The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
Latter Now Bantam Cha mpiOn of the
World and the Winner of a Big
Stake and Fat Side BETS.
ALL THE SPORTS PRESENT
sHARKEY. FITZsIMMONs, MCCOY, COR.
BETT AND SULLIVAN.
A Hurricane Fight I'm n StOckade with
the Kaleidoscope at Work by the
Ringside-WinnerN Not Scratched.

II,
of Brooklyn, whipped Pedlar Palmer, of
London, thoroughly, in less than one round
in the arena of the Westminster Club, near
Tuckahoe N V, this afternoon With the
victory went the title of bantam champion
of the world although both contestants
were actually in the featherweight class.
The Englishman, although forcing the pace
at the outset, was really never in 1t, and
McGovecn simply battered his opponent
into partial insensibility. The Brooklyn
lads arms worked like piston rods and the
punishment which he melted out to Palmer
was swift and terrible.
The battle did not last quite one round,
the actual time of fighting being exactly
| two minutes and thirty-two seconds, at the
end of which time Palmer was lying help
| less, though half conscious, on the floor of
| the ring. Through an unlooked-for accident
| on the official timers part. the lads were
| separated by the gong when they had been
| fighting one minute. Each went to his cor
| ner. but the error was rectified in less than
| twelve seconds. and the boys resumed hos
| tilities in the center of the ring Immediately
! at the command of Referee George Siler.
| The ring of the gong was as purely acct
dental as it was unlocked for. and the En-
glishman's handlers made no complaint on
| this score.
| From the outset McGovern seemed to have
| his man we'll in hand, but his most SAN
| guine admirers never imagined that Terry
| would win I'm such short order. 1t was a
| case of a hurricane fighter pitted against
| a clever boxer, and the fighter won. Nc
| Govern is veritable fighting machine, and
| he went at his adversary with bulldog de-
| termination and lightning rapidity. His
4 for moi a nd
he beat down Palmer's guard with his
| s1edge- hammer blows.
The ring where the battle took place was
pitched in the center of a stockade in which
| seats were arranged for the accommodation
| Of 10000. The structure is built on the same
! principle as that i'm which Fitzsimmons and
| Corbett fought at Carson. The prices of
admission ranged from So to SIS, and seven
| eighths of the seating capacity of the in
closure was occupied. The purse for which
| the lads contested was $4,000. IS per cent.
Of which went to the winner and the re-
| mainGer to the loser. In addition to this
both pugilists are guaranteed an interest in
the privileges accruing from the kaleidoscope
pictures of the fight.
ALL THE BIG FELLOWS PRESENT.
| A more representative crowd of sporting
men than that which gathered in the Tuck
| ahoe this afternoon never watched a pugil-
| istic contest. OF course the pugilistic ele-
| ment was largely represented, every boxer
| of note, from the topnotchers in the heavy
| weight division TO the paper weights in the
amateur ranks being on hand. Among the
big fellows at the ringside were Tom Shar-
key, Bob Fftzsimmons. Kid Mccoy and Jim
Corbett. Each one of this quartet met with
warm reception. but when John L. Sulli-
H.
in box at the ringside a mighty cheer
greeted him. and the big fellow bowed his
Acknowledgements with hearty greeting.
| Sullivan went to McGovern's dressing room
and gave the little fellow some sound adj
| vice, which undoubtedly benefited Meow
ern, as the subsequent events proved.
There were hundreds of sporting men from
all over the United States, and a large
number Of the race-track contingent was in
evidence.
When the boys entered the ring a fair es-
innate of the attendance would place the
number at nine thousand. McGovern was
a strong favorite in the betting, several
large wagers being made at odds of 100 to
so, and later on these odds were increased
to 100 to 20, at which price all of the British
money in sight was picked up. McGovern
and his manager had several commissioners
betting for them and they won about $1,000
in the aggregate.
McGovern weighed 1857 pounds and Palm
err 1864 when they weighed at o'clock yes
terday morning. 1t was understood they
morning. but, at the request of Palmer's
manager, Il was mutually agreed to have
the lads meet at catch weights without
further weighing. Both pugilists were quar-
tered in cottages within a hundred yards
of the ringside from early morning and at
half past O'Clock they made their appear
ance in the Enclosure. When they reached
the ringside both were accorded a hearty
Palmer was the first to enter the ring.
He was accompanied by Manager Bettin-
son, Samuel Blakelock, Jim Ball and JEFF
/ rf0d a Hlkep british Whf ho
over Palmer's head. while the band played
God Save the Queen" To Offset this Nc
on the shoulders of two stalwart men.
waved an American flag and the band
struck up The Star-spaugled Banner" The
action of the youngster created intense en-
thusiasm
IRISH FLAGS ALSO WAVED.
McGovern when he reached his corner was
accompanied by his manager, Sam Harris
Al McMurray, Charles haywood Tim
Kearns and Joe Fairburn. His brother ac.
companied him, carrying the American fIag
and another of his seconds waved a small
Irish flag. Young McGovern, with the flag
over his shoulder, walked diagonaIly across
the ring and shook hands with his brothers
opponent amid the cheers of the spectators
Referee George Siler handed the gloves 10
the seconds and the mitts were soon placed
over the fists of the pugilists. Both lads
looked we'll and seemed trained to the hour
Palmer said he weighed lis pounds, but he
was certainly three or four pounds heavier
than that. while McGovern looked as if he
would turn the scales at 120 Very little
time was lost In the preliminary arrange
ment, and when Referee Siler called on them
both jumped to the center of the ring
Palmer led of with his left for the head
but fell short. and Terry landed his left
lightly on the head. Palmer seemingly con-
hdent OF success, forced matters again
leading his left again with force, but Nc
Govern stepped back quickly and Palmer
fell TO his knees. When he arose they got
10 work at close quarters, Terry landing his
right twice on the jaw and then bringing
IL down To the stomach, at the same time
keeping his head inside of Palmer's swings
Palmer landed good left on Terry mouth
and kept both hands working on head and
body. When they had been fighting Just one
minute Timekeeper Pollok accidentally rang
the gong at moment when McGovern was
| evidently getting the better of his opponent
The principals broke quickly and went 10
| their corners, while their seconds as well
as the referee, looked at the timekeepeI
| in amazenent. The referee seeing that a
mistake had been made through pure acct
dent, called the boys together again and
| they resumed hostilities after lapse OF
| about twelve seconds. They got to close
| quarters Immediately. with McGovern do
ing some heavy half-arm work. Then he
| sent left and right to the head. but Palmer
| countered on the face. Palmer assumed a
| crouching attitude and seemed to hold Nc.
| Govern with his left hand. but Terry quick
| as flash hooked his left TO the head and
| Palmer dropped TO the floor. Palmer got uy
| within four seconds. He was groggy and
McGovern forced him TO the ropes. swinging
Il A~sL a.. ~