The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-30
He SET A TERRIFIC PACE.
FROM THE SOUND OF. THE GONG
THE KID WAS
AT 1T.
His Seconds Announced That He
Was Not Able to Go On-Bfg
Crowd.

While the end was abrupt and une1-
pected at the moment, not one of the
great crowd thought the eventual end
ing would prove unfavorable to the
Saginaw Kid" He set a terrific
pace from the sound of the gong in the
first round until the end of the tWelftn,
and had a good margin to the gooo
in every round While Walcott stalled
off the sturdy Michigan mans rushes,
he could not stop Lavigne. AT the
close of the ninth round, Joe was seen
to limp in going to his corner, ana MS
seconds gave their attention 10 MS
legs. Walcott is subject to muscular
cramps in his lower limbs, and 1t was
this ailment which unfortunately at
tackled the colored man tonight. How
ever. this attack did not affect MS
fighting in the early rounds OF the
match. and only served to emu the
fight in Lavigne's favor at an earlier
stage than was looked for, as 1t was
apparent. from the beginning of the
fifth round, that LaYigne's lead could
not be overcome Lavigne fought for
the body, and it was these blows that
took the life out of the colored man.
On no similar occasion has such
crowd ever assembled in mechanics
PAVILION, as that which poured into the
big building tonight to witness the
Lavigne- Walcott fight. While the at
tendance at the Corbett-Sharkey pout
and the FitZsimmons-Sharke hasco
were something enormous, the croWo
came to see the big men in ring COS
: 1oo, hon none
ing q. great contest But tonight every
one came with the expectation OF see
ing a decisive encounter between the
two greatest fighters in the world at
their weight. The doors leading to the
gallery of the big building were thrown
open as early as $50 p. M, and as those
who held tickets admitting them TO
that portion of the pavilion acted on
the rule of first come, first served,
the gallery seats Immediately filed up.
The crowd upstairs, was good natur-
ed one and settled down for the walt
which they knew they would have TO
endure. The seats on the main floor be-
gan filing at 7:30, and when the first
preliminary was called an hour later
every chair had its occupant. and men
and boys were perched upon the beams
of the great arched roof over-hanglng
the ring.
The arrangements made by the Occi-
dental club for the comfort Of the pub
lie were most elaborate. A squad OF
fifty policemen guarded the entrance
and kept back the surging crowd which
thronged the streets in the vicinity OF
the pavilion. The usherS were attlred
in Turkish costume, of the most ran
tastic colors in order that they might
be easily distinguished A large force
of Pinkerton men supervised the seat
ing of the spectators, and all who held
the proper credentials were placed in
their seats without confusion.
Betting on the fight was brisk all
day. Thousands of dollars were poured
into the pool rooms tonight, the great
bulk of which was placed on Lavigne
Two days ago Walcott was the favor
lite, with small bettings at 10 to 8.
At s o'clock tonight pools were selling
at 10 to 61h. with Lavigne favorite.
The evenings programme was late
in opening, but the preliminaries be-
tween local boxers were curtailed, and
at $50 Joe Walcott stepped into the
ring, wrapped in a long gray bath
O'Rourke, George Dixon and Joe Col
ton. Walcott was warmly applauded,
but it was discounted by the roar of
applause which greeted George La
vigne as he followed the colored man
into the ring. Lavigne's seconds were
his brother, Billy Lavigne, Tim Nc
Grath and Billy Armstrong.
IN THE RING.
When Lavigne and Walcott dropped their
robes their splendid condition was apparent.
The gong sounded at 1855. Both came to the
center and spared. Lavigne led first with
his left and cltnched. Lavigne caught Wal
colt on the head with left hook, and mo-
ment later got in a good left on the BODY.
Lavigne rushed and landed hard left on the
nzh a
good stiff left on the face Lavigne forced the
fighting and landed both right and left on the
jaw, staggering the colored man, who re-
peatedly clinched to avoid the terrific rushes
from Lavigne. The gong sounded in hot
mix-up in the center Of the ring, in which
the white man had all the best of it. He
drew blood from Walcott's nose.
In the second round Lavigne rushed Wal
colt into a corner and tried with his right,
but was stopped by stiff left on the face.
Lavigne had the better of the round doing
all the forcing The pace was terrific.
In the third round Lavigne missed a right
and left for the face and clinched. mo-
ment later he put in two in the face and a
hard left on the body. The Kid put in
two hard rights en- the body in succession and
got a hard left on the face. Lavigne rushed,
but Joe ducked and George went over his
head Lavigne forced Walcott about the ring,
but the latter did some fast work to keep out
of harms way.
In the fourth round Lavigne opened up with
a right hook, but was neatly stopped by
Walcoti's nose and rushed him to the ropes
and landed hard on Walcott's nose Walcott
smiled and then forced the pace and landed
a left on the head, but Layigne rushed him
to the ring post and Walcott slipped to the
floor. Walcott ducked two left swings clev-
erly and stopped a hot left with both hands
on Lavigne's neck. Walcott made a better
showing in this round.
In the fifth and sixth rounds Lavigne had
matters pretty much in his own hands In
the former he put hard left on the jaw and
rI5sh Qd n C1aOrpn nut tn
terrific right on the body and another on
the jaw. Joe stopped his man with a left on
the face. Lavigne, fighting for the body.
drove his right over the heart and took
left on the head Then he backed away and
the men came together like two bulls in the
center OF the ring.
WITH A RUSH.
The sixth began with rush by Lavigne
which Walcott stopped with his left Lavigne
rushed and they elinched, when the Kid
played tattoo on Joe's ribs. Wa,cott stopped
another rush with his left, but Lavigne put a
terrific right on Joes head, and a moment
later put a trio of hot ones over Walcott's
heart Walcett seemed unable to avoid them
Lavigne staggered Joe with right swing on
the Jaw. Waicott landed a left on the head
After a clinch they exchanged let's on the
head and Lavigne planted his right over Joe's
heart just as the gong rang.
The lighting in the seveath was the fastest
seen here for many a day. Lavigne rushed
Walcott to the ropes and uppercut him with
MS leLl On Tue lace. A-aN4She Aooheu His
right on Joe's jaw and the colored man stag
gered and elinched. Lavigne went after his
man and hammered him with right and left
on the jaw and head. 7he colored fellow
was greatly distressed, giving ground and
clinching to avoid the rushes. LaYigne sent
Joe to his launches against the ropes. Joe
was tired and c;inched repeatedly.
Before the seconds were out OF the ring II
the eighth Layigne planted a straight left on
Joe's mouth and followed it up with a series
of well-directed body blows. Joe clinehed at
every opportunity. Lavigne rushed Walcott
to his corner. and after landing over his