Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-19

Monday night the Gardeners fought
what was probably the last bout at the
Metropolitan Athletic club house In
Fulton. 1t was the last contest under
the old State law. The new statutes
are more stringent, their definition or
prize fighting embracing such contests
as have been tolerated here. The new
law was designed TO Kill the game in
West Virginia, and it has probably sue
ceeded, to the extent that whatever
bouts take place in the future will be
pulled off in private.
A history OF boxing in this section
will be of interest to lovers of the
sport There can be no question that
the substitution of gloves for bare
knuckle encounters somewhat digaified
the game At any rate, 1t lea to
liberation OF glove contests, which may
not have had the brutal features OF tne
bare knuekle game, but nevertheless
were almost always continued until
there was knockout.
The first fights OF any Importance IN
this State were pulled OFF near Golfers
Station, with bare knckles, that point
having been selected because OF It's
proximity to the borders of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, and the facilities for
escaping into the two States in case Of
interference or attempted arrests By the
authorities. In those days, prize fight
ing was very grave offense. and only
those who were on the inside" knew
the location of the ring.
1t was soon after the Golfers Sta
ton bouts that John L. Sullivan be-
came the popular idol. He visited
Wheeling several times, once when
there was boat race on the river.
Slade and other big fellows were also
seen here in exhibition bouts. One of
the early fights was in the old Capitol
rink at Sixteenth and Market streets,
between Jack King and 'Bilson" Jack.
About 1887 or 1883 Sullivan and Slade
gave an exhibition bout here.
1t was along in 1928 when Mike
Howley made his appearance. and told
how clever he was. He was big enough
10 work. and old enough TO know bet
ter He was taken up by the class of
foolish sports who idolize fighter, and
had elaborate training quarters. Then
match was made with Jim Gillespie.
the ~IAaurelton Cyclone The game
was not yet tolerated, so a train was
chartered. which ran UP TO Laurelton,
a mining town in Ohio. Gillespie's
wife got on the train. hunted out How
ley. and after sizing him up and apply
ing an epithet, told him what an easy
task Jimmy" would have. The train
proceeded back and forth. and finally
stopped below Tiltonsville. A ring was
pitched On the river shore. Gillespie
had all kinds of swings, while Howley
could not use his feet, and was COM
PEELED to stand up as a chopping block
for the Cyclone. He was literally
butchered until he was counted out
The Wheeling sports who backed
Mike were anxious to play even, and
matched him against Jack Boien.
This fight took place at daybreak at
Belmont Park. The crowd went down
on a steamer and barge. and while tied
UP on the West Virginia side. after
hours of carousing on the barge, three
men fell into the river and had mar
row escapes from drowning Howley
gave another exhibition Of his ability
to stand up and take it, and was easily
defeated. The sports had enough Of
Howley by this time.
The contests whetted the appetite OF
lovers of boxing During the next
summer Kid" Mccoy faxed a fight at
Belmont Park. and a year Or two later
came into national prominence.
In 1895. after number OF fake CON
tests at Stibert's Garden, the Metropol-
itan Athletic Club was organized
Fishers carpenter shop. in Benwood
below the car barns, was fitted up. The
opening bout was between Tim Scanlon
ana Harry Nikirk, both Of Pittsburg
and a train load OF Pittsburg sports