Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-12-25
JOHN L. AS REFEREE
How He Decided a Fight in Which
Both Men Were Knocked Out.

There were four in the party, in
GLIDING John L. Sullivan and Brooklyn
Jimmy Carroll, and the conversation
turned to old fistic encounters. John
L. was in good spirits and one of the
party asked the eX-champion for
story.
Ever hear of fight 1 once refereed
at Harry Hills years ago." replied
John, clearing his throat. It's a peach.
No? Well, in those days the game was
all to the good. There were plenty of
corners, all anxious to get a crack at
me. l don't exactly remember who
the fellow was, but l think he was an
Englishman, who had come from ever
the pond expressly to put the gloves
on with me. He was a husky looking
guy, with big muscles, and had the
reputation of being a killer in his own
country. That is, ne had a beaut of
a right hand that could cure all kinds
Of insomnia with just one dig if it
landed on the right spot.
We'll, everything was arranged for
us to meet. ] was feeling fine that
night, and l was ready to give that
duck all the fighting he wanted. Some
how the English pug got cold feet and
wouldn't go on. All the persuasion in
the world had no effect, and he funk
ed. l was so sore that l made up my
mind to knock his block off, even if 1
did not do it in the regular old fash
toned way.
The guy showed up all right He
came tC the place and made a grand
stand play that he was in no shape tC
meet me. He said he wanted time to
train, but was ready to show what he
do Z y y
Well, l thought it over, and said to
Harry Hill to let him have chance.
So another big man. a fellow about
the Englishman's own weight, was
paired against the mug from over the
sea They were to have it out for four
rounds. I promised to meet the Eng
lishman if he showed any kind of
form. The crowd was a bit sore be
cause the Briton refused to meet ME,
and l squared matters by ccnsenting
to act as referee.
"In the first round the Englishman
started rough house tactics and had
his man on the go. In the second it
was the ether way, but the foreigner
was gritty ard stood the wallcping
fine. The third was a hummer. They
punched each other all over the ring.
The Englishman was 'foOred twice,
but got up gamely and hung on till
the end of the round. l took a kind
of liking to him for his courage but
| in my heart l wished his opponent
would eat him up.
THE forth started off with a jump
with the foreigner having all the bet
ter of it. He nailed his opponent with
both hands, and it was a cinch that
l would be forced to give him the de-
cision. While the scrap was at it's
height 1 wished something would hap
pen SO that l could give the local man
the fight. Ard something did happen
Quicker than it takes to tell it both
went down from right hand counters
l started to count them out hoping the
| local guy would get up in time He
| didn't move Il muscle neither did the
| Britisher. The ten seconds were up
and both were still dead to the world
Il was in a fix, and in my mind
was figuring out what to do. Fifteen
minutes passed and neither fighter
showed any signs of coming to. Well,
! l was puzzled and -"
What did you do?" What did you
| do?"
What did 1 do?" replied the big
fellow with a grin. why, 1 gave the
! decision to the fellow who got up first.
| 1t wasn't the English mug, either
Carroll said that two battles with
| similar endings occurred which are
| now fistic history. One was between
Frank Bosworth and Denny Killen at
! Philadelphia, and the other between
| Jack Files and Tommy Chanler at
! Chicago.
And how did the referee decide
| those scraps Carroll was asked
Just as John L. did. The first
man who scrambled to his feet pre-
pared to continue was the winner
| New York Sun.