Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-30

While the Contest Was Apparently On Its
Merits, the Audience Paid For 1t In
Money and Patience-The Burns-Cannon
Wrestling Match to Come on This
Evening.
The much heralded and talked-of
battle between Jimmy Barry, of Chi
cago, who is STYLED the undisputed
champion of the little men, and Cas-
per Leon, of New York, came off last
night at Claus Groth hall, Davenport,
under the auspices of the Tri-City
Athletic club, and terminated in =
draw. 1t was claimed that Manager
Jack Leonard had hung up Il purse of
81, 500 for the winner. Quite large
crowd was in attendance, including
representatives of Chicago's sporting
fraternity, and lunches from other
cities in Illinois and Iowa.
The preliminaries began at 9:3 and
kept the crowd in good spirits for
about an hour. Tom Dunn, of Peo
ria, ofiiciated as master of ceremonies.
and for the opening go announced
Frank BARLEY and Tommy White, of
Chicago. who tapped one another on
the kisser for three rounf~. Tommy
Smith, of Davenport, All. Maurice
Rauch, of Chicago. also SPARED three
friendly bouts, and Jack Wright (col
ored) and Jack Manning, Icons
trainer, went for four rounds.
Then there was over an hours in
PERMISSION that taxed the patience of
the spectators, who were informe d
that the wait was for the purpose of
keeping faith with delegation that
was coming in over the B., c. r. Il \.
from Cedar Rapids and other towns.
At 11:3O the bantams, Barry and
Leon, entered the ring. They were
given an ovation. In Barry's corn
er were Jack Manning. Maurice Rauch
and Don Leach, and Leon's seconds
were Frank BARLEY, Tom White, Will
liam McGurn and Pat Fitzgerald, all
of Chicago. Lou Houseman, sport
ing editor of the Chicago Inter Ocean,
was chosen as official timekeeper. w.
j. Egan held the watch for Leon and
Tom Dunn for Barry. Malachy
Hogan, of Chicago, refereed the main
event. Tom Dunn refereed the pre-
Hminaries.
Scientific But Slow.
On the whole the fight was scien-
tilic one, although there was some dis
position to criticise it as slow up to
the closing bout. Barry seemed to
deliver the more effective blows. He
was invariably stationed in the center
of the arena ready for business, his
antagonist adopting just the opposite
tactics and playing on the defensive.
Although in some rounds the eX-
changes were more frequent and hot
ter than in others, nothing happened
until the Goth that would warrant u
statement any more extended than
that the preceding rounds were dupli-
Gates of one another.
In the Goth Barry attempted to put
his old rival on queer street. and came
within an ace of succeeding, by rush
ing the fight, which became fast and fu-
rious at this stage of the proceedings.
Leon appeared fatigued, and was
shaking like leaf when he received a
singing body blow that forced him to
cling to his opponent for protection
The men were parted, and Barry placed
two mole fierce ones, knocking Leon
down and causing himself to stagger
over against the ropes. Before they
had an opportunity to get at it again
the gong was sounded and the battle |
was over. Malachy Hogan declared
it a draw, and his decision seemed to |
meet with general approval, although
there were many in the audience who |
felt that they had not been given their
worth, and declared that the |
was nothing more than a |
sparring exhibition. Neither fighter |
bore evidence of rough treatment.
Fault Was with the Management.
Inasmuch as the fight appeared to
be on the level, there was less dispo-
sition on the part of those present to
find fault with those who participated |
than there was with the management. |
For the first time since Jack Leonard |
took charge of sporting events in Dav- |
export the true aim and policy of his |
management to get all there is in it |
of obligations to, or ac-
for those upon whom |
he is dependent, became manifestly |
in many respects, and the |
event served to demonstrate that Leon |
ard, Notwithstanding all his boasts and |
self-puffery to the contrary, is not !
at the present time suffering |
from the symptoms of an attack of |
conscientious scruples such as would |
the calling in of a physician.
The disposition of last night was APP
parently to make sure in advance of |
all that was essential in the way of |
seeing the pecuniary end of the per-
formance through, and to let those who
trusted in the management look out
for them selves as far as results were
The people who did at
tend paid for all they got at best, for
while the event was out of the ordin-
airy in the three cities, the price,
were, too. 1t need not he said that they
were exorbitant-from $3.50 to S. n
they were such that
the management could not have ex- !
pected to pose either in the light of 7
public benefactors or philanthropists.
Those who went paid for all they saw.