Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-05

deavoring to fan the last ounce of
strength in their exhausted bodies,
were wrenched apart by Referee Eyton
at the final gong of the twentieth
round yesterday afternoon.
Eyton raised the Attell boys arm in
token of victory, and as the frenzed
crowd rushed headlong toward the
ringside frankie Neil stood for a mo-
ment with a wan smile Frightening his
poor battered features, which had been
torn beyond all semblance of the
human. One blue eye shining from be-
meath the bruised and bleeding flesh
flashed in mute appeal toward the
Neil, the father, was waving a sign of
encouragement to his battling son,
down whose face the blood flowed in
bright rivulets that ran scarlet along
the canvas.
Little rocked the throng of the de-
clsion. What cared they whether At
tell was still champion or whether
frankie Neil had gained a belt? All
they realized was the fact that for
twenty heart throbbing rounds two of
the gamest men who earn their bread
in the rough game of give and take
had struggled and bled until 1t ap-
peared as though the limit of human
endurance must surely have been
reached. These two final rounds will
be remembered long after Attell and
Neil are classed among the has beens.
Decision Well Received
Ringsters may come and they may
go, but such a scene as was wit
messed late yesterday afternoon be-
meath the sweltering roof of the Maud
Junction pavilion will be fought over
and over in ring discussions before an
actual battle again arouses thousands
of blood-mad spectators to revel in
such a spectacle.
Not a dissenting voice hurled impre-
cations at Referee Eyton No man
could have willfully given a wrong de-
cision after witnessing those lads go
the limit yesterday, and when the ref
cree declared that one of the twain had
showed a shade the better, the crowd
appeared to realize that it must be
true.
"1t was the hardest thing l ever did
to give Neil other than a draw" was
the first remark of Charley Eyton as
he climbed from beneath the ropes.
HE is as game as they make them and
/ hated to see him get the worst of it,"
Inbued with the same sentiment the
thousands gathered by the ringsde
gave vent in explosive measure to their
appreciation of the boys valor Abe
Attell proved his right to the feather
weight championship in unmstakabl
manner, but wave of sympathy went
out toward the game little fellow who
but a few moments previous had sat.
handsome and smiling, IS he awaited
the call of battle. No one would have
known that it was frankie Neil who
gave a -pitiful, half-cheerful smile,
which hurt the swollen face, as he en-
deavored to make light of his defeat.
Acknowledges Gameness
When the men came together for the
final round they did not start the mill
ing with merely customary touch of
the gloves. Each boy wrapped his arms
around the other and stood for a mo-
ment in a genuine attitude of friend
ship. Each recognized the fact that he
had met the limit of gameness, and an
unconscious respect entailed in such
recognition was manifest as they hesi
tated a brief moment before beginning
again the terrific onslaught.
1t was not to be such a body pun
ishing exhibition after all-that final
round. The boys went at it like demons,
but only for a moment. The lightning
pace of the former rounds had proved
too much and a mutual flash seemed to
tell the staggering gladiators that they
must rest their tired bodies against
each other or sink to the floor.
The last effective blow of the fight
was a terrific right which Attell drove
in over Neils heart This occurred after
the opening Of the twentieth round,
while the men were yet fresh from the
hands of their seconds. Abe could go
no further nor could frankie. Back
and forth they reeled. Against the ropes
of the ring the little fellows supported
themselves.
Neils head, hanging low on Abe's
shoulder, fell beneath the cordage and
hung half way out of the ropes. A gen.
tie push and frankie would probably
have gone down for good. But Abe did
not possess the strength or inclination
and Referee Eyton gently dragged the
two into the ring again. The Hebrew
boy appeared to be a trifle the stronger
and finally succeeded in showing Neil
away. The little Irishman could not
stand and fell to the floor, rolling COM
pletely over. He was up again and
found Abe awaiting him.
"Finish him, Abe" came voice from
the crowd. 1t was no use.
In Excellent Form
Attell had entered the ring marvel
ously we'll trained and during the major
portion of the milling did not evidence
the slightest effects of the gruelling
pace. The last round and a half was
something more than mere man could
stand without losing every Vestlge OF
strength, and the shifty Abe met
FRANKIE as he had done throughout the
battle. He rested his head against
Neirs shoulders and the two braced
themselves as best they could till the
gong sounded. Those sitting close by
the ringside momentarily expected that
either man might slip beneath the ropes.
Not one tap exchanged during those
final moments would have caused suf-
ficient disturbance to scatter swarm
of flies. Up would come Attell's arms in
a vain endeavor to find Frankies body
as the two hung together in mutual
support. The sinewy piston rods which
had wrought such havoc during the
fore part of the battle were useless
now and trembled with what little eX-
ertion they passed through frankie
was as bad and the ripping rights and
lefts which had drawn the claret from
Abe's nose at the beginning of the
nineteenth were things of the past.
The end found them staggering together
in the center Of the ring. Referee Eyton
walked slowly over to Attell and raised
the Hebrews arm.
Many Women Present
Pandamoniun1 raiPnad huf A x,as OP