The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-04
ERIE Is BT CHAMPION.
The Seventh Al0ost Faded the
Contest. D1f the winner Hurt HIS
HanA, and Opponent Was Gane.

BUFFALO. July 3-Frank Erne, Of this
city. met George LAyigne. Of Saginaw,
Mica. in the arena OF the Hawthorne Ath-
ietic Club al Cheektowaga. suburb OF this
city. tonight. and after fighting twenty
nerce and clever rounds. wressed the light
weight championship Of the world from the
Western man.
Over 1000 peYpns watched the contest.
which was brimfr, Of exciting episodes ana
Of hard and scientific hitting. LAvigne
went down 10 defeat and surrendered the
title In a most credtsable manner. He was
piucky and game to the core. and for the
first half dozen rounds more than held his
own against his adversary. In the seventh
round LAvigne received a terrible drub-
bling and was only saved from . knockout
by The timely interference of the gong.
Erne was looked upon then az sure win
ner. but In the subsequent rounds. II was
seen that he had lost some of his steam.
Just what was the cause OF this was not
ascertained until the bout had reached the
limit OF twenty rounds and Erne had been
declared the winner. II was then found
that he had badly injured his left hand In
the seventh round. and II this had not oc-
Cured Lavigne's nndoing might have como
In half the time that II took the Buffalo
man TO win.
Erne weighed In at 1884, and Lavigne at
l35. Lavigne was favorite. much money
being bet on him a. 100 TO %. When the
men stripped. Iavigne looked to be the
more finely drawn. Both were cool and
confident. As the fight progressed La
vigne's GOODNESS vanished. while Erne never
lost his self possession for q moment. The
Buffalo boy simply battered the title out OF
his opponent and while not escaping
good deal of punishment he administered q
terrific drubb4ng to Lavigne. Toward the
end OF the bout. IAvigne's guard was use
less and nothing but sheer gamenese kept
the Saginaw Kid from going under. Blow
after blow fell upon his head and body
with relentless force but he stood the gar
and fought back piuckily az best he could.
14avigne's seconds were his brother. Bill
~ I4avigne: Jimmy Robinson. Of New Or
leans: Jack Hanley. Of Philadelphia. and
Billy st. Mary. Of Saginaw, Mich. Erne's
seconds were Frank Shipper and HeMH
Huber of Buffalo. The men were 80
nounced to box twenty rounds to q
cision. for the lightweight championship
OF the world. The timer for Lavigne was
Jim Young. OF San Francisco. When
Honest John Kelly entered the ring he
was greeted with cheers. and the sports
around the ringside shouted: You're all
right: we know we will get an honest run
for our money"
Jim Corbett stepped into the ring and
addressed the crowd. saying: Gentle
men. am getting into the best Of shape
and will be ready to again contest for the
heavyweight championship with the win
ner OF the Jeffries-Sharkey fight"
Lavigne looked TO be In excellent con-
dition As soon as the men had donned
the gloves Kennedy. Erne's manager. and
Billy Lavigne. representing his brother,
entered the ring and had consultation
with Referee Kelly as TO the rules govern
lfrA
added to the Lavigne handlers. and gave
the Kid some sound advice Then the
boxers. with their handlers. Joined In the
parley with the referee as to the rules,
and they held the center OF the ring for
fully Ave minutes As a result Of the
confab II was announced that the men
had agreed to box under Marquis OF
Queenebury rules.
Round 4.
Lavigne was first 10 lead. trying a
lead for the face, which was blocked.
Lavfgne hooked his lef. TO the neck.
Erne countering on the body. Their
blows were repeated moment later.
Lavigne sent two straight lefts to the
forehead. Erne sending a left 10 the
ribs In return. After a clinch Erne
sent left 10 face. and ducked Lavigne's
counter. Erne's nose began TO bleed.
and he parted a left to the head.
head. which Erne lodged and the
round ended In half ciinch.
Round q.
Erne sent left to body and right to
neck Isavigue coantered. and then
sent hard left TO wind Lavigne sent
his left hard to face. but was met WIN
terrific left In stomach. Lavigne
with left. Erne putting left to stom-
ach and following with a left hook on
face. An exchange ~ lefts on body
breugh, the men to ciinch- l.avtgne
@kAA txafr ~
parting shot sent right over head. but
failed.
Round 3.
Erne came up fresh, with I4avigne
leading. They mixed NJ. three times.
and then Frnn electrified the crowd
with a terrific left on the KIDS face.
Erne sent his left to body hard. but the
Ksf came back quickly with corking
rich, under the Jaw and s o isfs
the Kla sent his left 10 face. Erne
eowntering on head.
Round 4.
Lavigne led with left to Jaw. Erne
clinching. Hard rights and lefts were
exchanged on the breast and neck, and
LAyigne boring In sent an awfu left
over the heart. Erne fought back
gameiy. but got another crushing blow
almost in the same spot. in answer to
which he ripped q left on the wind.
Erns Strengthened the Saginaw man
with a right uppercu, on the face. La
ttKnE CaAsAGfItE HAfu On iHt hVIS.
NOuna 3.
Evne was first 20 lead. landing left on
face LaviEne swinging his right TO the
ribs Erne threw over his right TO the
body. and double exchanges on the
body followed. Erne led righ. for tho
face, but Iavigne got inside hts lead.
sending right TO stomach At close quar-
ters Erne hooked his right 10 head.
landing back OF the ear Lavisne be
came hotheAdsd. making two wild
swings. which Erne got under. and the
Saginaw man got the worst % the in-
fighting. which enced the round.
Roand q.
r.avigne lei for the chest Erne send
ing double left re ribs AMI head. follow
tng IL u;s with left smash in the wind
fav.gne sent his left 30 the head.
RICH. to the ribs and another hard left
with terrific force. while Erae sent bis
right To the body ard left to neck. clas-
ing in with half clEsch, Iavigns
Jumped in with gegs and rich. 70 the
head and Frank cosniered with left
ard rigat on the hoty. At the close OF
the round T~assgre was forcing the