Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-26

DDCISION-MUCH DISORDER AND
CONTTaSION-THE FULTON BOUT
POSTPONED INOR A WEEK.
There can be no question that
Referee Leslie Pearce gave an unpopu-
lar decision, when he awarded the Fin
hegan-Lansing contest to the former.
1t is equally true that there can be no
question: as to Pearce's honesty of pur-
pose. There are times, however, when
a mans Judgment is influenced by pop
ular clamor.
John Finnegan is certainly lucky
pugilis,t. He took the winners end
of the receipts at the Ariel Athletic
Clubs entertainment, in the only way
be could possibly have secured the
money. 1t was only question of how
many rounds the Pittsburg boy could
Stand the "gaff" He deserves great
credit for his gameness in fighting
thirteen rounds after the punishment
he received in the first, but that first
round destroyed his chances for secur-
ing the decision on a knockout. He
opened up on the aggressive, but after
his rush was cleverly stopped, he APP
peared to be nervous, and handled him.
self very awkwardly.
The whole affair was unfortunate for
the Ariel Club, inasmuch as the open
ing entertainment was marked by
scenes of disorder throughout the
evening. There was a big crowd, the
receipts aggregating nearly $500, and
most of the audience were dissatisfied.
Whether or mot Mr.. Pearce's decision
was proper from standpoint Of fair
ness, it was a mistake from stand
point of policy. 1t is likewise true
that the desire to see knockout, was
as prominent a factor in the Kissing
which followed the announcement Of
the decision, as was the sense of JUS
tice to Lansing.
Buzz Auber and Bill Carloes. 1t was to
be Of six rounds duration. but Auber
made matters so lively in the first that
when the round closed his opponent threw
I'D the sponge. Little Pete" a local
feather-weigtht, went in for six rounds
against George Church, game little col
cred fellow, claiming Buffalo as his
home. 1t was lively and interesting
throughout, and was very properly de-
clared a draw.
After a delay of about twenty minutes
the principals in the final bout walked
through the hail to the stage, and were
cheered. Ffnnegan entered the ring, at
tended by Pete Trafnor, Billy Kelly, Of
Philadelphia, and Joe Lowe. In Lam
sings corner were Eddie Gardner, Nor
gan and Nau. Referee Pearce made a
statement concerning Ryan's failure to
appear, and then gave the customary
instructions to the principals. The men
locked to be well matched, as to height
and reach. Lansing was a trfle beefy.
and was probably ten pounds the heavier.
When time was called they opened hos
tilities in very earnest manner. Finne-
gan was aggressive and did some rush
ing, until he was stopped with a left
hand jab in the wind. Lansing rushed
Finnegan to a corner. and sent him down
with jab on the breast. When he
arose the work was furious Finnegan
made swing which Lansing ducked, and
Finnegan dropped. Lansing placed
right over the right eye, and Finnegan
went down again, bleeding from the cut.
He took nine seconds to regain his feet,
and Lansing went after him relentlessly.
Finnegan struck out wildly, overbalanced
himself and fell. They were mixing UP
in lively fashion when the gong sounded.
In the second round Finnegan missed
several vicious leads. In breaking #
ter clinch, Lansing put stiff right on
the jaw, and Finnegan's seconds made
a claim of foul. FinnegaRs hackers be-
came excited, and threatened to jump
into the ring. For a minute neither man
landed. Then Finnegan placed a right
Jaib on the face, and sent Lansing to the
floor. Pearce had counted off five sec
onds, and Lansing was on his knees,
when the bell rang.
Round three opened with the men fid-
ding for an opening. F'innegan had APP
parently overcome the nervousness which
AdidCbeIILeU MS WOTk III UilS IlTSl rOunO.
He cleverly ducked a vicious right swing
for the jaw. Lansing put a left jab on
wind. Them came a succession of harm
less leads and clinches. Exchange of
rights ON the body as the gong sounded.
Crowd applauds.
Both men appeared confident at the be-
ginning of the fourth Finnegan ducked
into an uppercut on the breast. Finne-
gam put his left on the jaw. Finnegan
escaped from two tight places against the
ropes, through Lansings awkwardness
They exchanged jabs on the face, and
LanSing's face bled from cut on the
right temple.
They SPARED cautiously at the opening
OF the fifth, and Lansing fell short in two
leads for the jaw Lansing put right on
Jaw, and Firnegan landed an upshoot
Exchange of rights on head, and a hug
ging match
Finnegan opened the sixth by rushing
his opponent TO the corner without dam
aSse. They fddled up to each other and
Rugged Lansing appeared weak and
Rugged. Finnesan went after him fast
but Lansing put a stiff right on the jaw,
recovering so quickly as to make his
groggy look appear like a feint.
Finnegan looked the fresher, in the
seventh, but was bleeding profusely from
the nose. He did not appear anxious TO
mix up. Each landed a stiff one in the