New-York tribune., 1919-07-05

Willard was not beaten by a lucky
punch. He was beaten systematically
and thoroughly. The tossing of the
towel was wise and humane. 1t saved
another ring tragedy, for Willard was
helpless after that first round.
When the champion dropped for the
first time there was gasp of in
credulity from the crowd. They could
not believe it at first But there
sprawled Willard, the whole six feet
seven inches Of him, with little
stream of blood trickling from a cut
under his right eye
On launches at Bell
Jess dropped for the first time in
Oempsey's corner. I could see his face
and it was the face of greatly be-
wlldered big man. Then he forced
ghastly grin as he sat there on his
launches, listening to the count. Up
he got, floundering, and was down
and up seven times in ALL
When the bell rang he was squatting
on his launches again, this time in a
neutral corner. His jaw was sa9ging.
hfs mouth wide open and he glared
savagely up at Dempsey, who was wait
ing to down him again in the same
methodical sledge hammer fashion.
e, In the second round the big man
was doing little but receiving punish
ment. He tried to keep Dempsey away
from him with that long left arm of
MS, which, l believe, | compared to
the yard~arm of ship. It was as use
less as broken spar this afternoon.
II DID not even jolt back Dampsey's
head and the right uppercut was
equally Intellectual
The end of the second round found
Willard hanging over the ropes in a
neutral corner again. He had tried all
his blows. He had mustered all his
strength against Dempsey and it wes
useless.
Half Blinded in Third
When Willard stepped out in the
third round he was half blinded. He
glared out of the left eye at Dempsey.
who advanced to meet him with pun
lshlng right and left hooks to the head.
The contender stepped in, waving aside
Wlllard's long and ponderous left
guard. Dempsey lashed mercilessly at
inc battered head again and again
1t began TO get CHASTITY. In those
three rounds Willard was as helpless
as q bleeding bull in the hands of a
skl'iful matador. 1t seemed that any
thrust would prove fatal Yet he
stayed on his feet with logged cour-
age, Upheld probably by the old pride
IN his bulk and his absolute faith in
himself
The expression on his face when he
was feiled for the first time epitomizes
the hgAt. 1t was an expression of ut
ter bewilderment. 1t said plainly "this
could not happen, and yet it has hnp9
pencd.' He tried to grin, and with his
Jaw sagglng and his mouth open it
was a grin almost OF idiocy He could
not stand it. He wanted to grin to
hide the pain that the blow to the
body had caused him
Referee Ollie Pecord had strenuous
time of it in this round, for Dempsey
was always waiting ready to drop his
victim again as soon as he rose. As
quickly rs Willard fioundered to his
feet Dempsey was again ready to bat
ter him down.
As fighter Dempsey is perhaps the
coolest and most workmanlike of all.
lie did not tear into his victim blindly.
He punched deliberately and with q
fine sense OF direction. He is not the
heilo~1ng, rushing type like John L.
Sullivan. He is a deliberate fighter
willing to take a punch TO give one,
but quite certain that he will give
more than he receives.
Always inclined to be a bit hysterical
when a new champion arrives, but +
does net sound like hysteria al this
time to say that this young William
Harrison Dempsey is Q great fighter.
one of the greatest
There was hardly scratch on Demr-
sey. Willard 8 straight left did not
even rullie the younger man and the
right uppereut, which landed more than
once on Ocmpsey's jaw, did not rulle
him.
Dempsey was serious locking
young man when ne stood in his COR
ner wal ing for the bell. Jack Kearns.
his manager, stroEed his bronzed aad
muscular beck gently and whispered to
HIM. In the other corner Willard
bulked high above the ropes with
smile of confidence.
Jack Starts Cautiously
1t was announced that Dempsey
would carry the iigh. to Willard fr31n
the start. But he did not. He
SPARED cautiously and willard paved
at him with the long and ponderoas
left. Then it came, the Dempsey at~
tack-the big man was on he floor be-
fore he could realize what was han-
pening. 1t took lot of hammering Co
bring that huge bulk down again and
again.
+ No one can say of Willard that he
lacked courage. He held big and
stout heart 70 have carried him through
he second and third rounds.
There were over fifty thousand in
ths huge wooden saucer when it har-
pened. When the towel came hurting
through the air there was a rush to
the ring and some mad an les there.
Women climbed over the ropes vita the
men,
Willard lost his championship as he
squatted on q stool in his corner. His
long legs were shaking and the blood
was flowing from his mouth as he
spluttcrcd words to his friends Ray
Archer. his business manager, saw
that it WAS all over and signalled to
Walter Monahan.
Dempsey. calm, unruff'ed, was sitting
on ~ stool opposite the champion,
glancing at him casually and listen
ing very cooiiy u tHe advice oi his
manager, Jack Kcarns He felt that
the heavyweight championship with
all its poetentalitics, bright lights and
luxuries, of which he had been dream
ing when he was riding brake beams
back few years ago, was in his clutch.
He felt that he could batter his way
to it in one more round and he was
eager TO hear the bell.
Then the white towel with the