The San Francisco call., 1897-09-27
The County Line Divided tic
Ring to Save the Fighters
From Arrest.
HOODWINKED THE CONSTiBLES.
Battle Was Declare a Draw and
Will Be Renewed in Two
Weeks.

Richard Tiernan, d boxmaker, and Will
liam Toy, a blacksmith, fought twenty
three CORY rounds with bare knuckles In a
secluded spot on the line between San
Frsncsc and San Mateo counties yester-
day afternoon in the presence OF a select
crowd of sports VINO had been given the
tip to be on hand and see hot battle.
Tiernan and Toy have long been rivals
for distinction in the practice of the manly
art, and several weeks ago met at Colma
and fought a short battle without being
satisfied as to which was the better man.
They agreed TO meet again yesterday at
Colms, but the presence OF burly con-
stable from San Mateo County scared the
crowd, and after waiting several hours for
him to depart the party began to despair
OF being able to pull off the mill.
Then a bright idea struck Tom Barry, the
veteran pugllist who was acting as gener al
manager of the affair. Hastily hunting up
an old resident of the district who was
familiar with county lines, be made a
hurried trip into the property of the
Spring Valley Water Company near Lake
Merced and located level spot where the
fight could take place. The line ran di-
rectly through the ground so that if inter
fered with IN one county the fighters could
carry on their argument in the other.
The crowd was summoned and at $3.50
o'clock the men stripped and prepared for
battle No ropes or stakes were available
so the crowd formed a circle about the bit
of ground that had been cleared Of shrub
berry. Tom Barry was chosen referee and
ex-senator Billy Dunn as tlmekeep-r.
Behind Tiernan were Ben Heary of the
San Francisco Athletic Club, William
Flanagan and William Stockwilz.
William Toy was esquired by JACK
Whelan, Edward Mccormick and Jack
McAuley, the pugllist.
Tiernan was taller and heavier than lis
opponent, but he lacked Toys fine con-
dition and was slower than a caTthorse.
He weighed about 185 pounds to his oppo-
nent's 165.
At the call of time Tiernan rushed his
opponent, but was met with terrific left
swing that laid open his right eyebrow so
that the blood flowed down over his face
III a torrent. 1t was the most damaging
blow struck in the mill, which was lively
for several rounds.
Tiernan was evidently novice, though
game to the core, and he swung wildly
with his right, while Toy plugged steadily
away with his left. landing as he pleased
and cutting his antagonist at every blow.
The battle waged Fl freely for four rounds,
and then, as tue sand grew more cut up
and 1ocomotion more difficult, the pugiI-
lists tired and fought more cautiously.
Thus it went Tor twenty rounds, Tier
mans face being puffed up at the end of
that period so that one eye was closed and
his lips swelled to twice their natural size.
Toward the end of the battle Tiernan
saw that his awkward reaches at his OPP
poneut with his left were of no avail and
be began to swing heavily with his right
at Toys ribs. The blows told, every rap
leaving an angry red mark, but the box
maker was too slow on his feet to follow
his advantage and at the end of the
twenty-third round Referee Barry de-
cIared the fight draw and instructed the
men TO be ready to meet again i'll two
weeks to settle the question OF supremacy.
Tiernan's face was fearful sight when
the battle was over, being raw in several
places and so puffed and red as 10 make
MIN unrecogniZable. Outside of his sore
ribs the worst injury sustained by Toy
was to his right hand, the middle finger
being badly cut by coming into contact
with Tiernan's teeth.