The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-12

ring. vainly trying to protect himself.
Britt took a terrific beating about the
oody. unable for the rin,e 10 BLOCK .
Nelson's blows. but in a fash Britt
took brace. He set himself. in the (.
middle of the ring and met Nelson .
with two furnishing swings to the face. |
Nelson halted. and Britt leaped for |
ward. He slugged and Fwung in one |
last desperate effort. but again the |
gong ended the round. like the pre-
vious critical one, at an opportune !
time for Nelson.
IN the eighth Nelson had Britt in /
trouble staggering the Californian !
with a left and driving him to the |
ropes. Britt'S seconds were in a frenzy. |
shouting all sorts of orders. Above all |
WAS the voice of Spider" Kelly. who |
shouted: Cover up. jimmy Jimmy |
obeyed and probably saved himself |
from going down in the second After
the eighth. Britt appeared to tire fast
The pace was slower and in Nelson's
favor.
Iii the tenth and the eleventh. Nell
son continued to wear out Britt. In
the twelfth Britt rallied suddenly. and
battered Nelson for two minutes. Mel
sen covered his jaw and took most of
the blows on the nose, ear OF stomach.
Britt wore himself out. and finished
the round tired. It became evident to
Britt's seconds after the twelfth that
their Ynan was beaten. They sought
to bolSIei his waVering confidence with
cheerful remarks. but Britt ap-
Deared to realize that he was beaten.
in the thirteenth Britt took boating
with ganeness. The fourteenth round
was the most exciting one of the fight.
Nelson. knowing Britt was firing fast
had before him the determination to
end the battle. Ir. five seconds he
had Britt staggering about. his guard
lowered and all but out Time and
again Nelson planted left hand blows
en- Britt's face. driving him against
the ropes Over eagerness on Mel
sons Tart prolonged the sight beyond
this round. Seeing his brother beaten
down Willie Britt shouted Swing
Jimmy. swing" Setting himself to
meet Nelson. Britt swung his right
hand with all the strength in his body.
This blow landed. and Nelson was not
only stopped. out seemed to give
ground. Britt pressed the advantage.
With his feet set far part to steady
himself once more. he met Nelson with
Dane to clinch. The gong sounded
while they were standing head to
head. slashirg at each other with both
hands. Ten thousand men rose and
cheercd the boxers.
The desperate struggle in the four
teenth round compelled both men to
slow uo in the next Two rounds and
no decisive work was done by either.
though Nelson showed more strength
whenever they came to a clinch. The
seventeenth was Nelson's by good
margin.
The eighteenth proved the end for
Eritt. A detailed account of the round
which lasted about two minutes shows
little difference from the preceding
rounds. Britt was tired but game
and willing. Nelson forced him about
the rins and gave many body blows
always. boring in. He cornered Eritt
and drove him against the ropes Britt
suuirmed out and sent in terrific left
to the stomach that appeared to hurt
Nelson. Nelson covered his body and
B'ltt swung for his face. Quick as
a flash, Nelson sent in a short. sharp
left hand blow to Britt's stomach. He
gave way and stepped back. crouching
to deceive Nelson. and give himself
time to recover. Nelson saw the DAM
age his blow had inflicted. however.
and pressed on. He forced Britt into
his own corner and there. in a rally
that lasted only a few moments the
end came. Britt went down suddenly.
Nelson saws it was from a blow on the
Jaw. Britt had no clear idea after the
fight what out him out. but in the
opinion of those who were close by it
was the blow in the stomach that took
all his remaining strength and he fell
from exhaustion.
When Britt fell in his own corner.
fat on his face. there was monen-
tary hush and the voice of that of the
timer was heard distinctly counting
eff the seconds. .Britt turned on his
hack and iay saspjng. his bloody
tongue DrOtruding from his mouth.
Five seconds had scarcely been counted
when there was a roar from the crowd
which saw tha- The little San Francisco
boy could not rise.
Nine ten shouted the timer.
Graney pointed tC Nelson and the roar
from the crowd increased
Contrary to expectations the crowd
of 5000 men and score Of women at
the ring side was orderly. The stub
born action Of Nelson's manager.
which left the public in doubt up to
the last minute. probably is resDonSi--
BILE for the crowds falling below ex-
rectations and made The total receipts
about S60.000 instead CT $4,000.
Referee Graney caused much sur
rrise after he had been chosen to act
by declaring all bets off. Subsequent
ly about 2.35 o'clock he told newspa-
per men that bets made after his ac-
ceptance rs referee would stand,
class, Battling Nelson This intro
duction was coolly received.
Britt was then brought out and in
troduced as the Pride of California.
There was a great shout of approval
from the crowd. Challenges flew thick
and fast. Eddie Hanion, Jimmy Card
ner. Auelo Herrera and Willie Fitz-
gerald were some of those who want
to meet the winner.
An announcement that came as sur
prise was that Eddie Graney declared
all bets off on the contest. There was
some cheering on the announcement,
but it came as great surprise. Gran
ey explained with reference to his de-
claring bets off, that it only applied to
bets made previous to his selection and
acceptance as referee, that all Others
could stand