Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-26
MARER HAD A PERFECT MARK
Less than One Round Finished
O'DOnnelI.
THE AUSTRALIAN WAS EASY
The lrishman Aad Everything His Own Way
From the Start,
NOISY SPORTS LEFT THE ssOIsGusTEO
" fS
Because They Were Not oisfed With the
Run for Their lJS ley-Maher
Has Challenge : narkey
for t,
NOISY SPORTS LEFT THE 3OIsGusTEI

New York, Dec. EST took Peter Ma
her just one minute and a half in the first
round to send Steve O'Donnell, of Aus
tralia, down and out this afternoon at
the Greater New York Athletic club at
Coney Island, formerly the Seaside Ath
letic club. The men were matched to go
twenty rounds or more, which practically
meant a finish fight, but Maher saved
the management from infringing on the
Horton law by giving the Australian
his quietus with three left hand punches.
Maher also sent a right-hander to the
head, but it was too high to do any dam
age.
O'Donnells solitary contribution was
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 sic p with three punches in
one minute and three seconds.
This afternoon he was just as nervous
and i'll at ease as he was at Maspeth,
and showed plainly that he was afraid
of the 1rishman. The Australian dis
played unmistakab:e nervousness when
sitting in his chair during the prelimi-
nary arrangements of trying on the
gloves, etc.
Maher, on the contrary, seemed full Of
confidence and looked in splendid condi-
tion. 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 p. m, the hour set for the prelimi-
mary bout, there were not more than six
hundred people In the building, and 1t
looked as though the frost outside was
to be emphasized by another post" of
a different nature inside. However, the
beautiful clear weather probably induc-
ed many to hurry through the Christmas
turkey and take the journey to the is
land, so that when the big fellows shook
hands at 1897 p. M, there were fully $500
present. After Alec Brown, of Brooklyn,
and John Suter, of the same place, had
been announced as the official referee
and time-keeper, respectively, the open
ing pair were put on. They were Fred
Wright, of Peabody, Mass, and Jerry
Sullivan, of Brooklyn, who boxed ten
rounds al 120 pounds. Wright was sub
stituted for Elwood McClosky, of Phila-
delphia, as the latter was overweight.
The Peabody boy displayed unusual clev-
erness, and after the fifth round, had all
the best of the battle. The referee de-
clared Wright the winner.
Although the principals in the main
event lost no time in getting into the ring,
there was some delay before they shook
hands, as ODonnells seconds insisted
on having one of the windows, through
which the sun was streaming on their
corner, darkened, and then the first set of
gloves was found to be too small for the
Australian and they had to be changed.
ODonnell was looked after by Billy Mad
den, Sam Fitzpatrick, Gus Ruhling and
Mike Butler
Maher's aids were John j. Quinn, Peter
Lowery and Pete Burns
After all the preliminaries were satis-
factoriiy adjusted Time Keeper Suter
gave the signal at 1897 o'clock
Round 1.-The men spared for about
five seconds. Maher's face wore a de-
termined expression, while O'Donnell APP
peared nervous and shifted Greasily on
his feet. The Australian thought he saw
an opening; he shot out his left in half
hearted manner and just reached Maher's
breast. Maher swung his left to the head
and they cinched While they were
locked together they exchanged lefts at
close quarters and Maher showed his
right up under O'Donnell's arm, but the
blows were harmless. The referee broke
them and then Maher shot his right to the
top of O'Donnell's head. The Australian
looked astonished and dropped his guard.
The Irishman came in like a tiger, and
sent his left hand on the jaw The Aus
tralian stayed down about four seconds
When he got ON his feet Maher came at
him again and with left handler that
was a combination of hook and swing
caught the unfortunate Australian on
the left cheek just under the eye. O'Don-
nell 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 seconds. When Maher landed the
final blow he did not wait to see what
O'Donnell would do bu went quietly to
his corner. Then he went over and shook
hands heartily with Billy Madden.
1t was announced that a challenge had
been sent on behalf of Maber to Tom
Sharkey to fight in the Greater New York
Athletic club and also that If Maher was
successful in that contest he would chal-
lenge the winner of the Corbett-Fitzsim-
mons fight The disgusted sports filed
out through the snow loudly bewailing
expenditures varying from 81 to Sc for a
minute and halfs sport.
A o o u ssrrI.,Ia ra1r1a