Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-22
Governor Cummins' Prevents an
Illegal Battle in the Prize
Ring
COMPANY OF MILITIA PRESENT.
Cumr,ins Orders Sheriff and Guards
to Prevent Mill Between Mcfarland
and Herm an--4,ooo Witness Bout for
points-AlI Bets Pulled Down
Mcfarland Given Decision.
to Tunes Republican.

Special to Tunes Republican.
Davenport. Nov. 22.-After an all
day battle with Governor Cummins
and the state militia, Packey McFar-
land and kid" Herman of Chicago,
met in iifteen-rotlnd "sparing con-
test for points" here last night. The
exhibition was not as fast as the sports
desired, but they previously had been
offered their money back and refused.
The governor early in the day posi-
lively forbade the widely advertised
fight. To execute his orders he sent
a company of militiamen, under Cap
tain O. w. kulp, to take possession or
the Coliseum, where the scrap was to
be staged, and the rifles Of the Iowa
National Guards drove all thought of a
prize fight from the minds OF Pugilists
Mcfarland and Herman and the crowd
of 1000 sports who had purchased
tickets for the contest.
The promoters were at their wits
ends. but finally secured permission to
hold some gentle contests for points
in which there were supposed to be no
knock outs nor decisions given. The
militia was ordered to evacuate, and at
the hour the first preliminary was sup
posed to begin the doors Of the big
hall We're thrown open and the crowd
rushed in to see they knew not what
sort of an exhibition. The soldiers
took seats near the ring.
The title with Governor Cummins
was ten times faster than any of the
alleged fights. Telephone and telegraph
wires between here and the state cap
itol were kept. red hot all the afternoon
and early evening In the effort to bring
the chief executive around to the pro-
motors way Of thinking that the bouts
were not to be horrid prize fights. but
legal "sparring contests" between two
scientists for points.
The governors first impression Of the
affair was that an illegal knock down
and drag-out prize fight was about to
be enacted within the confines Of his
kilograms and phone calls to assure
him that IL allowed to stage their bouts
the promoters would keep within legal
bounds.
Sheriff Eckhardt was inclined to let
the fight go on until he received the
following telegram from the governor
few minutes after 6. o'clock:
''Des Moines, Nov. 21.-Louis Eek
hardt, sheriff, Davenport, 1owa:S 1 have
seen today notice of the alleged
sparring exhibition advertised for Dav-
export tonight, and am convinced that
1t Is to be prize fight, and not a
boxing match. have directed the cap
tain OF the company at Davenport to
call out his men and stop it. | ask
you to cooperate in every way pos
sible
."ALBERT B. CUMI1Ns."
"Sports" Are Disappointed.
1t was an angry and disgusted crowd
that greeted the sheriff when he APP
peared at the new Davenport Hotel
and announced at Z o'clock that the
word from the governor definitely
shelved the fight fans, and that it was
all off,
Following the receipt Of Governor
Cummins' telegram, the militia took
possession of the Coliseum. The doors
remained locked until an hour after
Tic duSeIllSSu llIIlC W OpCAI Will tlh
impatient crowd Of 1000 people wait
ing outside. 1t was announced that
the fight would take place as adver-
tised," while frantic attempts were
made to get Governor Cum1nins by
telephone and telegraph to secure his
sanction to contest for points" At
8 o'clock it was claimed that assur-
ances had been secured from some
where that would empower the militia
to let the exhibition be given. At $40
the doors were opened and the crowd
was being seated.
At 8 o'clock 5000 people were in the
hall, and five minutes later Young
McGovern of Chicago entered the ring
for the preliminary. His opponent
young" Giese Of Davenport, appeared
twenty minutes later. At 1920 An
nouncer Henry Brown of Davenport
got the attention of the crowd and
read the following announcements:
1--WE have met here this evening for
the purpose of giving a legal exhibit
ton. This is not prize fight and
anyone who has purchased his admis-
sion with that idea is at liberty now
to get his money back at the. box Of
flee. We desire to further announce
that this is not an illegal boxing match
or contest Anyone who has paid his
admission with that idea may have his
money returned to him at the box
office at once. The exhibition to be
given tonight will be strictly legal and
not contrary to the laws OF the state
Of Iowa."
Mcfarland is Winner.
Mcfarland proved his superiority
over Herman, and his right to go with
the best Of them. No decision was
awarded because of Governor Cum
Minis order to the militia to prevent
the fight In the last few rounds a
knockout seemed probable any time
and when the fight ended Herman was
hanging onto Mcfarland, who rained
terrific blows at short, range on Her
mans neck, head and face. Herman
was game to the last under the severe
gruelling. The pace was slew until the
last half Of the contest, when the box
ers let loose as if punches were to
decide the bout instead of points.
+ CLARION CHURCH DE5T-FREE.
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