The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-29
QUEER ACCIDENTS
IN SQUARED RING
Unforeseen Incidents Have
Often Lost Battles.
EASoN'S EXPERIENCE
Blinded by Calcium Light and Is Knock
ed Out in Three Seconds-Man
Once Put Himself Out.

A chapter on 'Odd Accidents of the
Prize Ring" may seem odd even to old
time patrons of the glovemen's sport
people who figure that the only possible
accident" in a battle is a 1uke, or
wholly unintentional punch. and that
outside Of these crazy wallops the fistic
game is as much a question of skill
as a game OF chess. or as much prob
lem Of relative strength as a hauling
match between two truck horses.
Curious accidents. however. have
played quite part in making prize-ring
history, and singular mischances of
the kind will probably always cut fig
ure In deciding battles. n
How Forbes Lost.
These remarks are prompted in the
main by the strange finish of Clarence
Forbes in a fight at Omaha recently
Clarenees swings, swerves, and ducks
Ike lightning. and Is one of the
fastest men living at this branch of
the game. While lighting Tom Sullivan,
Clarence swung his body and swerved
Sullivan. His head came in contact
with a post. with a crash that could
be heard throughout tne building
Clarence was utterly dazed, and before
he could regain his senses Sullivan
finished him
Benny Yanger, speaking or his recent
fight with Hanlon, says that Il was not
nearly so much the force of HanIon' s
blow that dazed him in the fifteenth
round. as the fact that when he fell
his chin hit the canvas with a shock
severer than the hardest uppercut could
have given.
Something like ten years ago Dick
Moore and Henry Baker were battling
In a stock yard hall. Moore had all
the best of it. but slipped. and his head
struck a sharp-cornered stake which
some one had left unpadded. His face
was cut open, he was completely bewil-
dered, and Baker instantly knocked him
out.
When Joe Bertrand fought Jimmy
Barry. about nine years ago. he aimed a
furious swing at Jimmys head. The
flying arm caught under a rope and was
sprained. while Joe. wide open and de-
fenseless. received some savage blows
Shortest Battle on Record.
In Minneapolis years back Chariiu
Gleason, good fighter OF the past, met
youth named Webb. AS they came
across the stage calcium light hared
up and its blaze caught Webb fun in
the face. AS he blinked. owl-like. in the
glare, Gleason shot home straight
right and won the shortest battle on
record-about three seconds.
Harking back forty years and more II
will be remembered that John c. Heenan
when fighting John Morrissey had all
the better of the fray n.ttl aiming a
hard punch at the other fellow. ne hit
a post full tilt and crushed his knuckles.
thus spelling his right hand and ulti-
mately losing the verdict.
These are only a few instances which
show how large a part pure accident
and the interference of inanimate OBJ
iects have often played IN combats OF
the ring. They go to prove that mere
strength or splendid skill, or even the
two combined. may not always win, and
that even bullhead luck IS not always
proof against d sudden influence exert
ed by the adjoining scenery
Knocked Himself Out.
Speaking Of accidents. the funniest
ever seen IN any ring came Off at the
Chicago Athletic Association some seven
or eight years ago. A large young man
named F1tzgerald-who never foughl
again-and another earnest whale named
Sheedy-who likewise laid aside the
gloves the same evening-were DOING
battle. Both were very weary, and Fitz,
gerald was groggy in the extreme
Lurching across the ring he started ar
| upperout--started IL from way low
| hoping to lift Sheedy's head right of its
foundations. Sheedy fell back out OF