Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08
STORY of A SCOOP
How the spnl]liivan-Kilrain Prize
Fight Was &, Reported.
EXCITING RIDE 40 new ORLEANS
Eventful Experience Of a Well
Known Referee and Reporter.
HIS EMINENT NERVE

HIS EMINENT NERVE
The selection Of George Siler of Chicago
as referee in the coming fight between
Fitzsimmons and MsEer has been hailed
with satisfaction in sport-loving circles all
over the country. He is said to be man
who will stand no nonsense in the ring; is
thoroughly conversant with the rules; has
at all times been recognized as an abso-
lutely fair and just man, so that those who,
are interes ted in the outcome of the ap-
preaching mill may rest assured they will
have run for their money" Eighteen
or twenty years ago Siler was one of the
| cleyerest lightWeights in the east, and is
now the sporting editor of big Chicago
| daily. There is a man in Washington now
who " as spoken of in connection with ref
erecting the fight, and who would have most
probably decided the Corbett- Fitzsimmons
mill had it taken place. In the halcyon
days Of the ring around Memphis, Tenn
from 1886 to 1888, when mills were pulled
off with impunity on the Arkansas shore
few miles above or below the city, and
often in the heart Of the city itself, he
earned a reputation as dead square ref
cree" that spread thu oughout the south and
west The name of Jack Hogan indeed
Is familiar to nes rly every ring sport and
as a sporting writer he is equally well
known in the south and southwest John
J. Hogan is the way he signs his checks
and he has had an interesting and exciting
career.
When Tommy Danfortk first met Reddy
Brennan. near Memphis, the latter had
habit Of Isl cviEg in his elbow and raising
his knee when Danfo1th led with the in
tention of getting in slick foul on Tom
my's groin. Hogan cautioned Brennan
sayir G.: you mist fight fair Brennan I'll
stand no foIling. If you put in your ell
bow or raise your knee again I'll give the
fight to De nforth, and I'll see that you do
not even get the losers end Of the purse"
The battle proceeded on fair principles
thereafter, the game little Danforth being
finally knt cked out by Brennan When
Danforth came to the first words he uttered
were: Jack, you're the fairest referee /
ever saw
Second Battle by Terchlight.
Danforth's hacker. not satisfied with the
outcome, challenged Brennan for a return
battle The fight came off seven miles be-
low Memphis on the Arkansas side of the
Mississippi. Bob Fitzsimmons, who was
then in training at Lake Charles, La for
his fight with poor Jack Dempsey, and
Jimmy Carroll, his trainer, went from New
Orleans to Memphis to second Danforth
Hogan again being selected as referee. At
ter three rounds had been fought darkness
came on. single torch was procured
from the boat, and the fight proceeded
The refer ee noticed that whenever one of
the pugilists had the glare of the torch in
his lace he was at the mercy of his OBJ
ponent. At the end Of a few rounds he de-
clared the battle should be discontinued
unless more torches were procured, saving
he was in the ring to referee a contest I'm
der QEeenSbury rules, not dog fight. At
this the spectators raised a howl some Of
them going to the boat to. try and procure
the needed torches, but rome We're found
The excited onlookers declared that they
to fulf ;,,
sisted that it proceed. Get me three or
four torches" said the referee, land I'll
make them fight to g finish.''
They'll have to fight to a finish with
that torch" yelied some of the maddened
spectatcrs. I'VE paid, to see a fight, and
we want no hippoarome."
.., II don't care what YOU say" said "Jack."
longer. declare the fight OFF,
Things looked squally for the referee, but
the latter would not recede from his deci-
sion. Fitzsimmons and Carroll compli-
Inented him for his fair ness and gameness
under such trying circumstances.
The sullivan-Kiirafn Fight,
Newspaper men all over the country who
were assigned to report the Sullivan-Kil-
rain fight at Richburg, Miss, July 8, 1889.
we'll remember how the Associated Press
"scooped" all rivals on that occasion. And
10 jack Hogan, more than any one else,
was the Associated Press indebted for the
scoop. hogan was doing all-around
local news on the Memphis Appeal at the
tune OF the fight, and was also Memphis
correspondent for the New York Herald
and Chicago Herald. Manager Thomas of
the Western Associated Press selec,ed IIo-
gan as the ring reporter, and after events
demonstrated the wisdom of the selection
me most sensational incidents connected
with the memorable fight arose from an eff
tort on the part of the Associated Press to
get the first news of the battle to the wire
at New Orleans. In order to accomniish
THIS, the Associated Press chartered loco
motiVe and one passenger coach and in
1crtherance of this scheme the locomotive
ana car We're stationed at a point half n
mule distant from the battle ground
around a bend, where it was hot visible
from the Richburg station Immediately
a aaa II, me night, and before the spectators
mad left the ground, the Associated Press
reporters rushed to the track, and, after
run of half mile, boarded the car as
signed them: The understanding was that,
h1chburg at a speed that would render it
Impossible for anybody to board it.
Tagged Mt Richburs.
The special started at 10 o'clock, proceed
ing down the track at high rate of speed.
and there is no~Ioubt the speed attained
would have prevented the embarka ton on
that train OF any of the immense crowd
tnat were waiting at Ricnburg. Through
biunder of the read master, OF premed, ated
plan TO rush kilran out of the state the
special was tagged at Rienburg, and in
obedlence to the signal, the engineer
slowed up. AS soon as the train pulled up
the crowd prepared to get aboard, and CON
splcuousiy eager were the correspondents
OF northern and eastern journals, who were
making desperate efforts TO send the first
news Of the battle to their respective pa
pers: In an instant the rear and front
Platforms were packed with crowd of
pugliists while many Of The short-haired
fraternity SWarmed through the windows
or the coach. In less time than it takes to
tell 1t the coach was filled, not only with
pugiiists but by the energetic and wide
awake special correspondents.
Not Frightened by Pistols.
While this was going two coaches
containing Kilrain and his fraternity, were
coupled to the Jsnectal Before thu train