The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-14
A SPEEDY KNOCKOUT
McGOverl'S Short Work
with Palmer
ONE FAST ROUND FOUGHT.

Counted Against Him I'm Two Minutes
and Thirty-Two Seconds-Ths Fight
Ing Fast and Furious While IL Lasts
McGoyern Wins the Title OF Bantam
Weight Champion of the World.
Heavy Betting on the Fight.
New York, September 1e.-Terry Nc
Govern, OF Brooklyn, whipped Pedlas
Palmer, of London, thoroughly in less
than n round, in the arena of the
Westchester Club near Tuckahoe, n.
T., this afternoon. With the victory
went the title Of bantam champion of
the world, although both contestants
were actually in the feather weight
class.
The Englishman, although forcing
the pac at the outset, was really
never in it, and McGovern simply bat
tered his opponent into partial insensi-
bility. The Brooklyn boys arms work
ed like piston rods and the punishment
which he meted out to Palmer was
swift and terrible.
The battle did not last quite one
round, the actual time of fighting
being exactly 2 minutes and 80 seconds.
1870 l. ~ AAlI@ l. llA1S oo
lying helpless, though half conscious,
on the floor Of h ring.
The purse for which the lads contest.
ed was $40, 900, rs per cent. of which
went to the winner and the remainder
to the loser. In addition to this, both
pugilists are guaranteed an interest in
the privileges accruing from the kinet-
Oscope pictures of the fight.
A more representative crowd Of
sporting men than that which gathered
in TuckahOe his afternoon never
watched a pugilistic contest. OF course,
the pugilist element was largely rep
resented, every boxer of note from the
top notchers in the heavy weight divis-
ion, to the paper weights in the anna
teur ranks being on hand. Among the
big fellows at the ringside were Tom
Sharkey, Bob Fitzsimmons, Kid Nc
Coy, and Jim COrbett. Each one of
this quartette met with a warm recep-
ton, but when John L. Sullivan walked
down the aisle and too a seat in the
box at the ringside, a mighty cheer
greeted him, and the big fellow bowed
his acknowledgements with a hearty
greeting.
When the boys entered the ring a
fair estimate Of the attendance would
place h number at 5000.
McGOvern was a strong faVOrite in
the betting, several large wagers being
made at odds of 100 to 80, and. later
on, these odds were increased to 100 to
20, at which price all of the British
money in sight was picked up. Nc
Govern and his manager had several
commissioners betting for them, and
they won about $S,0 900 in the aggregate.
!, McGovern weighed 114k pounds and
Palmer 115k when they weighed at 5
o'clock.
Palmer was the first to enter the
rim O He UoC onnnro n onin6 NY Nono
ger Bettinson, Sam Blakelock, Jim
Ball and Jeff Thorne, all of England.
One of these carried & silken British
flag, which he waved over Palmer's
e while the band played God Save
the Queen"
To offset this, McGovern's 12-yea1
old brother, perched on the shoulders
of w stalwart men, wave an Amer
lean flag and the band struck up 1.-THE
1 Star Spangled Banner" The action OF
the youngSter created intense enthusi
assn.
| McGovern, when he reached his cor.
ner, was accompanied by his manager
| Sam Harris, AL. McMurray, Charles
| Mayhood, Tim Kearns and Joe Fair
| carrying the American flag and anoth.
er of his seconds waved a small Irish
I flag.
Both lads looked we'll and seemed
trained to the hour. Palmer aid h
weighed lis pounds, but he "a Ger
tainly three or four pounds heavie1
han that, while McGovern looked a.
if he would turn the scales at 120.
Very little time was lost in the pre-
liminary arrangement, and when Ref
cree Siler called On them, both jumped
to the center of the ring.
Palmer led off with his left for tn,
head. but fell short, and Terry LANDED
his left lightly on the head. Palmer
seemingly confident of success, force,
matters again, leading his left witt
force, but McGovern stepped bacl
quickly and Palmer fell to his knees
When he arose they got to work a
close quarters, Terry landing his RICH
twice on the jaw and then bringing
down to the stomach, at h same tim
keeping his head inside of Palmer
swings. Palmer landed a good left o.
Terry's mouth, but the Brooklyn la
only shook his head and kept bot
hands working on head and body
When they had been fighting just on
minute, 'Timekeeper Pollock accident
ally rang the gong at a moment whe
McGovern was evidently getting tn
better Of his opponent. The principal
broke quickly and went to their or
ners, as we'll as the referee. looked a
the time-keeper in amazement. TIL
referee, seeing that a mistake ha
been made through pure acciden
called the boys together again and the
resumed hostilities after a lapse c
about twelve seconds. They go t
, close quarters Immediately, with Me-
Govern doing some heavy a arr
work. Then he sent left and right t
the head, but Palmer countered on tn
face. Palmer assumed a crouching a.
| titude and seemed to hold McGover
/ with his left hand, but Terry, quick a
a flash, hooked his left to the head an
Palmer dropped to the floor. Paine
got up within four seconds He Wa
groggy and McGovern forced him I
the ropes, swinging both hands.
The Brooklyn lad was over-anxiol
to finish his man, and Palmer, thong
a groggy, ducked beautifully. Nj,
Govern was over him without pausin
for an instant and kept working bot
hands to the body and neck Palm'
again got into a half crouching att
tude and got TO a clinch. As the
broke McGovern threw his right hal
over the heart and hooked his left