The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-09-17


ner. And as they met near the center of
the ring, Myles sent in a left, purposely miss
ing the jaw, and, as Grifinson attempted
to counter, Myles whipped his right to
the chin and Grifinson hit the floor with
a crash, to the accompaniment Of howl
of glee from Myles's supporters. But the
blow, hard as it was, did not affect Griffin
son. He did not stay on the mat for
even one second of the count Instead, he
was on his feet instantly and boring in once
more AS Myles rushed in he drove his
left straight into the oncoming face. But
Myles did not stop or falter. Savagely
plunging on with vicious half arm swings he
forced Grifinson backward, driving in his
punches on his opponents guard until at
last the taller man, unable to smother all
the blows, dropped his forearm too low for
an instant and was instantly foored by an
uppercut from Myles. This time Griffin
son rested upon one knee on the canvas and
Walkers face grew grave.
"Seven! Eight" yelled the referee,
tolling off the seconds with uplifted hand as
he counted, purposely drawing out the time.
At the word eight" Grifinson was on
his feet. But this time it was not to try and
mix things with his opponent. Instead, he
put all his agility at side-stepping into play,
and, as the gong rang to end the round and
the men walked to their corners, he was
breathing no more heavily than was Myles.
Indeed, as the men faced each other for
the second round, it was clear that the
effects of the first encounter had told most
strongly on the favorite. The brief three
minutes of work had left his face somewhat
flushed and he seemed to be breathing fast,
while his antagonist came up srailing-but
not to rush affairs. Crafty he raced back
ward about the ring, keeping near the ropes
and responding to Myles's savage lunges by
side-stepping and sending in light jabs to
the face These blows, while they did not
do much injury, stung and irritated Myles,
and his face was sullen and red as he walked
to the corner at the gong. For the next
round the same tactics prevailed, and for the
next and the next. At the end of the fifth,
Myles's poor condition was only too appar-
ent. He was putting hard, his lips were
bleeding slightly and there was slight
trickle of blood from the edge of one eye
where the seam of Griffinson' glove had cut
the lid. His opponent, whose Parthian
method of boxing had saved him from
punishment, still showed an unmarked face.
But many marveled that the body blows
Myles had landed were not telling their tale.
"Griff's in great shape" said Walker
exultingly, then discreetly lowering his voice
he added, ait don't look as if he would have
to do any foulin' after all"
And as the bout went on for round after
round, it was clear that the lead scored by
Myles in the cad two rounds had waned.
Dissipation was commencing to tell the tale,
and his breath grew scantier and his chest
heaved and fell while the dropping of blood
from his lips soon developed into steady
flow. One eye was now closed and all from
blows that had been sent in to hurt and in
jure but not to stop their man. And in the
tenth round, seeing clearly that he was out
pointed through his taller adversary's adj
vantage in height and reach, Myles put
himself on the defensive and waited for an
opportunity to send in telling blow.
But Grifinson was in no mind to give
him the opportunity. Satisfied with the
progress he was making, perfectly coached
by the seconds behind him, he was cutting
down his man little by little Myles was
always ready to take sudden brace and
rush in, with the desperate hope of landing
one Of his deadly swings. But he always
found that long lett in his face, the blow
coming in with snap which would tilt his
head back and make his swing go wild, OF
else landing with singing lab On swollen
lips or bleeding nose Round after round,
Flynn stood watching the men, taking no
part in heuproar, but smiling grin1ly as the
punishment commenced to tell on Myles
"It's what Myles needed" he muttered
to himself. "A good beating would do
him good"
Ard there was little question Of the
winner now. Griffinson was winning all
the way. What crooked work had been
planned Flynn did not know. But be real
lied that the bout 50 far was on its merits.
And he smiled again as Grifnson COM
menced working his left like pump gun at
the opening Of another round.
At almost the same instant thought
shot through him. He had seen in the
papers the amount OF Myles's side beta
sum he knew must have strained thefighter's
credit 20 raise. He recollected that the
winner was - take all the purse. And he
almost thought be could hear the pleading
T0ice of Maggie repeating her words Of the
day before when she mentioned her baby