The herald., 1898-01-15
SEVERAL BLACK BOUTS
THE MANHATTAN CLUBS FAIR
FTSTIC PROGRAM
Thompson "Played Possum" With
Houston, but Proved to Be
Trimble's "Meat"

| About 200 people, representing al
classes. colors and nationalities, wit
messed the boxing matches at the Man
haitian club headquarters on North Los
Angeles street last night. The principa
event of the evening was a match be
tween Bob Thompson, colored, of Sal
Lake City, and Harry Houston Of Oak
land. The contest was on the program
for fifteen rounds for a purse OF $I5
Houston was put to sleep" in the middle
of the fourth round with swift upper
cut on the left jaw. He was no match
for Thompson at any stage OF the game
although he fought hard and well. M
the end Of this contest Thompson ell
tered a four-round exhibition match
with Jimmie Trimble of this city, ir
which he was slightly worsted. At this
conclusion Thompson challenged Trim
BILE to fifteen-round contest, the chal-
lenge being promptly accepted. The
match will come off early in February
The amount of the purse to be offered
has not yet been decided.
The evenings contests, as a whole
were satisfactory to the spectators, the
only disappointment being over the
Thompson-Hou contest.
The program opened with an exhibit
ton four round bout between Ben MAJ
well Of Stockton and Rufus Thompson of
Denver. Both men were clever, but ar
ter the second round the contest resolved
itself into a hammer and tongs PROPOSE
ton with honors about evenly divided a /
the finish.
The second bout was between Herbert
Swiftly of Arizona and Bob Jones of Los
Angeles. Six rounds were scheduled but
a seventh was called, in order to enable
the judges to reach a decision. There
was a SIS purse at stake. The decision
was awarded to Jones. There was some
dissatisfaction among the spectators
over the announcement, as many be-
lieved Swiftly entitled to the trophy.
Swiftly certainly did most of the fight
ing. Jones, however, displayed consid-
erably more science, and 1t was upon
this point that he received the decision.
The event of the evening was then an
nounced. 1t was several minutes later
when the principals appeared in the
ring, the interim being filled up with
several lively arguments as to the rela-
tive merits of the men. Incidentally.
much beer was consumed and now and
then a fair sized bet was made among
those who went "heeled" for the occa-
sion. Thompson was a strong favorite.
In fact, there was little or no Houston
money in sight except when placed upon
the number of rounds that his friends
believed he could stand UP before his
adversary.
The first round clearly demonstrated
the fact that Houston was outclassed
at every point. Thompson took such
punishment as Houston could admins
ter with sang froid ct noir. When he
finally became tired of posing as a
punching bag he would duck the blows
and come UP smiling at the opposite side
of the ring. In the third round Thomp-
son demonstrated beyond a doubt that
he had been playing 'possum." Blow
after blow he landed upon Houston's
head and face. and the latter went to his
corner covered with blood.
When time was called for the fourth
round Thompson went at work in ear
nest A few blows were exchanged and
Houston was caught on the left Jaw
with vicious uppercut. Grasping his
head with both hands, he reeled slightly
and staggered against the ropes, across
which he fell as limp as rag. He was
carried to his corner where his seconds
eventually succeeded in reviving him.
After Thompson had been officially de-
clared the victor he stepped into the
center Of the ring and stated that he
had expected that the fight would con-
tinue at least ten rounds. Under the
he was willing to graf
ify the audience with a four-round ex-
hibition match with any one in the hall
who would be kind enough to go against
him." A man in the crowd replied that
was "his meat" and a few
seconds later young fellow, who was
as Jimmie Trimble, stepped
over the ropes.
1t was a hot contest from the start.
While there was an unusual amount of
slugging, considerable science was dis
played, in which Trimble had much the
best of 1t. That he outclassed Thomp-
son was conceded by nearly all the
spectators. Apparently he had no diff
Guilty in landing whenever he chose, and
when Thompson went to his corner after
the fourth round he knew that he had
been In fight for the first time during
the evening.
Just as the crowd was about to dis
perse Thompson issued a verbal chal-
lenge, offering to fight Trimble in this
city three weeks hence for purse here
after to be determined. Trimble prompt
ly accepted the challenge and agreed to
enter the ring at las pounds, Thompson
to weigh about ten pounds less.
Yellow Fever Victims
NEW YORK, Jan. IA. According to
letters received in this city from Jamai-