Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-31
LONGEST BATTLE EVER FOUGHT.
Jack Burke Tells Of tto-Round Fight
With Bowen,

Las the distinction OF having fought
the longest ring battle in the worlds
history, He battled for ITO rounds
April 6. 1898. and the contest was final.
~ declared a draw, The fight lasted
seven hours and twenty minutes, and
the last half OF II was characterized by
an element of comedy as we'll as by
the remarkable endurance shown by
both men,
Finish fights--exoept for a few sub.
rosa contests between unknowns---
have been unknown In America for
some years, and nowadays flght OF
more than twenty-five rounds Is never
arranged, In the days OF finish fights,
however,, battles lasting tlfty rounds or
more We're not uncommon, II will be
remembered that Sullivan fought Jake
kilrain for scventy.two rounds, and
/ even then the battle was only ended
when Kilrain's second threw up tho
sponge, In the days of bare lnuclsle
| fights, long engagements we're frequent
The longest bare knuckle fight on
record was between Jonathan Smith
and James Kelley, II took place near
Melbourne. Australia, In November,
| 1865. and lasted ak hours and fifteen
minutes, The longest bare knucltle
fight in America was between James
o'Nell and j. Fitzpatrick at Berwick.
Me, Dec 4, 1860, II lasted four hours
and twenty minutes,
| n. n..i,A - L.,
New Orleans just few months after
Corhett won the championship Of tho
world from Sullivan, New orleans
was the Mecca of fighters In those
days, but the citizens had had sur.
felt Of good things In the pugilistic
line, and popular prices were fxed for
the bout between the two light
weights Tho result was the largest
crowd ever assembled to SEQ fight
in New Orleans. More than $4,000 per.
sons were in the hall when the main
event started, but less than 1000 were
IN their seats when the sun rose and
found the two men still battling on
the morning Of April z,
For thirty or forty rounds the fight
was fast In the twenty.second round
Burke a%uNg with HIS right for Bow.
ems Jaw. but the latter ducked and
Burkes hand struck the top OF his
head, breaking one of the bones, Burke
continued fighting with his left hand
until he wrenohed muscle In his left
forearm, rendering both hands almost
useless Stlll he kept on and Bowen
was unable TO put him out
After fifty rounds OF fighting the
spectators began TO get sleepy and
hundreds OF them left their seats.
The exodus continued hour after hour,
until but few hundreds were left In
the hall. The fighters were becoming
exhausted, and were only ablo TO fight
in spurts OF round or two. Both
finally became weak from lack of
food. Bowen's seconds procured an
oil stove, set II up In his corner, and
prepared beef tea. OF which Bowen
drank small cups between rounds.
Burkes seconds sont ont and brought
In bottled beer cheese crackers and
boiled eggs, which 5nike ate and
drank during the minute intermis.
sions Often the mel would enter
the ring still chewing their food. Tho
stimulus OF the beer woald lncite them
to brief spurts of fast fighting, fol.
lowed by periods Of 'stallng"
The moon sank. anil the sun rose.
| WorklngmGn who had seen the frot
part Of the fight aud gone home to
snatch few hours OF sleep, rose and
wounded their way to work with their
dinner pals. They bought morning
papers T.. soc Tie result OF the fight.
aud failed 81 find an account Many OF
them dropped into tho hail to hear the
outcome, found The men still In the
ring, and stayed 10 see the finish. Per-
haps this Is the only Instance on
record when mon saw the start OF
ring battle. went home 70 bed, and
saw tho finish after arising in tho
morning
Two referees bad been worn out
and third man had been picked from
club insisted that they would not per.
hlit the night 70 be called draw. In
one Of the last rounds Bowen made a
rush at Burke with his head down.
Burke throw up his arm to staye OF
the rush and his elbow caught Bowen
en- the cheekbone just below the eye.
Bowen whirled around and dropped to
the floor. dazed. Hes out" thought
Burke with sigh OF relief, but at the
count OF eight Bowen managed to get
20 his feet, and Burke was too weak to
follow up his advantage Finally, al
the end Of 10 rounds, the contest was
called q draw.
Bowen was killed later In contest
with Kid Layigne, the ex.lightweight
champion. Burke Is still a young man,
and apparently as strong and vigorous
rs when he fought that memorable
battle.