The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-05
FAST WORK
Rafting, Bouts at the
Pelican Club
FOR NEMB Frs ONLY
NcGrath- Sweeney Go Was
the Best of Them All.

lively lew peISoIS last evening at a
private meeting of the Pelican Athletic
Club in its rooms on Mechanic street.
None but members was allowed. and
not all of them showed up, as they
had no expectations the bouts would
be of such excellence. One go in which
the contestants were Tom McGrath
and Henry Sweeney, was faster than
scores of competitions in which a de-
cision is sought.
The club has fitted up its rooms es-
pecially for the sport, there being cir
Gus seats on one side, making every
seat ring seat. They were dedica-
ted last evening" and nobody felt dis
appointed after the show was over.
All bouts were three rounds. each
round lasting three minutes. Although
the contestants had made no special
preparation, the men have been prac-
ticing a great DEAL and nearly all were
in fairly good condition. They We're
able to go three rounds at good speed
and might have put in a few more had
it been allowed by the management.
AS all the bouts were between mem
bers, there was no ill feeling displayed,
but in the opening bout between Nc
Grath and Sweeney, each wanted to
make as good an impression as posi-
BILE, it being the first time they have
opposed each other for months Frank
Sweeney was master of ceremonies and
Jack Hurley held the watch.
McGrath probably had the best of
his opponent in weight, but there was
not more than five pounds difference
at that. Both weighed in the 140's
McGrath instantly attracted attention
for the improvement he showed since
last year, when he fought John L. Sui
livan in New London. McGrath opened
with a left hook in the wind, and
Sweeney retaliated with a left jab in
McGraths face, which sent his head
back. McGrath tried to rush, but
Sweeney ducked cleverly out of harm S
way. When Sweeney essayed a rush
a moment later, McGrath stopped him
with left in the face. Sweeney then
fought at long distance and put in a
left and right on the head in quick
succession. The round showed
Sweeney the better.
They opened the second with hot ex-
changes in which honors were even.
McGrath rushed, but Sweeney broke
ground neatly and got down on one
knee. Sweeney then tried rush. but
McGrath made the\ prettiest duck of
his entire boxing career, and Sweeney
was leading for the ropes However,
Sweeney got in a right on the ear and
a left jab in the face Seford the round
ended. He had the better of the second
round.
But in the third it was different Nc
Grath has a stiff punch and he landed
a few of them which took some of the
clevefness out of Sweeney. Almost at
the opening of the round he swung his
right on Sweeney's ear and it hurt He
then showed in another stiff right on
the ribs, the effects of which Sweeney
showed McGrath tried to follow up
the momentary advantage by rushing
but Sweeney cleverly eyaded him.
Sweeney stopped the next rush with a
left jab in the face. After an ex-
change, Sweeney put in right on
the body and McGrath a left on the
face. McGrath tried another rush, but
left stopped him. Each man got in two
right swings on the head those of Nc
Grath being the stronger. McGrath
put in a hard left in the face. The
bout closed with the men in clinch
Sweeney putting in a right swing,
which McGrath ducked.
Fred Dinsda1e and Jack Wood COM
prised the next pair. Dinsdale weighed
about 12S pounds and topped Wood by
a dozen pounds at least. His superior
height and reach made it easy for him
During the first round he toyed with
steam into his blows. Dinsdale hit
his opponent whenever he pleased
Wood landed good left on the ear
toward the close, but was slow in get
ting away, and Dinsdale clipped him q
stiff right on the ear. When they
boxed at long range it was entirely
Dinsdale's, but they occasionally mixed
up and then Wood showed to better
advantage. The prettiest piece of work
los fCix ,i,.1-
drew on Wood so that Dinsdale caught
him coming.
Joe Barrett, at 140 pounds, and Pete
Army, at 1875 were the next pair
Neither was particularly brilliant from
a scientific standpoint, but Barrett
had the strength and the best
Of the bout. Barrett had q
habit of holding up his right to tele-
graph when the blow was coming, but
Army could not escape the rush, fol-
all that. The features of the bout
were Barrett's stiff rib roasters and 9
neat duck which Army made in the
third round.
Two heayyweights named Butcher
and Bloom were next introduced. They
would tip the scales at about III
pounds. Bloom is a novice and did not
show to good advantage. AS no slip
pers in the room would fit them, they
pOACb III olONhtIlS- lEtl, anu SllDptQ q
great deal. Bloom got in an occa-
sional right swing which Butcher felt
Bloom did not know how to lead, and
when the men stood off, his left leads
would not have killed a fly. They
were merely push blows. The bou,
created considerable laughter.
Jack Lawler and Henry Sweeney
were the next pair. Their exhibition
was a repetition of the score or more
thnN 10 e,fx In, 80,
ter. They put up a fast, clean bout
entirely devoid of smuggling, but about
as fast as anybody would like to see
Sweeney was a trihe fatigued after the
bout with McGrath. but he kept Law
Ter busy all the time Lawler showed
more ability in ducking than he ever
showed before, and his stiffness is bet
ter than last year. The bout was an
enjoyable one to the spectators, as the
men were going all the time.
Dick Butler and Fred Dinsdale came
on for three rounds Butler had about
dozen pounds advantage The extra
weight probably handicapped him, as
he made no attempt to let out and
stop Dlnsdale. 1t was an excel
lent exhibition Of scientific box
ing Dinsdale drew on the
MS left. When he got Butler coming,
he swung in neat right which the
taller fellow could not stop.
The Wind-up was between Denny
Gleason and Tim Murphy, who were
about equal in weight. somewhere
about 1875 pounds. Gleason evidently
has not had as much experience as
Murphy, and the latter did not show
himself a Kid Mccoy. Whatever box
ing was done was all by Murphy. Both
INDUCED In swings which would have
put Sharkey out Of the business had
they landed, but they went wild and
stopped from lack of momentum after
the men had swung themselves around
several times.