The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-03-23
CHAPTER XVII

gu III Jhe boxing world as a defeat for
the famous American. The very fact
that man had been able to prove
that it was possible to withstand the
terrific punching of the champion was
enough for followers of boxing to pro-
claim Sullivan defeated. Newspapers
carrying accounts of the fight the fol-
lowing day declared Sullivan had been
vanquished, basing their assertions on
the fact that he had. been unable to
stop Mitchell
Sullivan fought a grand fight
against Mitchell. but Mitchell, lie it be
said, fought a we1t-planned and. at
times, courageous, battle against the
Boston man. 1t was the first long
bout for Sullivan. His scraps previous
to this time had ended earlier. for
the simple reason that he had ended
them earlier with his fearful punches
In the memory of boxing fans there
is no battle that carries the fierce
"reminiscences of bare-fist fighting to
compare with the famous mill between
these two g1adiators. It was fought
out under practically impossible con-
ditions. The weather was cold. Sleet
and rain fell during the action. The
turf was supported by a clay founda-
ton, into which the fighters soon
floundered with their spiked shoes.
The crowd was made up of rough men,
for the most part Taken in all. IT
was sufficient to strike terror into
the heart of many a boxer The fact
that Sullivan and Mitchell sIugged
through such conditions for thfrty-nfne
rounds of fighting under the abomfn-
able London Prize Ring rules speaks
volumes for their courage.
The fight was held March 3, 1888,
cold and raw day Previous to the
date of the fight little was said about
whore it would be staged A general
idea of the rings location was, to Dor
row a modern expression, somewhere
in France" On the day of the mill
wagons, buggies, and trains headed.
however, in a common direction. The
fighters were placed aboard a special
train in Paris and started for their
destination. Gendarmes we're at every
station, and they knew who was pass
ing, but gave the matter little atten-
ton. They cluttered up the station
platform when the train reached it's
destination, but made no attempt to-
arrest the fighters.
The wagons and other equipages
turned into the wooded part of the es-
tate of Baron RothschiId shortly be-
fore noon. The sun was shining at
this time and indications were a fair
day would favor the battiers. The
JOY over this, however, didn't last
long. for it's wasn't long until clouds
obscured the sun.
The fighters reached the ring at
o'clock. Sullivan threw tweed hat
into the ring and 1eaped the ropes
Mitchell followed very soon after
They grasped hands III a perfunctory
sort of way and listened to the ref
eree's instructions
CHAPTER XVIII
Sullivan offered to bet 500 pounds
on himself before the battle started
but there were no takers. Thel
E Mitchelrs men got their money int
7 action and an offer to place 800
E pounds on the Englishman was lief
Z wanting Odds about the ring, how
ever, were to on Sullivan.
FL 1t had been rumored about the rims
s. side that Sullivan would not be a
81 lowed to win that friends of Mitchell
81 would start a rough-house and brea
8 up proceedings if it became impossible
!. for the English gladiator to continu
& without being hopelessly beatel
e These threats may have been mad
of thin air, but Sullivan's hacker
- rallied a circle of friends who passe
. the word around that if anythin
~ started shooting would follow.
q The fight began shortly after
. O'Clock. 1t was evident from the vel
y first that Mitchell was in the ring fl
a one purpose-to continue the fig
o until darkness or something els
y should intervene. He went to gras:
y at every opportunity, and at times lie
o ged it in advance of the champio
. with Sullivan in hot pursuit Mar
v times he hit the ground from a sligl
o,,eI, OF tho hands Of the chamniO