Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-23

have a chance-the 22d round, when
with a singing right cross to the
Jaw, he staggered his opponent. Be
fore the round closed he dropped
WoIgast in the middle of the ring
with a similar blow and three sec
onds were tolled before Wolgast re-
gained his feet.
The crowd prepared to leave the
arena. the word went from bench 20
bench through the spectators that an
other boy had fallen victim to the
wonderful durability of the Dane. But
in the next round Wolgast recuperat-
ed and from then on slowly, steadily
but surely, wore Nelson down.
For u rounds before the finish
Nelson seemed bewildered and his
blows were sent as if he held weights
in his hands From the 30th round
Nelson could hardly see or hear, the
left side of his face having lost all
semblance of its former contour. He
staggered and hung on. In the 37th
round he was all but out but surviv-
ed the round.
Nelson Always Game
Referee Smith asked Nelson if he
wanted to quit, and Nelson, unable
to talk, merely shook his head. When
80 seconds of the 40th round had
gone and as darkness was beginning
to creep over the scene of the fight
a full moon just beginning to peep
through the clouds, Referee Smith
raised WoIgast's glove into the air
and a new lightweight champion had
come into fistiana.
had O11tppOpra1p6 OnthOX-
ed and all but outgamed the great
Battling Nelson. After the battle
WoIgast scampered out of the ring
like a schoolboy and galloped through
the mud Nelson was taken out on
the arms of his seconds. AS he was
carried through the crowd he was
cheered for the remarkable grit and
gameness displayed, such as old ring
followers say seldom has been seen
in a prize ring.
Referee Makes Statement
Referee Smith made the following
statement after fight:
"Wolgast fought Nelson at his own
game and beat him fairly and square
". Nelson complained at times of
Wolgast butting, but l paid little
heed. as it was simply the case of a
battler getting the worst of a game
where both were equally guilty.
Both men fought the same. but
one had youth, the power to come
back, vigor, life and all that goes
with it, while the l 3 years of fighting
through which Nelson had gone had
Slapped his strength and left him
without the old sap. dash and STAN
ina"
Easy. Says WOlgast
Wolgast said after the fight:
MY fight today was like train
ing bout Only once did he bother
me and that was in the 22d round.
Nelson hurt me more by butting me
than anything else, and | felt funny
for just few seconds. l cannot say
anything as to my future plans. but
I am ready to give deserving light
weights chance"
Nelson Thought He Could Stay
When Nelson was able to talk he
said:
II am sorry they called the fight
OFF when they did. I think I could
have stayed the 10 rounds, but have
no complaint to make"
Cans Out with Challenge
Baltimore. Md, Feb. 23.-Joe Cans,
former lightweight champion last night
issued a challenge to AID Wolgast for
a 20-round contest, to be fought any
where the new champion wishes and
under any conditions he may name.
Cans said that he would go to New
York next week and post $1,000 to
bind the agreement if accepted. and
that he would also make side bet of
$4,000.