Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-21
SHERIFF SCENTS
FIGHT; HALTS IT
Smoker Announced by Moose
Lodge Draws Official In
terruption.
SINNETT-BLEDSOE is CARD
However, Head of Organization Pro-
tests 1t Was to Be Nothing but
Sparring Exhibition.

Il is claimed Rock Island would have
been the scene of a real prize fight last
night but for the dissenting voice of
Sheriff o. L. Bruner. Young" Sinnett
and Young" BIedsoe. a pair who mill
ed to a draw on the river last sum-
mer, were TO have been the combat
ants, and they were to have gone TO
a finish with three-ounce gloves, the
sheriff says.
Rock Island lodge of Moose was
sponsor for the entertainment that was
TO have been presented in the hall in
the Illinois theatre building. There
were to have been several hundred
spectators. II was first announced
that the affair was to be a smoker. with
q vaudeville entertainment and a
wrestling match for a closer Then it
leaked out that there was TO be a
friendly sparring exhibition as an add
ed attraction. During the day Sheriff
Bruner says he learned the identity of
the two pugilists who were booked for
a clash, and he Immediately knew that
the go was to be for blood. He also
discovered that instead of eight-ounce
gloves the three-ounce variety were to
be used by the scrappers.
OLD-TIME RIVALS.
Sinnett and Bledsoe long have been
anxious for an opportunity to settle
their differences. Both are speedy
fighters. Considerable money. it is un-
derstood. was waged on the outcome
of their meeting billed for last night
When the crowd had assembled at
the hall Sheriff Bruner put in his ap-
pearance and summoned the two fight
ers before him He warned them not
to enter the ring and advised them TO
go to their homes. They obeyed his in
junction The other announced feat !
ures of the evening were presented. |
One of them was wrestling bout be-
tween John Voss and William Gable. |
1t was declared a draw.
Il had positive information that it !
was planned to pull off prize fight !
Sheriff Bruner said today, and | had /
no alternative but to stop it, If any
thing serious happened ! was the Off /
cial upon whom the responsibility
would fall. l have no objection to /
harmless athletic exhibitions. but as
sheriff l must prevent prize fights"
NO FIGHT BILLED.
There was no prize fight scheduled"
declared B. r. Schriver dictator of the
Moose lodge. "A month ago the lodge
decided to give this entertainment.
The proceeds were to go to the lodge.
The program. as arranged finally. con
sisted of smoker vaudeville turns.
a sparring eXhibition--not a fight-be-
tween Sinnett and Bledsoe and a
wrestling bout between Gable and
Eoss Sinnett and BIedsoe were to use /
eight-ounce gloves. Sheriff Bruner and
his entire force of deputies were in
vited to be the lodges guests at the
entertainment. This ought TO prove
our case that we did not contemplate
violation OF the law"
OFFICIALS STAGE CLASH.
Sheriff Bruner and Police Magis-
trate c. J. Smith clashed verbally in
front of the Illinois theatre last night
after the order had been given that
Bledsoe and Sinnett could not meet
The police magistrate "bawled" out {
the sheriff and threatened to even mat
tiers with him by not sending any pris-
oners to the county Jail, where the ,
sheriff receives so cents day per
head for serving meals.