The San Francisco call., 1896-12-12
JOHNSON BESTED
BY VAN RUSKIRK
The Olympic Heavy weight
Wins in the Fourth
Round.
Superior Weight Tells Against
the Sacramento Clubs
Boxer.
Puts Up Game Fight, but Soon
Succumbs 10 His Opponents
Rushes.

SACRAMENTO CAL, Dec. 11.-The
Theodore Van Buskrk, added another
notch to the handle of his scalping-knife
after his battle with William Johnson,
the pet of the Sacramento Athletic Club
tonight. Van Buskirk won in the fourth
round. The fight was witnessed by over
1000 people and considerable money
changed hands on the result. Imme-
diately preceding the mill odds were on
the Marysville lad.
Van Buskirk was the first to put in an
appearance and vaulted lightly over the
ropes into the ring. He was followed by
his trainer, Charles Hennessey, and his
seconds, Tom Johnson of Marysville and
John Norton of Sacramento. When
johnson ente red the hall rocked with the
storm of applause which greeted him.
He was followea by his trainer. Henry
Peppers, and his seconds, j. c. Steiner
and Ed Johnson. The men were called to
the center of the ring by Referee Thomas
Dwyer, who explained such blows as
would be considered foul, and assured
them that if his instructions were fol-
lowed a perfectly fair and unbiased de-
cision would be given. Dwyer played no
favorites, and in the fourth round. when
Johnson failed to regain his f-et after
being floored by a left hand swing back of
the ear, he declared Van Buskirk the
winner.
When the men appeared in the ring it
was evident that Johnson was outweighed
by thirty pounds. In the first two rounds
l.; T.
quick to take advantage of an opening
and his blows reached their mark. 1t was
not until the latter part of the third round
that Van displayed his rushing qualities.
His superior weight began to tell, and
Johnson was repeatedly forced from his
feet by the rushes OF mis- opponent.
Round johnson landed left on the jaw
and repeated it a moment later, receiving q
stiff punch on the wind in return. Johnson
again caught Van with q right on the jaw.
Van ducked deft swing. Van led wildly with
the right and they ci1nched. Johnson landed
left on the neck and followed it with right
over the heart. Van again swung wildly and
a clinch followed his failure 10 land.
Round 2-Van landed right over the heart
and they clinched. Van found Johnson's jaw
and rapid in-fghtiug followed. Johnson's
left found Vans neck. Van countered on the
body and they clinched. Van led with his
right and missed, and was countered heavily
the ribs. Johnson landed a left smash on the
face as the going sounded.
Round 3-Van reached Johnson's wind with
his left. Johnson landed right over the
heart. Van rushed him and carried him off
his feet. Johnson landed heavy uppercut
on Vans ribs. Vans left caught johnson on
the heart. Johnson countered on Vans face
Van rushed and fioored Johnson with q right
swing. When he regained his feet Van rushed
him against the ropes. They cIinched and
johnson fell. Johnson came back gamely and
tapped Vans face Van again rushed him off
his feet. Johnson came up gToggy.
Round 4-The round opened with clinch.
him. Johnson came up very groggy and was
at Vans mercy. The Olympic lad landed q
heavy right swing under the ear, knocking
Johnson down and out.
The opening event between W. L. Henly
and J. G. Conway, in the 125- pound class,
was one of the cleverest exhibitions of
boxing witnessed in the clubrooms for
years. Honors were easy at the close.
The secohd preliminary bout, between
Edgar Johnson and William McGraw, was
clearly in favor OF Johnson, although Nc
Graw, who has been the clubs champion
in that class for the past two years, mad >
it exceedingly interesting for his oppo-
nent at times. The third bout was a neat
exhibition between l.. A. Payne and Will
liam Donohue, both of the local club. The
ren were entered in the 148-pound class
and honors broke even.