The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-17
CARPENTER WINS
ON A FOUL FROM
GUNBOAT SMITH
End of Heavyweight Fight Came
In Sixth Round
DECISION CREATES UPR0AR
Many Spectators Assert Blow Was
Unintentional and Resulted
in No Injury
CREATES UPROAR

London, July 16.-Georges Carpen-
tier, the young French champion and
the only pugillst of premier rank
France has ever contributed to the
game, was awarded the decision to-
night over Gunboat Smith, the Ameri-
can fighter. on a foul in the sixth
round of the fastest heavyweight fight
Londoners have seen in many years.
The match between the two heavy
weights was fought at Olympia and
was scheduled to go 20 rounds. To
Smith and his supporters the finish
was tragedy, because the blow for
which the American was disqualified
was not intentional. 1t was launched
in the heat of the whirlwind fighting
when the Frenchman had slipped to
his knees and the spectators saw the
gaunt sailor attempt to draw away al
most as his arm flew out.
Nevertheless, the ending of to-
nights fight adds another to the UNI
fortunate chapters of international
sport because it has klndled bad feel
ing and is likely TO be followed by
long drawn out arguments.
There has been an undercurrent of
prejudice against American boxers
among English ring followers and
however unintentional Gunboat
Smiths breach of the rules was, il
probably will be cited in support of
this prejudice.
The popular Judgment awarded Car
pentier the better of the fight on its
merits. Pitted against such a power
full antagonist as Smith, it was evil
dent that the Frenchman's marye.
lous quickness had not been eXagger-
ated He showed left lead like n
flash of lightning and powe full and
equally swift right. His footwork was
remarkably quick for big man, he
was noticeably slower than his young
er opponent.
When the French contingent car.
ried Carpenter to his corner in the
sixth round the utmost confusion
reigned. The ring was crowded with
excited officials and seconds. and
thousands of spectators were on their
feet shouting and grOaning. In this
round Carpenter after playing for an
opening while keenly watching the
Americans right, had tented clever
ly with his left and then brought
powerful right across Smiths jaw.
The bunch did not land squarely,
but glanced off. and. carried by the
force of his blow, Carpenter swung
round and slipped to his knees. Quick
ly Smiths right shot forth He drew
back and plainly would have with
held the blow on second thought.
Then he stepped back and waited for
the Frenchman to rise.
Just what happened is likely to be
an everlasting cause of controversy.
The men nearest to the ring disagree
widely. Some say that II jol,ed Car
pentier's chin hard at the back of the
neck. Some say il just grazed The
neck and others say IL missed entire |
ly
The Frenchman's manager, Des-
climbed through the ropes.
with seconds following. and picked up
the fighter. who was holding his head |
In amatic manner with both |
hands. Descamps carried Carpenter |
to the corner. where he made a great |
business OF rubbing and restoring |
him, and then turning to the Amed.
can fighter, poured forth a stream OF |
excited French invective.
French and American camp follow.
ers poured into the ring and surround |
ed the referee. Eugene Coro. Shouts
Of Foul FOUL" were raised. Every
body talked to the referee at once
and the referee pointed to Carpenter
that the Frenchman was
the winner.
Few were able To grasp his decision
until the master of ceremonies. by bel
lowing and pointing TO Carpenter
to make the result known.
tunhtdi DhllAl nAONu III Ills Coihti III
a green robe, reluctant to leave the
ring. while hundreds hooted him. Fin
ally he climbed out.
Carpentire was brought to the
ropes and thousands raised a great
cheer for the Frenchman. The en-
lhusiasm of the house from the white
shirted aristocrats ON the floor TO the
White Chapel costers in the highest
galleries was with the French cham
pion from the moment he stepped in
10 the ring. His youth. his cheerful
smile. his perfect body combined to
make him the very picture Of an attn
lete. Moreover, the English crowd
was not anxious TO see the man who
had Knocked out the English hope, |
l. /