Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-08
4 RECORD breaking CROWD.
Saw Jack McolellaDd Defeat Joe
Hopkins Last Night

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Hopkins Last Night
AT THE METROPOLITAN ATHLET-
&c CLUB-THE PTTTSBURG LAD
WAS TOO SCIENTIFIC FOR THE
COLORED BOY-FAIRLY CHOP
PED HIM DOWN UNTIL HE WAS
TOO WEAK TO CONTINUED
VERY FAST AND INTERESTING
CONTEST.
In exactly the same length of time it
required Oscar Gardner to turn the
trick, Jack McClelland last night sent
Joe Hopkins into the dreamy realm of
copeland. The Metropolitan Club
never before contained so many peo-
pie. The building has a capacity I'M
der ordinary conditions for accommo-
dating about 100, but last night near
ay 1000 spectators fought for positions
affording a view of the ring, Swelter-
ing from the intense heat, and heartily
cheered their favcrites. These occupy
ing chairs Invested themselves of super
fiulous clothing and persistently waiy
ed the palm leaf fans which the club
management had thoughtfully provided
for the occasion. Hundreds OF strang-
ers were present. A big crowd of Pitts
burg sports rooted" hard for McClel
land, but Hopkins also had his friends.
Hopkins admirers were unwilling to
back their judgment with the coin,
however, even when such attractive
oGlis as to were offered.
The story Of the contest may be told
in one terse sentence. Hopkins was
pitted against a better man. The col
ored boy trained faithfully, and was in
Better shape than when he fought
Gardner in the same ring. He was I'M
der weight, very unusual thing for
him, and in the very pink of condition.
McClelland shows signs of the punish
ment he received in his last contest,
and the cut on his eye was reopened
early in the game. Hopkins made the
mistake, however, by fighting for his
head instead of his body. Every
stomach jab the colored fellow landed
counted, but they were very few and
far between.
McClelland's tactics were very diff
ferent from the methods he followed
IN his contest with Gardner. He did
not cut out the pace, but played
waiting game, and allowed Hopkins
20 be the aggressor in the early rounds.
He played fer the head, and he had
Joe's block knocked almost off the
shoulders before the finish came. His
superior cleverness enabled him to get
in on the jaw, and out Of danger before
Hopkins could counter. He repeated
ly hooked right and left to the head
without q return. After the tenth,
attempted to force the
work, and was bested each time.
McClelland had no trouble in land
ing, but he lacked steam behind his
punches. He simply chopped his dusky
opponent Down. Hopkins was on the
floor frequently in the last three
rounds, but it was more because of his
own weakness than from the force be-
hind McClellands punches. The last
time he went down he was simply ex-
hausted, and although he struggled
gamely to regain his feet, he could not
do so. He was all in after the twelfth
round, and the contest was over but
for the possibility of a chance Blow
from Hopkins. 1t was just such blow
which he landed at the close of the
fourteenth. 1t had all Hopkins re-
naming strength behind it, but there
was not enough steam to turn the tide
of battle. As it was, McClelland re-
vived and doubled up
The preliminary was four round
bout between Frank Salisbury, of East
Liverpool, o., and Charles Kurtz, of
Wheeling, in which Referee P. J. Muir
ply awarded the decision to the for
mer
Hopkins was the first to, appear in
the ring, followed by his manager Fred
Fox, Hugh Arnold and Grad Morgan.
McClelland followed and was accorded
hearty reception. He was attended
by Billy Corcoran and Otto Black. The
referee was P. j. Murphy. The men
agreed to break clean, no hitting in
clinches or breakaways. When the
men advanced to the centre of the ring
the Pittsburg boys superiority in height
and reach was apparent. He was at
least two inches taller than his Stocky-
built opponent
When the gong sounded they fiddled
and Hopkins ran in, rushing McClel-
land to a corner and clinehing. They
tented and McClelland missed a swing.
Jack placed right on the body and fail
ed to get away from left on the
head. No damage was done in this