Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-24
PUNCHED HIS Eye OUT.
FRANK ERNIE TERRIBLY PUNISHED
JOE CANS LAST NIGHT,
SAVING THE CHAMPIONSHIP
In His CIass-A Terrific Battle Which
Ended in a cry Brutal M-anner-in-
terstate League Meeting mt Cleve-
land Yesterday-Other Sporting
Notes.

Erne, of Buffalo, successfully defend
ed his title of lightweight champion
of the world against Joe Cans, colored,
of Baltimore, before the Broadway
Athletic Club tonight. Erne did most
of the heavy lighting, displaying bet
ter Judgment and more skill than his
opponent. Cans received his punish
ment gamely until the twelfth round,
when his left eye was started from its
socket by a terrific right-hand swing
from the Buffalo boy. Cans was help
less and there was no alternative for
the referee but to award the decision
to Erne.
The fstic contest for the lightweight
championship drew an enormous
crowd. There were many who wagered
large sums of money that Joe Cans,
the colored bay, would take the cham
pionship from the vicinity of the
great lakes to the borders of Chesa-
peake bay. There was so much Balti-
more money in sight that Cans was
made a favorite at 100 to 80 a week
ago, and tonight the confidence of the
Maryland people was SO well estib-
lished that they bet on their nan at
odds of 100 to 70. There was a strong
money-laden contingent from Buffalo
at the ringside, and every nan of the
party bet heavily on the little lad
from their ticy, taking every bet offered
by the Marylanders.
One hundred to seventy on Cans was
the best price offered and the Buffalo
people snapped this up so quickly that
The price rose to 100 to 80.
At 9:35 Erne climbed through the
rope. Cans appeared about five min
utes later. When Erne was introduc-
ed there was thunders of applause, but
when the Baltimore negro was an
nounced there was very little enthus-
iasm.
The men agreed to a return match
no matter who won.
Straight Marquis of Queensberry
rules governed to-night's contests.
Each man stripped in perfect condi-
ton. Just as they were ready to begin
hostidties, Erne's manager, Robert
Smith, stepped to the ringside and
calling Erne over to him said:
There shall be no judges for this
bout. We will depend on the referee"
The men shook hands at 9:55.
Rand both were careful. Erne forced
GA into his corner and triad left and
Fight, but Cans blocked. Erne forced
again and landed a straight left on the
stomach. getting away clever. Then he
tried left and right for head but failed
to land At the close of the round Cans
landed a straight left on the face.
Round 2-ETne opened with a rush and
forced Cans into his corner again. The
Buffalo lad was very quick and sent right
and left to head, cleverly blocking a left
hook which Cans attempted. Erne then
forced Cans across the ring and landed
three straight swift left jabs on the face
and uppercut the negro under the chin with
his right. Cans tried a left for the head
but Erne blocked and sent his own left
~ Nat W1i4o IOANAlS 1otlo ~ ne NOI ilCt
once more, where Erne planted another
left on the face.
Round S-Erne kept Cans in his corner
and landed a light left on the wind. Cans
tried a straight left as he jumped to the
center of the ring, but Erne lodged it.
Cans placed his right to the body. Ar ex-
change of lefts on the face followed, Erne
heading. Cans countering. Both blocked
rleverly until Cans landed a straight left
on the jaw. At the bell the men were in
a mix-up in Cans corner.
Round 4Gans sent a well directed left
ewing to the jaw, but Erne stepped in
quickly and planted his right on the wind
at close quarters. Erne swung a right light
to the wind and Cans hooked a very light
left to the face. Erne led left to the face
and at close quarters sent his right three
times rapidly over the kidneys. Cans sent
right and left to the wind just before the
bell.
Round Scans landed left to the face and
Erne returned a straight left which was
the hardest blow landed up to that time.
Erne tried a left for the stomach, and fail
ing to land stood in an awkward position
but got well set before Cans could take
any advantage. Gans sent left to head
and followed with right hard on the body
and again to head. Erne sent back left
swing on the jaw, to which Cans replied
with a short left to face and right over to
the head.
Round 6-There was a lot of hddling,
Cans breaking ground. The negro stop
ped suddenly and swung his left to Erne's
right eye, cutting 1t. Cans then went in,
sending right and left swings to the head
and Erne surprised everybody by replying
with similar blows. Erne continued to
slam both hands on the negro. reaching
the ~latter's head half a dozen times, stop
pings Gans's rushing and forcing the ne
gro to back away. Erne was bleeding from
mouth and nose at hell.
Round 7-Erne rushed and staggered
Cans with a right swing on the head. He
tried a left but fell short and stepped in
and sent his right up to Gans's chin. Erne
sent a hard left to the body and Cans
planted a good right on the head. Cans
swung his left TO the jaw and Erne stag
gered, but quickly recovered and ruched
back with left and right to the body. The
ebll found them sparring, with Cans on
the defensive. :,
Round S-Erne jumped right to his man.
He tried a left swing for the head, but
Cans got inside of It. Erne then put
straight left to face and hooked it again
to the ear. Cans failed to counter and
Erne reached the body and head with left,