Maher's face wore a deter
mined expression, while O'Donnell ap-
peared nervous and shifted uneasily on his
feet. The Australian thought he saw an
opening. He shot out his left in a half
hearted manner and just reached Maher' 8
breast Maher swung his left to the head
and they clinched While they were lock-
ed together they exchanged lefts at close
un ler O'DonnelPs arm, but the blows were
harmless. The referee broke them and
then Maher shot his right, to the top Of
O'Donnell,s head Inc australian St looKsd 1S,s
Irishman came in like tiger and sent his
left hand on the Jaw. The Australian
stayed down about four seconds.
Maher came at him again
and with a left handler that was a com
bination of hook and swing caught the un-
fortunate Australian on the left cheek
lust below the eye. O'Donnell went to
the floor with a bang, turned over on his
back and was counted out. His seconds
helped him to his corner and he walked
out of the ring all right after a few sec
onds When Maher landed the final blow
he did not wait to see what O'Donnen
would do, but went quickly TO his cor
ner, Then he went over and shook hands
heartily with Billy Madden.
1t was announced that a challenge had
been sent on behalf of Maher to Tom
Athletic Club. and also that II Maher was
successful in that contest he would chal-
lenge the winner of the Corbett-Fitz
fight The disguised sports filed out
penditures varying from 50 TO Sc for min
ute and a halfs sport.