Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-07
SUCKER
SPORTS
Try to Pull off a Prize
Fight in This
State.
But Governor at Once In
terposes a Stern
Prohibition.
unlawful Invasion Is At
tempted From
BeiVidere.

If sucker pluSuSlltS PuI0u oiA
fight in Illinois or Wisconsin at any
time during last nigEt it was not be-
cause the two young governors Oh
these states did not put forth every
reasonable effort to prevent it.
It seems that prize fight had been
arranged for last evening at BelVl'
dere, Ill, but Gov Yates learned of it,
and, like Gov Nash of Ohio, deter
mined that his state should not be dis
graced by such an affair if he could
help it; SO he started his minions OF
the law on the trail of the pugs with
the result $50 it was repOrted) that
they hired a special train for the pur-
pose of running across the line into
Wisconsin to do their bloody business.
But Gov. La Toilette got wind of their
plan and wired the sheriffs of south
ern Wisconsin of the threatened in
vasion and enjoined them to spare no
effort to prevent the fight, also re-
questing them to order their various
deputies to be on the alert.
He went still further and informed
the officials of the railway leading out
of Belvidere toward Wisconsin terri
tory that he would hold them respon-
sible for any use of their equipment
which should promote a violation of
the law in this state.
Thus the matter rested at midnight
but it is entirely probable that the
promptness and energy with which
Gov. La Toilette acted have saved this
commonwealth from the disgrace
of brutal and demoralizing fistic en-
counter.
Belyidere is about 20 miles south
east Of BelOit, which is on the state
line, and it is likely that the intention
of the pugs was to make that city or
neighborhood their place of meeting
BY a detour via Harvard, they might
have come into the state just south of
Sharon. But Beloit was undoubtedly
their objective point, and if the sheriff
and constables of Rock county eXhib-
tied the same good spirit as the gov
ernor the Illinois sports are this morn
ing sorely disappointed gang.
Punishment Fits the Crime.
The penalty for prize-fighting in
Wisconsin is a fine of from $1JU to
81 900 or imprisonment of from one
year to five years. For being present
at or promoting (as a railway for
eXample) the punishment may be con-
fnement in state prison for from one
to three years or in jail not more than
one year or by fine not exceeding
81 900
Yates Fine Action.
Springfield, Feb. 5-Judge Fuller of
the circuit court of Boone county wired
the governor yesterday that a prize
fight was scheduled to be held at Bel
yidere last night and requested him to
prevent it. The message reached the
executive office while the governor
was in Jacksonville, but, on being adj
vised of its contents. he took the first
train for this city. Immediately upon
his arrival the governor had telephone
communication with the sheriff Of
Boone county and instructed the latter
to prevent the fight, and, if he needed
any assistance, company of militia
would be sent to Belvidere subject to
his orders.
Driven From 5evidere.
Belvidere, Feb. 5.-A prize fight
scheduled for last night between Ed
die Croake of Chicago and Young
Peter Jackson of Chicago was stopped
by Mayor Moore, but the parties left
on a special train for point outside
the county where the sheriff cannot in
terfere, but the sheriff has been in
structed by Governor Yates to stop the
fight