The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-06


interrupted Halliday. coming to the aid
OF the pugilist And / must say the
sentiment does him credit. You dcliber-
ately withdrew. Belcher. and encouraged
establish his claim to the championship.
Now you jump out Of retirement and
challenge him. He has no wish TO flgnt
you. with your game eye"
Belcher went crimson. There It Is,
now My eye again he cried. Always
It's Poor Belcher he's lost his eye. Hell
Do you fight or not2'
Pearce looked at his old comrade and
patron s9rrowfqIly shaking his head. IT'S
ri fight OF course Captain Halliday is
ready TO cover the 500 euneas."
RelGb%r roGgnT say no more OF it, returned
terference. Wc'll find the place hundred
and ifty miles from London, VIII you
They tossed a coin and Becher won
I'll send thee word OF the time and
place within TWO weeks" he said, And
so the matter rested.
Ready to Fight
The news OF meeting between the
champion and the Game Chicken"
stirred sporting circles next day. 1t had
becn formally announced that Becher
had given UP all idea of continuing in the
rlng after his unfortunate accident and
the turn OF events came as a surprise
Opinion was divided, FOR there were some
his prowess In losing part OF his sight.
But many thought that he had made a
mistake and were not backward in saying
so.
Bclcher himself breathcd defiance when
the affair was mentioned In his presence.
helcieuce 10 MS handicap made him fur-
Gus, lie was distinctly one of that type
OF pusilists which is constitutionally un-
able TO feel or recognize the slightest In
feriorlty. To him the battle was already
won. and the expression OF doubt as 10
N Il nn Aff h,,t Ng
Irritation.
Born in 1881, Belcher had gained the
titie at the age of twenty years after a
rise OF unprecedented rapidity and bril-
ilance he was now only twentyfour,
logically in the height OF his powers The
loss of his eye had temporarily depressed
MN, out had not affected the man
moral courage and stamina in the slight
est. Acting on passing impulse he had
consented 10 step aside from his position.
bur the suspicion that he could not hold
II now that he wished 10 could find no
lodsment in his mind.
Beicher was natural fighter, en-
dowed with the physical and mental
qualities that bring success in the ring.
and had been able TO master the best
men of the time with little or no train
ing on his mothers, side he was
grandson OF the redoubtable Jack Slack.
second champion OF the world and con-
Querer 70 the great Broughton. 1t was
part OF his heritage TO do battle and to
win. Defeat was something he had never
mained something that he never learned.
The word held no meaning for him.
Hen or Henry, Pearce. though four
years older than Belcher, had always re-
garded the younger man as his master
and his model. Belcher had practically
made MIN, had brought him from OBJ
security in Bristol and had matched him
for the fights that brought him his repu-
tatioR. He had earned his cognomen OF
The Game Chicken through the great
resolution and agility he displayed in the
4 IN ms oil. 4lc NI1 lN,s
nickname OF "Hcu.'
Bristol chose d small common about
three miles from Barnby Moor and nine
miles from Doncastcr as the place OF
meeting, 1t was the required one hun
dred and fifty miles from London a
precaution made necessary by recent diff
ficulty with the authorities over the hold
ing OF public prize fights. Here several
hundred enthusiasts gathered on Friday.
December 6. 1906, Lord Say and Sele.
Captain Mellish Lord Eardley. the Hon
orablc Berkeley Craven and other distin-
guished followers OF the sport were pres
ent. Betting ran high, five 10 four being
offered on Pearce.
The ring was stalied out on the turf, n
traditional stage for pugllism. II was 20
feet square and stood inside another
arena 40 feet square TO prevent croWding
and hinderlng. In support OF custom
which had recently found favor the
partisans of the rival boxers wore colors
TO indicate their preference, Adherents
OF Pearce showed blue SILK handkerchiefs
with white spots. Friends of Belcher
wore the little yellow striped nag which
the champion had adopted some years be-
fore as his emblem.
The Combatants were driven over from
the Blue Bell Inn, Barnby Moor, ana ar
rived about II O'Clock under a chill, gray
sky. Al T.. 80 the arrangements had been
completed and they climbed through the
ropes. Pearce was seconded by "Will'
Ward with "Bill' Gibbons as his bottle
holder. Joe" Ward and "Dick" Whale
performed Ike services for Belcher, The
Nanced to the center for the salute, while
the throng cheercd and displayed the rival
Colors.
In the Ring.
The slad!atorS presented magnificent
picture OF manly strength and grace. The
champion was five feet eleven and halt