The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-05
SAYS HE SAW FOUL
DR.. A. M. Smith Calls 1t seDe-
liberate" and 'sPainful."
Both Down When WeIch Called
AID WOlgast Victor.
CHAMPION WAS HITTING LOW
Crowd Demanded Change in
Decision After Fight.
Bloody Lightweight Battle
Ends in 18th Round.
CHAMPION WAS HITTING LOW

Los Angeles, July 5-Dr. A. NJ.
Snlitn' Dr.. L. w. Burt and DR.. Bying-
Ton examined Rivers Immediately after
room DR.. Smith stated that he saw
. me oiow struck and that it was a
deliberate FOUL Doctors Burt and
DNlngton agreed that the blow was
1ouI and very painful.
Al Harder, official timekeeper for
tne club, said that it was just nine
seconds before the round was to end
When Rivers and Wolgast went down.
several seconds had elapsed before
Heteree WEIGH began 70 count. 4
cont know how many seconds WEIGH
mad counted before 1 rang the bell
said Harder, but do know that after
rang the bell ending the round WEIGH
give the decision to Wolgast-"
For twelve rounds AID Wolgast and
Joe Rivers fought like catamounts in
their lightweight championship battle
at Vernon arena In the thirteenth
round there came blow which landed
low and both boys in an instant we're
sprawling and writhing on the floor.
Wolgast was declared the winner by
Referee Jack WEIGH. Then bedlam
broke loose-a demonstration lasting
for more than half an hourly II, 600
excited fight fans. the most remarka BILE
feature of which was that it was han
died throughout by less than a dozen
policemen without violence of any SORT.
Thursday night Referee WEIGH
stands disputed by Rivers and by
thousands of spectators in his decision
that Wolgast won by knockout. The
Mexican fighter claimed a foul and in
his dressing room he displayed a dent
ed aluminium protector to prove his
claim. Wolgast said he also was foul
ed, but although in conference with
Athletic club, Tom Jones, his mana
ger, said he did not believe the foul
inflicted upon the champion was inten-
tionaL Jones said Wolgast STUN Dled
over the feet of Rivers as the latter lay
PROSTATE and fell upon his adversary
knee. Wolgast tainted and was car
ried to his dressing room.
As Wolgast was taken out. the spec
tators jeered and booed him while they
struggled in frantic efforts to get into
the ring where Referee Jack WEIGH
with the angered manager and seconds
of Rivers, and then disappeared. |
WEIGH remained only lorg enough to
reassert that Rivers claim of foul was |
unfounded; that he had counted ten |
seconds on Rivers and that the gong |
ending the round did not intervene be- |
fore he had completed the count.
McCarey maintained silence. So did /
Jones But Joe Levy the manager of |
Rivers, repeated his offer made in the |
ring, to let the little men fight it out |
at once.
WOIGast Striking Low
The end came suddenly. Both boys. |
CORY from head to belt their faces
puffed and cut, were fighting near the |
when Rivers collapsed. Wolgast pre- |
viously in the same rounG and in sew |
eral others, had struck Rivers rather |
low, and when Rivers went down. |
there was a sudden shout of foul. In |
an instant Wolgast was down on top of |
Rivers. groaning. Wolgast rolled off |
Rivers body, his features controted.
Welch Immediately began counting |
and was still counting when he reach |
ed down and helped Wolgast to his |
feet. There were shouts that the bell |
had ended the round, while WEIGH was |
counting. The arena by this time was |
in an uproar.
AL Holder, timekeeper for the Pa
cifc Athletic club, shouted that he
had rung the gong.
At this point Rivers. his face dis |
figured by pain, scrambled weakly to
his feet, and squared away, ready to
renew the battle. WEIGH waved him
back.
That's an outrage. and it won't so
here" a dozen angry men who had |
scrambled through the ropes exclaim-
ed to WEIGH.
replied. TT was fair" and slipped out
of the arena.
WEIGH calls Decision Fair.
Welch said last night:
"Wolgast was clearly the winner.
Just before Rivers went down. VOL
CAST had landed a heavy blow to the
body just below the pit of the stomach
and followed with another smash
with the right almost to the same
place. Another blow was low. I did
not see what happened to Wolgast-
Rivers did seem as if he had been
fouled. The pictures will show that I
was right and that there was not
foul blow struck
WEIGH added that he did not de-
clare bets off, although a statement
to that effect was shouted from the
ring while the confusion was at its
height.
Betting commissioners stated that
payment of bets would be according
70 the decision of the referee.
Many contradicted the statement of
Jones that Wolgast had stumbled over
Rivers feet. Rivers said WolgaSt
went down under the terrific blow 70
the jaw and in this he was backed up
nv several ringside seatholders, al
though WEIGH declared no such blow
" T The gate receipts for the fight were
s41, 465.
Round I.
Called at 4:42. Rivers led and they
cIinched. Rivers landed three lefts to