Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-14
KILLED IN RING FIGHT ON SHIP.
Marine Protested Sickness, but Was
Forced to Fight

torced Co Fight.
A graphic account by rounds of the prize
fight which took place on board the auxili-
airy cruiser Yankee of the United States
navy, resulting in the death Of Marine
Raphael Cohen of Manhattan, son OF an
east side tailor Is told in the New York
World.
The bout was the star event of a smoker
given by the officers Of the Yankee to their
brother officers of the South Atlantic squad
ron while cruising in the caribbean sea OFF
San Dominic. More than 800 officers and
men gathered at the ringside on the for
ward deck Of the Yankee.
Cohen the first to enter the ring and
surprised the crowd by announcing that he
was not feeling we'll, and only wished 10
participate In boxing exhibition instead
OF prize fight. Enthusiasm ran high when
Charles Johnston, a coal passer from the
flagship Olympia, entered the ring arrayed
In his fighting toys.
Several bets ranging from $40 to 800 were
made across the ring and. in spite Of the
united support of Johnston by his mates Of
the Olympia, the tacktars of the Yankee
eagerly accepted every offer to back their
favorite. Lieutenant Petttngill of the
cruiser Denver. who was referee, announced
THAT the contest would be governed by Mar
quis of Queensberry rules and he would
stand no interference AS the eye-wIt-
nesses tell 1t, the rounds were as follows:
corner with right and left jabs but john
ston cleverly sidesteped and smashed his
opponent ON the head with a left-hand
swing completely dazing him. Before Co
with right and left swings compelling his
man to take the count for six seconds. The
bell found them mixing it up furiously
Round 2-Both men spared cautiously
for opening. when suddenly Johnston
hit his antagonist below the belt. Cohen S
seconds Immediately jumped through the
ropes, grabbed the referee by the throat,
demanding that their man be awarded the
decision. A mix-up followed and finally the
officers ordered the fight to proceed. Cohen
was floored twice before the bell.
Round Both men were bleeding pro-
fusely from the nose. Johnston continued
to smash his opponent around the ring.
while the men from the Olympia urged their
man to go in and finish him. Just before
the bell sounded Cohen took a brace and
hOnOrS were even.
In the next three rounds Cohen was stag
gering around the ring, but showed his
gameness in the seventh by sending in
several hot ones to Johnston's solar plexis
and head knocking him down several times
much to the surprise of the spectators.
Powerful stimulants were given to both
men, and the gong sounded for the
eighth round Johnston plunged at Cohen
like mailman, knocking him down several
times, Cohen was assisted to his corner.
While resting Cohen begged his seconds
TO stop the fight. as his head felt funny"
but he was pushed into the ring with orders
to fight long life remained in him.
Johnston rained blow after blow on Co
hen, and when Cohen tried to hang on this
Olympia champion coolly measuring his
distance. dealt his opponent blow on the
right temple. Cohen fell and was counted
out When Cohen failed to rally Surgeon
Corddre and his assistant DIR. Sabrinski, OF
the Yankee. ordered shipmates to apply ice
bags to his head and put him to bed. III
we could locate the hemorrhage we could
stop It," one of the physicians Is alleged TO
have said. Two hours later Cohen was
found dead with the ice bags still at mis-
head.
Commander Qualtrougle of the Yankee
ordered an autopsy. and the physicians
found clot of blood four inches long on
the right side of the brain.
After sending the injured man to bed the
officers went to the mess room, where revel-
ry reigned supreme until Cohen's death was
announced.
The following day the body was taken
ashore and buried with military honors IN
the city of Monte Cristo, San Dominic.
Cohens seconds were Seamen Callahan.
Holland, Carroll and Skipworth of the on
cheering department On board the Yankee
Johnston was supported by Seaman Thomp-
son of the Olympia, who Is said to have
cleared several hundreds Of dollars by the
victory OF his man. Paymaster Dougherty
of the Yankee acted as the timekeeper.