Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10
PETE WAS PLNCHED
FOR TAKING PART
ILLINOIS PROMOTERS RuNKED
CROWD OF SPORTS
jackson and croake, as Well as
George aIIer, Arrested, and In
the End Peter Was Out
Some Coin

Young Peter jackson will tell you, II
YOU take the trouble to ask him about
il. that the toughest crowd that ever
gathered at roped arena to see prize
fight was on hand at Gilberts, Ill, four
or Ave years ago when Peter fought and
knocked out Eddie Croake In thirteen
rounds.
The fight and the incidents preceding
and following 1t are not graphically re-
corded In the dope book, but those who
were at the ringside will tell you that
In many ways it was one Of the most
remarkable contests in the history Of
pugdom.
The battle was scheduled to be pulled
Off at Belvidere, ILL.,, in big opera house.
but the governor Of the state telegraphed
instructions to prevent the mill at all
hazards. And, of course, the sheriff was
on hand with 1923 deputies to carry out
the order.
Two special trains, one from Spring
Valley and the other from DeKalb and
Sycamore, ILL.,, were filled with sports
to see the contest and finally permission
was obtained to send the trains east as
far as Gilberts, a small station near
Elgin, and in the adjoining county.
Here an old grain elevator was provided
for the contest. A twelve-foot ring was
pitched on hardwood floor. which, at
divers times, had been used as a dance
hall.
Four iron posts supported the ropes and
small handful of rosin was sprinkled
on the floor to prevent the men from slip
ping.
The thermometer registered twenty de
grees below zero and the spirits of the
crowd because of the delay were ever
lower than this, but the man or mer
who were looking after the gate receipts
never blinked an eye while preparing tc
separate the fans from their iron dollars
Shortly after several hundred admis-
sions had been paid orders were issued
by some one to clear the hall so that the
ring could be arranged. The crowd filed
out, and no pass checks being at hand
none was issued.
Later the doors were thrown open and
the sports were compelled to she'll out
once more in order to see the fight.
About that time something happened. A
Spring Valley miner let loose war
whoop and dropped the man at the door.
Naturally this was the signal for
rough and tumble fight, and the office
was never answered more promptly or
forcibly.
Finally the crowd, packed like sardines,
was squeezed into the room and the
In the morning.
Croake at that time was considered a
pretty good man and he had little trouble
for the first ten rounds in Furnishing his
opponent at will, but after that Jackson s
strength and bulldog tenacity began to
tell and Croake went down and out in
the thirteenth.
George Siler was the referee and the
day following the contest warrants were
isesued for the arrest of the principals.
Young Peter and Croake managed to es-
cape court proceedings for months, but
eventually the fighters and Siler as well
were heavily fined for taking part in the
affair.
1t cost Jackson several hundred dol
lars, and, to make matters worse, the
man who handled the money at the door
got away with most of it. so that Jack
son received less than a hundred dollars
for winning bruising contest.