Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-08
ANOTHER RING FATALITY.
Walter Croot, Defeated by Jimmy Barry,
Never Regained Consciousness After the

Never Regained Consciousness After the
Contest.
London, December 7.-Walter Croot,
of Newcastle, England, who was de-
feated for the bantamweight champion
ship of the world at the National Sport
ing Club last night by Jimmy Barry,
Of Chicago, died this morning of the
injuries which he received during the
contest.
The knockout blows consisted of a
severe punch over the heart and then a
crushing Highlander on the jaw.
Croot remained unconscious so long
that medical assistance was called. 1t
was found that he had sustained a
severe conclusion of the brain. He
never regained consciousness and ex-
pired at o'clock this morning. Barry,
who was arrested shortly after the
death of Croot, was taken to the Bow
street Police Court. The affair has
caused great excitement in boxing cir
cles.
The battle which resulted in Croot's
death was pulled off by the National
Sporting Club
During the first ten rounds Barry did
most of the scoring in thoroughly SCI
entific struggle. Then Croot made a
determined stand ana at the eighteenth
round had almost equalized matters
Wien the nineteenth round opened
Barry Immediately forced the work at
a great pace and finished much strong
er than his opponent In the twentieth
round Barry put in some excellent
drives and with a crushing right-hander
on Croot's jaw knocked him out, when
only forty seconds remained to the stip-
ulated limit
Croot remained unconscious so long
that medical assistance was called He
never regained consciousness.
All the papers pay tribute to the
Americans fairness in fighting. They
say that better exhibition of science
than was displayed by Barry and Croot
is scarcely possible
The referee had to caution Croot sew
eral times for low hitting and too much
clinching.
From the seventeenth round Barry
appeared to be much stronger than
Croot, who came up for the twentieth
round looking tired. His tactics show
ed he had been instructed by his sec
onds to force matters in the hope of
obtaining verdict at the end of the
round.
Up to this point the contest had been
an excellent one. In this round, how
ever, miscalculation upon the part
OF Croot brought him too near his OBJ
ponent and he received a sharp right
handler on the chin which dazed him.
and another blow drove him to the
ropes. Following this Barry landed
his left and right without a return
from Croot, who was virtually beaten
and showed signs of physical distress.
Croot, however, attempted to ward off
Barry, but the latter seeing the game
IN his own hands, crept up. close and
landed his left over Croot's heart. fol-
lowing it up with strong right-hander
on the point of the chin. Croot falling
lay motlonless in the ring and the ref
cree began to count. At the exniration
OF the ten seconds the referee. amio
loud applause, announced the victory
of the Chicagoan.
AT Bow street police court this
afternoon he was formally charged
with manslaughter.
Counsel appeared for Mr.. Angle.
whose case is the same as that of the
other defendants.
The police testified that Barry was
very much distressed and said he had
not made the slightest ATTEMPT TO
avoid warrant. The police said Mr..
Angle conducted an officer to see
Croot's body, which was only SUPER
fcially bruised. There were slight
signs of blood in the nose, but there
was none on the gloves or IN the
ring.
Barry, who was present when the
police viewed the body, broke down
and cried: Il never did that"
All the prisoners were remanded for
week, bail in each case being ac-
cepted in the sum of $50.
Sir George Chetwynd became secur-
ity for Mr.. Angle, and the proprietor
of a newspaper devoted to sporting
matters became surety for Barry and
White.
Barry, in an interview to-day, said:
Il am deeply upset and can hardly
say what I think. had not the
slightest enmity towards Croot. We
were good friends and there was moth
ing bitter in our fight. l never had the
slightest thought that my blow would
dc more than stop him for a few