Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-02

Omaha Kid Jumped Into The Ring IN
the Twentieth Round Last Night.

se>S - - sN>s
WHEN MCLELLAND WAS RUSH
ING EDDIE, WHO APPEARED TO
BE GOING FAST-EvIDENTLY
HIS PURPOSE TO SAVE HIM
THE HUMILIATION OF A
| KNOCKOUT = DECISION WOULD
HAVE GONE TO THE plTTSBuRG
BOY ON POINTS.
There was rather unusual and I'M
satisfactory termination to the twenty
round bout between Eddie Gardner and
Jack McClelland in the Fulton club
house last night. The fashion was set
in the East some time ago for the
brother of a principal to interfere in a
j bout when knockout seems probable,
and the sporting fraternity has mini
mized the gravity of the offense be-
cause of the closeness OF kinship
Last nights contest was another OF
| these family affairs.
The aggressive fighting of Jack Nc
Clelland in the last few rounds, coupled
with Eddie's lack CT the GOODNESS and
generalship of his brother, took the
! steam out of Gardner, and but for the
| improbable contingency Of a chance
blow, it looked like a certainty that
! referee P. j. Gavin would give the de-
cision to the Pittsburg lad. One minute
before the sound of the gong would
have terminated the contest, Eddie be-
came groggy from punishment inflicted
| by McClelland in his rushes. Whether
/ or net he would have lasted through
/ the round, is point which will never
be settled. 1t was evident that Oscar,
| who was one of his seconds, feared a
knockout, and jumped over the ropes
to save his brother than humiliation.
Oscars action was tantamount 10
throwing up the sponge, a concession
that Eddie was defeated. The only
! criticism of his course comes from
those who laid wagers that Eddie
would go the distance, and who present
the very reasonable claim that their
rights in the matter were entitled to
! consideration. Eddie looked at Oscar
and laughed-a look which nearly
everybody interpreted as a protest.
AS matter of course, the referee had
no alternative but to decide McClel-
land the winner.
1t was clearly McClelland's contest,
although Eddie gave a better exhibit
ton than when he met the Pittsburgh
! before. His defensive work was ex-
cellent. He was at very decided dis
advantage in height and reach, and
the sympathy of the crowd was nat
urally with "the little fellow" The
agreement to strike with one arm free
proved manifest advantage to Gard
ner, as it enabled him to reach the
ribs several times. If McClelland en-
tiers into the same agreement with Os-
car he will not have the ghost of a
chance to win. McClelland is clearly
the superior boxer.
The preliminary bout between two
colored boys was stopped in the second
round by referee Oscar Gardner.
The principals in the main bout then
stepped into the ring and were intro
duced by announcer Jack" Murphy.
When p. ]. Gavin stepped through the
ropes, he was enthusiastically cheered,
and there were calls of speech" from
responded in a few remarks.
In Gardeners corner We're his brother
Oscar, and Hugh Arnold, while Nc
Clella1bd was attended by Buck" Cor
nelus and others. Charles Aymer,
who is to box Jim Scanlon, of Pitts
burg, under M. A. c. auspices May 18th,
was introduced to the crowd. The
referee announced that Marquis of
Queensbury rules would govern the
contest, the men agreeing to hit with
one arm free, and to break clean when
ordered. He asked the audience to re-
frain from cries of foul The prin-
cipals and seconds advanced to the CEN
ter of the ring to receive their instruc-
tions.
Round one opened with continuous
sparring. Eddie was the first to lead,
and his left hook for the body was
cleverly blocked. Gardner was the
first to take advantage Of the agree
ment, putting hard right on the ribs.
McClellsnd put straight left on the
jaw. The round was tame.
In the second they exchanged chops,
and McClelland put left jab on body.
McClelland landed several times, but
without steam, and Gardner found the
body with stiff punch. McClelland
put left hook on jaw twice, and Eddie
missed an uppercut. The pace was
lively when the gong sounded.
Eddie found the stomach in the next,
and placed a right handler over the
Kidneys Eddie put right swing on
jaw. and forced McClelland to the
ropes. where the Pittsburg boy landed
a left hook on the neck. Eddie forced
the fighting in McClelland's corner, Sc
curing slight advantage on a hot
mix. Jack put straight jab on the
face which stung. Jack tripped and
fell as the bell rang.
Exchange of body blows opened the
fourth. McClelland put a stiff left
hook on the jaw Man in audience Of
fers to bet 80 to Is on McClelland.
MeClelland put left on ribs. Fighting
furiously. and Gardner striking wild
ly. Gardner fell to his hands and
knees. Got up bleeding from arm ard
face. but apparently still strong. Me-
Clelland cool, and Gardner evidently
much exerted. McClelland put two left
hooks on the jaw, while Gardeners
leads fail TO land. McClelland's
round.
In the fifth round. Eddie did not