Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-26
MAHER WINS AN EASY FIGHT
Irishmau Knocks Out Steve 0Donnell in
Less Than Halfa Minute.
SHOWER OF HARD KNOCKS DOES THE WORK
Both Men i'm First-Clnss Condition
when They Enter the Ring-
Mnher VIII Meet Tom shnr-
key Soon.

N,
seven seconds time for Peter Maher, the
Irish puglist to demonstrate his superiority
in ring tactics and hard-hitting abilities
over Steve O'Donnell, the Australian boxer,
in the arena of the Greater New York Ath-
letlc club at Coney Island. Both men were
in excellent condition and trained to the
hour. Each of them was confident, but
Maher's hackers made him hot favorite,
by laying odds ranging from to to l on
the lrithman's chances OF winning From
the outset Maher never left the result in
doubt He rushed at O'Donnell the moment
the referee called time and ODonnell as
sumed the defensive. The big Australian
led his left for Maher's body, but the Irish
man blocked the blow with his righthand
shove. Then Maher sent his left to the
chin and swung again with his left on the
face. He put ODonnell TO the floor a
second later with left on the chin and
after the Australian regained his feet Maher
landed a left smash on the jaw. following
1t quickly with a left half swing which sent
ODonnel down in heap. Steve rolled
over on his back in helpless condition and
the referee slowly counted him out. The
big Irshman stood about twelve feet away
from his fallen opponent while the referee
was counting off the seconds and as soon
as the referee tailed ten tremendous shout
went up from the 1,S00 people who had
watched the brief encounter, and the band
played THE Wearing of the Green" in
honor of the victor
Thirteen months ago Maher and O'Donncll
met at the Empire Athletic club. Maspeth,
l.. L. and on that occasion Maher knocked
out the Australian in siXty-three seconds.
Since that time O'Donnel and his followers
have frequently said that Steve would not
rest content until he had another try at
Peter
O'Donnell was the first to enter the ring,
He climbed through the ropes at $3.50 clock
clad in a gray-colored bath robe. His sec
onds were Sam Fitzpatrick. Billy Madden,
Mike Butler and Gus Rubin, the Canton
(OD giant. When Maher emerged from his
dressing room five minutes later. cheer
went up which shook the building. Maher
bowed his acknowledgements for the warm
welcome extended to him and he never
looked better in his life. He was escorted
by Peter Lowrey of Dublin, Pete Burns OF
Harlem his sparrng partner, and Jack
Quinn of Brooklyn. Maher when weighed
tipped the scales at 177h and O'Donnell at
1S1. The men shook hands at 346 and
Referee Alec Brown lost no time in bring
ing them together There was dead silence
in the house when the men put up their
fists, and Maher rushed across the ring al
most to ODCnnell's corner. Both spared
for a few seconds, and O'Donnell led his
left for the body. but Maher blocked the
blow with his right glove. Peter then
jabbed his left hand on the chin and landed
a heavy left swing on the face This stag
gered ODonnell and he seemed to be unable
avoid Peters rushes Maher sent O'Donnell
to the floor with hard lett on the chin and
the Australian stayed down four seconds.
AS soon as he got his feet, O'Donnell as
Sumed defensive attitude, but Peter quickly
sent his left once more on the chin and as
O'Donnell was falling, caught him quickly
with a left half hook, knocking the Aus
tralan down and out. O'Donnell was counted
out according to the rules and Sam Ftz-
patrick and Madden, assisted by Lowrey,
carried him to his corner. AS soon as 1t
was seen that the Irishman had won, a
great shout went up and the spectators rose
one man to their feet and hats, caps and
umbrellas were thrown into the air The
official told the announcer that the time OF
the contest was ninety seconds. but John L..
Quinn of Pittsburg, who was keeping time
for Maher. as well as many others who held
watches on the contest, declared the actual
time to be twenty-seven seconds.
Before the spectators left 1t was an
nounced that in all probability the next
contest to be brought off in the Greater New
York club would be between Peter Maher
and Tom Sharkey. Maher will leave for
Pittsburg tomorrow and tomorrow night he
will spar with Joe Choynski at that place.