The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20
Crowd of Illinois Sports, Routed by
vermiIIion County sheriff, Pulls on
the Mill in Warren County.
STOPPED ON CLAIM OF FOUL
ALL BETS ARE DECLARED OFF BY
THE REFEREE.
Both Men i'm the Pink of Condition.
Crowd of Over Two Hundred Pres
ent-Churchgoers Attend.
peclal to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
PERRYSVILLE, Ind, July 19.-Foiled by
a courageous sheriff a crowd of 200 sports
from Danville, ILL.,, that crossed the State
line this afternoon to pull off a prize fight
near this place, persisted in their purpose,
moved over into Warren county, pitched
the ring in the dense woods near the town
of Foster and held the fight at o'clock
this evening. The ring was within a hun
dred yards of schoolhouse. where religious
services were being held late III ths after
noon, and it was an interesting feature of
the fistic contest that it proved sufficiently
attractive to draw several spectators from
the congregation gathered in the school
house.
Steve Crosby, of Louisville, and Joe Kel-
ler, of Cincinnati, were the principals, and
they were to have gone fifteen rounds for
a side bet of $500 and the gate" receipts,
but Crosbys seconds claimed a foul in the
fifth round and refused to continue the
fight. Accordingly the referee declared the
contest a draw and all bets off. The men
were matched at light weights and the fight
was exciting while it lasted, with neither
man getting apprecably the better of it.
Both fighters were in prime condition. fit
to go the fifteen rounds or to finish.
The interesting side of the affair was the
work of Sheriff James A. Swayme, of Ver-
million county, who came down from New
port when he learned of the plans of the
Danville sports, and, single-handed, put
the crowd of 200 to rout. There is place
in the woods, just west of Perrysville,
where number Of fights have been pulled
off hxy Dcn llo in -ftt,1
any interference from local officials, and
it was selected for the Crosby-Keller bout.
The plans were well made and every effort
had been made to keep them secret, but
they leaked out and Sheriff Swayme re-
ceiyed the information at his home in New
port barely in time to enable him to get
here just as the crowd from Illinois arrived
on the scene and prepared to pitch the ring.
Sheriff Swayme informed the fighters and
their seconds that the fight could not be
held in Vermillion county, and, although
many I'm the crowd talked of going ahead
with their arrangements in spite of the
presence of the officer. they were soon con-
vinced that such a course would result in
serious trouble and the leaders counseled
discretion.
A "bluff' was made of going over into
Fountain county and Sheriff Swayme was
fooled for a short time, but he soon dis
covered that Warren county the OBJ
jective point, and he did all in his power
to prevent the fight there. He followed the
ard from that place telephoned TO Sheriff
Williams, of Warren county, at Williams
port. notifying him of the approach of the
Danville crowd. Sheriff Williams, however,
could not get from Wlliamsport To Foster
in time to interfere with the fight, If he
made attempt, and Sheriff Swayme
had no jurisdiction outside Vermllion coun-
ty he turned back home.
The crowd wasted no time after a suitable
place for the ring was found in the woods
just across the county line, short distance
south of Foster. Two hundred tickets at
81 were sold for the affair, but the crowd
was materially sweled by residents of the
neighborhood. who could not be prevented
from viewing the fight from a short dis
tance.
1t is understood that there were persons
In the crowd who secured the names of
all the leaders of the Danville crowd and
of number of others who were there as
spectators merely. This information will
be turned over to the proper officials of
Warren county, but whether any prosecu-
tions will result is matter of speculation.
The prompt action and courage of Sher-
iff Swayme him general commenda-
ton in Perryvile, where the people have
long protested against similar violations
of the law near here. This is the first time
an attempt has been made 10 pull off a
fight on Sunday.