The evening world., 1913-01-15

COLUMN
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Tenth. Round Squirt by Rivers
Won Him Decision Over
Leach Cross.

M from Leach Cross last night
ava In a terrific tenth.round nm
i'm. when that last round began
Rivers flashed from his corner as II
he realized that Cross was In the lead
and likely to stay there. lie came
through with tho magnificent squirt
OF Q thoroughbred. Flesh and bone
couldn't stand before the fury Of that
6nal attack. Leach Cross was fairly
swept from his feet, driven swirling
around the ring like a withered feaf
IN . winter gale. slammed against
the ropes, banged into corners, ham.
mered up and down until his head
was rolling and his one rema. ming
desire was to stay on his feet until
the bell rang.
In the last minute Leach was 60
ing back heavily on his heels every
time the Mexican's gloved nat struck
home. Rivers was leaping at him
Ike q panther his movements so
swift the eye could scarcely follow.
HIS speed was terrific. At every leap
the Mcxican's left fist shot straight
to Leachie's chin. Topping his head
back to his shoulder blades. forcing
him OF balance and leaving him open
Tor the swift inlghting. Cross tried
to clinch. and Rivers tossed him of
and leapcd at him again almost in n
single unbroken movement.
The Mexican's squirt was unexpec,.d
watching the fight carefully. at the end
OF the ninth I said to myself: We'll.
Leach has the lead. He 10 4 shad.
ahead. Hes ~ strong a. ever. H..u
WIN" Cross was fighting weil-aimost
IKE . champion. Not quite like q cham
pioo-for AL through the battle Rivers
rushes had ended only when Leach was
compelled to cliach and hold. Yet Cross
hsd been the more accurate ana efrec-
tive In. hitting. and he had scored the
oaiy knockdown. In defensive work
they had been about equal. for Rivers
wasn't At all the wide open fighter We
expected TO see As soon IS he felt
TIE weight Of Leach's punches he be-
80 TO block with both hands raised,
ntt,nE suddenly from this position when
- found his openings. Rivers, too, wa,
quicker on his fee; than Cross. and very
eften made Leach miss his hardes,
blows by tAGng = short step back.
THE pavilion was packed with spec
tators. At $50 O'Clock an after. ri
was made 10 close the doors. Al
ter that only a few holders OF box-of
lice seats were admitted. by o'cIoc,
the doors were shut tight. and hundreds
who had their tickets were turned away
These will get their money back to-da,
when they return the useless paste
boards.
Insids there were forty-five hundre,
people . record crowd for the Casino
The aisles were jammed and every sea
taken. The crowd In the street. wai,in
to Hear what It could hear. struggling
to get near the doors. must hAv
matched the crowd inside in numbers.
Rivers and Cross entered the rim
almost at tho >ame time. The Mexica
was cool and smiling. Cross serious an
grim. When the first bell rang Cros
started with q rush. and the Mexica
blocked nve punches before he lot {,
his own right. Missing. he Topped I
his knees and Jumped up Instant,
Then they went at II. top speed. wit
never . let-up. In the middle Of tn
round Rivers staggered Cross for
second with a heavy right
In the second round Rivers opene
With left hook on the chin. and Gro,
returned . left that caught the Mexica
just below the eye and dropped hi
nat Rivers jumped up quickly an
went headlong into a Wild mlx-up. Gro,
had the better Of II. forcing Rivers
cover and back out. There follows
rush after rush. hrst one leading. the