The Washington herald., 1907-12-05
Only Exclusive Set Witnessed
BurnS-MOir Bout.
NOT LIKE FIGHTS HELD HERE
New York Newspaper Men Who
Contest Were Barred from Club by
English OmciaIS-OnIy Real Mem
bers of the National Sporting Club
Were Allowed Admission TO Fight.

In the London contest, that saw Burns
put Gunner Moir away in ten rounds. is
illustrated not only the superiority of
American boxing. but also the striking
difference between the handling of such
contests here and in England
Although this was a contest OF inter-
national importance. the first in thir-
teen years between an Englishman and
an American where the heavyweight
title was involved. less than 60 persons
saw the fight.
only the select few members Of the
National Sporting Club, the most ex-
elusive organization Of its kind in the
world. were allowed admission AL
though the crowd outside was so great
that a platoon of mounted policemen
was required to keep order. the seating
space within was less than the crowd
which Lew Bailey's Broadway holds any
Thursday night.
Not only was the rate Of $50 for a good
seat prohibitiye, but applicants We're so
closely scanned that an American
chance TO see the bout was very limited.
The doleful experience Of an enterpris-
ing New York newspaper demonstrates
this.
Newspaper Men Barred.
At an expense that could not have
been less than $780, two men. writer
and an artist. were sent over TO see
the bout The fact WAS not widely ad-
vertised. the idea being to steal a march
on rivals and not stir other newspapers
10 doing the same thing.
Arriving on the day of the fight, the
newspaper men hurried to the club. and
were told that seats were $50 apiece. kfteT
some protest at the size of the charge
they agreed TO pay the money. Ther
there was a consultation between tbs
evening-dressed guardians of the door,
and. after an interval. a suave repre-
sentative OF the club informed the news
paper men that he was sorry, but there
were no seats at any price
The astonished newspaper men plead
their case vigorously, they explained that
they had crossed the ocean purpOsely tC
see the fight, and that their prestige and
that Of their paper would be seriously
damaged if they failed to get in. 10 say
nothing of the loss OF the money spent
in making the trip.
Different In This Country.
They did not ask for seats. they would
cheerfully stand. would take anything
rather than be crowded out and fail in
their assignment. But no argument
availed. The door was closed on them
and a big expense bin viii go to the
treasurer for which the pair have not
a line OF work 10 show.
The programme FOR a fight Of such inter
est would have been different here. In
place OF a $500 purse. tho principals
would have contested for about $4,000.
The seating capacity Of the auditorium
would not have been less than Sl0,0o9
and from the day the articles wer,
signed until the loser had been hurried
off 20 the Turkish bath newspaper writer's
photographers. and artists would hav,
shared the limclight with the fighters and
had hand in managing the contest
Perhaps the endeayor 10 make of fight
ing a polite diversion for a few swells
behind monocles, instead OF giving il the
popularity that obtains In the United
States, explains why the game is virtually
dead on the other side. and the best
heavy-weights are easy prey for Uncle
Sans middle-weights.