The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-09-04
RYAN WINS IN
SEVEN ROUNDS
Mysterious" Billy Smith Put Up
Characteristic Fight and Lost
the Decision.
KISSED BY THE LARGE CROWD
Ryan Fought Fairly Throughout the
contest-Referee Attacked by Smith
for Giving the Australian
the Decision.

Eight hundred people assembled at
the electric light station last night to
see the eight round go for a purse Of
$1,000 between Jim Ryan, Champion
mlddle-weight Of Australia, and 'Mys-
terious" Billy Smith, champion welter
weight Of the world. The men were
evenly matched. both Weighing about
15s pounds. Jack Wilson, the doughty
little Fort Candy pugilist, refereed the
fight. Tim McGrath was behind Smith,
while Thomas Spencer and Jack Hill
seconded Ryan.
The fight was one OF the best ever
seen in the Northwest, although Smith
struck hardly a fair blow. He has the
reputation OF being the foulest fighter
who ever entered the ring" and proved
himself worthy Of ii. He was practical
ly Kissed out OF the house. Time for
the first round was called at 1895.
Round 1.-The first blow struck waS
a foul by Smith. The crowd yelled
''foul!' Smith swung with the right.
but Ryan wasn't there. In a clinch
soon after Smith fouled again and was
promptly hissed. At the end Of the
round the crowd yelled Good boy, Ry-
an" HonOrs were even.
Round Ryan led and landed on
Smiths neck. A sharp exchange fol-
lowed. during which the men clinched,
Smith foullng at the break. He fouled
twice after that and was hissed for
his work. When the round ended there
was great cheering for Ryan.
Round 3-The men mixed matters
considerably and then clinched, Smith.
as usual. fouling. A lively exchange
followed. Then Ryan swung heavily
with his left. but missed, and dropped
to his hands and knees. Smith. while
Ryan was down. deliberately struck
him on the neck and uppercut him
with his left, grazing Ryan's eye and
drawing a little blood, but not hurting
him. Then the crowd hissed for all
it was worth. When Ryan jumped to
his feet, Smith came at him and fouled
again and again. At this juncture three
'arge policemen entered the ring and
stopped proceedings. Matters were get
ting exciting. For the next two min
utes the crowd gave vent 10 its feel
ings by Kissing Smith and telling him
that he wasn't lighting Swedes" IRE
ferring to his recent trouble in Port
land)
Round 4-Ryan mad all the best OF
it. landing twice on Smiths jaw and
once on his mouth. He also ducked a
swing. Smith also made pretty duck.
The round ended in Ryan's favor.
Round 5-Smith led. but Ryan warded
the blow and landed on the jaw. Some
sharp fighting followed. Ryan landing
again.
Round 6-There were no fair blows Of
consequence. Smith fouled four times
and the crowd hissed. Smith was get
ting tired. and at the last of the round
did not foul during one clinch.
The seventh and last round was ex-
citing. Smith looked very tired and
started in savagely. A sharp exchange
followed and during a clinch Smith
fouled again. Up to this time the crowd
had called all the fouls, but Referee
Wilson could stand it no longer. and
called it. This made Smith furious. and
he sprang at Wilson like a tiger, strik-
ing with both hands, but .Iison duck
ed. Then the referee got real angry
and sailed in at Smith. landing on his
face. Smith. wild with anger, squared
away, Wilson holding his ground, when
the police again interfered. Wilson
then awarded the fight to Ryan. Smith
tried to make statement, but the
crowd Kissed him down.
The unanimous opinion was that Ry-
an should have been given the decision
in the first round. Smith struck just
one fair blow, while Ryan never once
touled. The Australian proved himself
a clean fighter, while Smith was Kissed
by everyone. Ryan had Smith all but
out twice and would have made mat
ters interesting for him in the eighth
round, as he was the stronger when the
referee rendered his decision. There is
4 question as to who received the hear
lest congratulations-Rya or Wilson
smith was really hissed out of the
house. He used his knee several timeS
Turing clinches.
Family Communication tickets to Clat-
sop beach over the Seashore railroad