The record-union., 1896-12-12
VAN BUSKIRK THE WINNER.
he Proved Too Much for the SaCra-
mentO Boxer.
Rflly johnson Made a Brave Fight,
But net His WaterlOo-Pre-
liminary Bouts.

It Is one thing to be a scientific, pref
ty boxer, and quite another to be q
vicious, successful fighter. The first
applies to William Johnson, the local
pugilistic idol, and the latter to Theo-
dore Van Buskirk, the Olympic CLUB
champion.
More than 1000 men saw Johnson
go down and out last night under the
terrific sledge-ha hammer blows of Van
Buskirk It was probably the biggest
crowd that ever gathered in this city
to witness a ring fight, and most OF
them went there expecting to see john
son punch his big opponent full OF
holes''
But they were disappointed. john
son could punch Van Buskirk easily
enough-there was no trouble about
that-but his fists didn't leave any holes
in the other fellows hide.
Every trade, business and profession
in the city was well represented at the
ringside, except the clergy.-It is there
fore quite unnecessary to go over the
list of professions and other callings-
they were all there in force. The Old
Pavilion was comfortably arranged for
such popular event, and everyone of
the two thousand or more who paid
from one to five dollars for the priv
Nege of witnessing the display of phys
ica1 culture was able to see all that
took place between the two exponents
of the art in the big ring in the center
of the hall.
1t required but three and one-half
rounds for Van Buslxirk to demonstrate
that he is Johnson's superior in that
style of the pugilistic art that enables
one man to 'iget there" and pocket the
long end of the purse. The victor also
demonstrated the fact that so far as
science and cleyerness goes he is not in
it for a moment with Johnson. And
he is probably glad of it, because if he
had given more of his time to sparring
than to fighting he would still be a
sparrer, and not a fighter, while other
men would be getting away with the
dough"
Doubtless Van Buskirk would be the
last to deny that his plucky but weak
adversary of last night is clever man.
He had plenty of evidence of that fact,
but what is better StilI-from a pnacu-
cal standpoint-he has 65 per cent of
the proceeds of the house to jingle in
response to any mans assertion that
he is not as clever as Johnson.
The fight was revelation to the hun
dreds of Sacramentans who had be-
leved Johnson to be almost invincible
But, as a matter OF fact, he is all that
even his warmest admirers really had
a right to expect of him. He is a sci
entific boxer, who never was cut out for
a prize-fghter. Nature evidently never
int f74aI l. 81 -
a man sets out to fight nature he is
going to get the worst of it some day.
Mr. Johnson DIS a pleasant, genial
fellow Of slight physique a man whose
disposition is as devoid of viciousness
as that of a girl, but If pitted against
any man of similar mental and physi-
cal characteristics he would be very apt
to come out on top, even in the prize
ring.
He met his superior as ''get there"
pug, however, when he ran UP against
such a big, husky. powerful fellow as
Van Busktrk. who evinced a bulldog
taste for fighting and appeared most at
home when mixing things and send
ing in right arm swings that might fell
an OK If squarely landed. He Is every
inch a fighter-one Of the John L. Sui
Ivan type-a powerful man who is will
ing TO submit to a good punching while
awaiting the opportunity to land that
terrific right fist, for he well knows
that when it connects with the target
the latter is going o suffer
Johnson's weight was given at 174
pounds and Van Buskirk at 1S1, but
he looked to be every bit twenty
pounds heavier. He has crouching
style, holding the upper part of his