New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-25
White Heavyweight Champion
SuCCumbS in Bout with
Arthur PeIky at CAL
gary, Canada.
FATAlITYSTUNS BIG CROWD
Fight Barely Under Way When
Punch Over Heart Sends
Title Holder to Floor,
and He Dies in
Eight Minutes.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune J

Calgary. Alberta, May 24.-Luther
McCarty. of Lincoln. Neb. the white
heavyweight champion Of the world,
was killed by a blow over the heart de-
livered by Arthur Pelky, of Chicopee
Falls Mass, in the first round OF a
scheduled ten-round bout here this
afternoon After minute and 10 sec
onds Of actual boxing McCarty was
knocked down. and Edward Smith. the
referee. went through the formality Of
counting him out. Eight minutes la.er
McCarty died, without regaining CON
sciousness.
Pelky was arrested on the charge
Of manslaughter by the Northwest
Mounted Police. but was released al
most Immediately on bail He made no
attempt to escape. and was on the
verge OF a nervous collapse when taken
prisoner. The fact that he had won
the white heavyweight championship
of the world. and that a golden harvest
could now be reaped in a world that
once was filled with nothing but hard
knocks and reverses. seemed of no i'm
portance to him. He was crushed in
spirit and overcome with grief at the
death of his opponent.
The end came 80 swiftly that few OF
the great crowd which gathered TO wit
ness the bout really knew what had
happened. The men spared around
for a few seconds. feeling each other
out McCarty then shot out his left
hand and landed a light jab on Pelky's
face. The latter retaliated by jOlting
the champion on the jaw. driving him
TO the ropes The punch hurt. but Mo
Carty looked over to his corner and
smiled at his seconds. He was the
real champion, and defeat would not
come 10 him. Again McCarty lunged
out with mis- left and followed with a
right hand uppercut to the head. Even
as he led, Pelky put all his power in
one desperate blow 10 his opponent s
body The men at the ringside heard
the thud, but the fighters instantly
| went into a clinch. After the break
they spared for a second, and then
McCarty settled into crouch.
For the moment no one paid much
attention, believing that it was merely
a fighting pose. McCarty however. set
tied lower and lower and at last
dropped TO the floor. He gasped for
breath and his eyes rolled. Instantly
the referee stepped in between Pelky
and the fallen fighter and began tolling
off the count. He did not realize at
that moment that he was tolling off
the final count for the young fighter
wbo only a few moments before had
ontered the ring smiling. confident
champion, greeting his friends at the
r,ngside and chatting with his handlers
and manager.
Cheers Greet Tragedy.
The crowd. too. was ignorant OF the
tragedy II was witnessing. and hailed
,ne man who won with shouts that
fairly rent the sky. Forgetting the
deeds Of McCarty. all eyes were turned
20 the conaueror Pelky stood close to
the referee. watching the man on the
eoor and ready TO renew the battle
should McCarty rise To continue. AS
smith brought the count to close
McCarty shuddered and settled back
on the floor.
In 'NcCarty's corner all was excite
ment. billy" McCarney' 'he man "io
brought him out. stood with his body
halfway through the lower rope. plead
ing with the fallen man TO get up
Cor,,nued on third page, third column.