The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-07-10
DEMPSEY WHIPS
WILLARD, WINS
CHAMPIONSHIP
OLD CHAMPION UNABLE TO
GIVE THE CHALLENGER ANY
SORT OF A REAL BATTLE

BV virtue Oh one OF lne SpteuSsI
and most one-sided battles that ever
decided a big fstic event Jack Demp-
sew became the worlds champion
heavyweight boxer at Toledo, Ohio,
last Friday, July 4.
To all intents and purposes he
whipped the huge Jess Willard,
favorite in the meager betting, IN
one round. DEMPSEY thought the re-
feree had announced him the winner
and actually left the ring. But he
was called back and the butchery
continued for two more rounds, when
Jess sitting in his corner, with a be-
wildered look on his swollen face,
failed to respond to the gong for the
fourth round.
at was no use to continue" said
the ex-champion. "My strength went
from me in the first round" He sat
there, apparently the most surprised
man in the United States IN the
moment. His right eye was closed
ana his right cheek was swollen and
blue with bruises. Blood covered his
body and his arms hung so helpless
" over the ropes that it seemed as
if a child might give him further
abuse without rousing his interest.
Dempsey Feels His Speed
Dempsey was breathing hard when
the fight ended, but it was from ex-
ertion and not from punishment. The
new champion, whose full voting
name is William Harrison Dempsey,
escaped almost unhurt, but as he had
been using his arms like trip-ham-
mers on the anatomy of his opponent
for nine crowded minutes in sun that
sent the thermometer to ITO degrees,
his heart was still pumping at high
pressure and he appreciated the
breathing spell. In the first few Sec
ends of the contest it looked as If the
experts who had been assigned to
keep detailed account of all blows
struck might come measureably close
to doing so, but it was only for
fraction of second After that the
experts did we'll to count Jacks
blows, let alone take note OF how
each was made. The challenger
knocked the big fellow down five
times in the first round and had hm
hanging helplessly on the ropes or
draped over his own shoulders most
of the time when he was not taking
advantage of the count.
The crowd thought the fight was
over in that round. Willard was down
for the seventh time and the count
was apparently about to end when
the gong sounded. 1t was modest
gong, which could not make itself
heard before so many people, and
even Dempsey did not get it. He
crawled through the ropes and was
headed out on the shoulders OF
screaming fans when the truth was
broken to him and he was hauled
back.
Willard Seemed Confident
Such fighting as the Kansas ranch
man produced was placed on exhibl-
ton at the onset He had stood his
corner a picture of confidence. His
smile seemed that of one who had
brief and not unpleasant before
him. He certainly was a st to CO.
for just before time was called ne
was heard to say:
"Let's get this thing over"
He measured the attendance with
disappointed estimates by about oo
DER cent with an appraising eye.
Dempsey presented contrast.
None of the confidence of his tram
ing camp statements appeared IN his
bearing. The man across from hlm
outweighed him forty pounds and
looked as big and impregnable as
metropolitan bank building. The
mood of the challenger was plainly
thoughtful and more than one rlng-
side gazer whispered:
"He's licked now"
When they were introduced, Jess
sauntered over with the cordial man
ner of one desiring to reassure
ycungster, and took his hands IN the
f<iend,iest way. Jacks handShake
was friendly, too, just then, but II
th1 /s;oves, for moment or 50 Ia
ter they were using Willard for
chopn:ng block and some IN ne
crowdwere crying, "stop it, stop IT,
it is pain murder"