Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-22
STATE MILITIA FAILS TO STOP THE
M'FARLAND-HERMAN BOXING BOUT

|hV DUHiIsU UUVI
with Kid Herman at the Davenport
Coliseum. Although there was no de-
cision given, it was his fight clearly.
In but two or three rounds did the
Ghetto lad hold his own, and for the
remainder of the distance he was out
classed For the last four rounds he
was compelled to stall desperately to
last till the bell sounded. Only a de-
the ring or anywhere else, and won
derful capacity to absorb punishment,
prevented his being counted out at al
most any stage from the 18th round on.
Mcfarland was the aggressOr from
the start, even though anxious and
even nervous for several sessions. He
carried the fight to his man from cor
ner to corner of the ring, and Herman
put in the greater part of the time get
ting away and holding on. After he
only Touchdown of the bout and of the
evening, which occurred in the 11th
round, Herman never landed an effec-
tive blow. He made almost no attempt
to fight, although his cleverness in
'ducking and covering up was not lost
at any stage in the proceedings. For
the first half of the bout Herman was
practically inyulnerable He had a
trick of ducking under Packey's left
and coming up with jolt that kept
his opponent worried for a time. Nc
Farland tried every plan he could think
of to break through scientifically with
out resOrtinS to desperate milling,
which he seemed to fear would wear
him out in case it did not get'results.
Throws Away Science.
1t was not, however till Packey
threw science away and went at his
adversary hammer and tongS that he
was able to straighten the latter up
and push in blows that counted. When
Packey made this discovery he was
too tired to follow up his advantage
effectively, though he still had steam
enough to give the kid one of the
worst beatings man ever got with
out going down for the limit.
That no decision was rendered was
due to the action of Governor Cum
minis, who called out the Davenport
company of state militia and ordered
the exhibition stopped, stating he was
convinced that it was to be a prize
fight not a boxing contest such as is
sanctioned under the laws of Iowa
Soldiers in uniform were lined up
in the hall. Captain Kulp of
Company B was at the ringside, and
with the restrictions that were thrown
around the evenings program, made
no attempt to Interfere. II was an.
nOunced before the first contest began
that there would be no prize fights
and anyone who had come with the ex
pectation of seeing such a contest was
requested to get his money back and
leave. Nobody went. Each of the
three contests was specifically an
nounced in advance as friendly box
| ing" affair, and the semi-windup un
lquestionably was such. The others
J bore a tinge of malice at certain
stages. Before the principal bout al
bets were officially declared Off NJ
challenges were read at the ringside
and other formalities that usually at
tend such entertainments where they
savored of the grim reality.
Delayed at the Door.
One of the most unsatisfactory feat
ures of the evening was the delay il
opening the doors. 1t was not til
$50, and after thousands had stooI
out in the cold an hour or more, tina
the doors were finally swung, and ther
| the jam to enter was terrific, 1t tool
two hours for the crowd to get in. |
is estimated that there were 5000 mel
in the building. Hundreds left wneI
| they saw the militia arrive on tn,