The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-05
Welsh Victor Ouer White
Through Unpopular Decision

opular Decision
entire period Of excitement Tho sale
of three dollar seats was Immediately
stopped.
The most seriously injured are sui
fering from broken limbs.
The collapse of section OF the
arena and injury of so many persons
dampened the ardor OF the crowd
Fans in other three dollar sections
crowded down from the most ele.
| waited positions to get on the well
supported runways where they re-
NAMED standing.
Promoter Eddie Pitts. declared the
structure had been inspected by state
! and city authorities after 1t was COM
pleted and had been passed as safe.
Society Women Arrive.
By the time the injured had been
removed the program barkers were
shouting their wares. and pop was
being consumed without regard to
dyspepsia. Shortly after 2 p. M. the
the first smattering of society women
who reserved many of the most ex-
pensive seats began to arrive. They
crowded into boxes and smiled with
good humor at tanned gentlemen
wearing wierdly colored silk shirts
and wide brimmed hats. Their ar
rival was marked by the movement
of all three dollar ticket holders In
to the lower, safer and more expen-
sive section. The cheap ticket fans
did this with the consent OF the man
agement as result of advice Of the
police authorities.
At 2:35 the first preliminary bout,
a six round preliminary was started
Loss Of 5000
Promoter Pitts estimated the cost
to the club through the collapse Of
the bleachers to be $4,000. Hundreds
of fans turned away from the box
office at sight OF the wreckage.
| At the start of the first preliminary
all the arena with the exception of
the bleachers was comfortably filed.
Probably 1000 persons were seated.
Referee Tolman gave the decision
to Garcia in the first preliminary in
the third round when he knocked the
wabbIing Johnson down with q left
smash to body.
At 2:45 p. M, the crowd was be-
ginning to forget the accident and
discuss the more important business
of fighting. It rimpatiently awaited
the calling Of the second preliminary
At 2:55 the second preliminary be
gan, three round bout between
frankie Murphy Of Denver and Ste
wart Donnolly Of Indianapolis.
Murphy waded in viciously and
knocked Donnelly down at the finish
of the first round, after repeatedly
rocking him.
| In the second Donnelly hit the ma,
three times as result Of straight
right punches by Murphy. The bell
saved him.
When the third opened. Murphy
connected with left to the body and
Donnelly went down for the count
ring before the referee finished count
ing.
Challenges are Made.
/ While the fans were waiting the
start of the main event, challenges
to the winner were received from Joe
Rivers and Willie Richie. Ritchie's
challenge bore the offer of $10,Q0G
side bet
The crowd cheered Ritchies name
The announcement OF a challenge
from AID Wolgast was greeted with 9
laugh.
When the news Of Johnny Xii
!. kane's knockout victory over George
CLANCY was announced, the crowd
emitted rousing cheer.
At $3.50 p. M, Pommery Bob Yer
non, Welsh's timekeeper, and johnny
Kenney OF Denver, Whites time
keeper, were introduced. Billy Rilly
of Colorado Springs, the official time
keeper, followed them into the ring
| White Appears.
i At 3:46 p. m, preceded by his man
ager,. Nate Lewis, and followed by Z
corps of seconds, Charley White made
his appearance.
The crowd rose for a minute and
gave him rousing cheer.
/ Whites party was closely followed
by Freddie Welsh and his party OF
ring assistants.
White won the toss for choice OF
corners and chose the west corner
with the sun at his back.
A moment later Johnny Dundee was
introduced as challenger of the
j winner.
Both men appeared cool and conn
dent while the gloves were beins
donned.
i AT 1855 p. m, Billy Roche Of New
York was introduced as the referee
AT 1858 p. M, the men were called
to the center of the ring to receive
their instructions. They cleared for
action.
At exactly 4 p. M, the bell rang