The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-02


there is standing room for close to
10000 more, so that the total capacity
approaches the one hundred thousand
mark. Four times the size of the
Reno fight stadium. it measures over
500 feet across and the farthest seat
is just 290 feet from the center of the
ring. There are "a miles Of seats and
the grade or rise is such that the face
of each spectator will appear just
above the head of the person in front,
giving the effect of sea Of faces
when viewed from the ring.
Great as was the care with which
the arena has been constructed. atten-
ton has been fairly lavished upon
the ring in which the heavyweight
championship of the world will be
contested. It will rise five feet above
the floor of the stadium and will
measure twenty-four feet square over
all. Each side of the square, meas
ured along the ropes, Is exactly twenty
feet, and the extension outside the
ropes two feet. The flooring consists
of two-inch thick planking with top
layer of one-inch, closely matched
planks laid in cross sections.
Ring Would Support Building.
This fighting foundation is braced
and supported by the heaviest kind of
posts and beams until there Is not
| CULVER when several 200-pound men
| plunge around upon the structure.
over the ring flooring has been spread
heavy felt padding one inch thick, and
atop of this a canvas ring covering.
| which 1t is claimed, is the heaviest
ever used for such a purpose. Over
\ twenty feet square, 1t contains but two
seams, and will be stretched thru es-
pecially constructed eyelets placed
eight inches apart. 1t will be dressed
with lampblack and twenty-four
pounds of resin after being put into
position, which will not be until one
hour or so before Willard and Demp-
sey appear. For the preliminary
bouts an old canvas will be used. and
the felt underneath covered with oil
| cloth in order that no water may seep
| thru. The ring posts will rise on the
extreme corners of the platform and
will be clamped to the floor by es-
| pecially made metal collars in addition
| to being sunk into huge blocks, two
and a half feet below the arena floor
| proper. From the posts, turn buckles
| will extend to the ring ropes eighteen
| inches inside the posts. The top rope
/ will measure four and a half feet from
| the floor. and is one and a half inches
in diameter. The lower ropes will be
| one and a half feet apart and all will
be wound with heavy canvas band
| ing. 1t is the claim of the contractors
and builders that the ring and its
| foundation would support an eight
| story building.
Seats Are Selling Fast.
The sale of seats has kept pace
| with the speed lin arena construction
| and today Promoter Tex Richard
| stated that close to half of the $4,000
seats had been sold, including the
greater portion of the higher priced
| sections. While he did not care to
give the exact receipts to date he said
| they were well above his estimate
| when he first contemplated the posi-
bilities of the match six months ago.
The usual sidelights of a heavy
| weight championship whether in a
big city or on the sands of the desert,
| have made their appearance and vet
| eran fight followers admit that the
| last touch of atmosphere necessary to
| complete the picture is in place.
/ Counterfeit tickets for admission to
/ the arena have turned up In the
| hands of innocent purchasers who
| state that they bought them in other
nearby cities. The tickets are but
a poor copy of the real steel engraved
| admissions and are not likely to cause
| trouble to the gatekeepers Friday.
The button and picture card vender
| is also present in force as well as the
promoter of all kinds of games of
chance in which the player talks about
ninety per cent of the chances,
Toledo Is Filling Up.
Toledo is beginning to tighten up
for the struggle with the army of
| guests she will have July 4. Hotels
are Overlooking now, with pretty
healthy prices being charged for
rooms, both in hotels and rooming
| houses. A huge vacant building on
a downtown street corner has been
| loaded with army cots and an eating
house opened next door to take care
of many thousands.
Tents have made their appearance
in the outskirts, near the arena. Wis
ttors in some instances brought them
| in autos.
Toledo is not profiteering to a great
extent on the visitors. The hotels are
going pretty strong. but merchants
for the most part, are adhering tc
friends. Toledo taxicab drivers have
declined so far to boost their rates.
Gambling houses are running de-
| spite raid on a downtown para disc
by the police a few nights ago. The
chief of police declared at that tins
there would be no gambling during
the days the crowds are here.
Jack Bets on Knockout?
Jack Kearns is said to have placed
$4,000 in his own and Dempsey.
money that Jack will win by a knock
out These wagers have been placed
in various sections of the country thru
commissioners.
1t has become practically impossi.
BILE to place a bet in Toledo. due to the
fact that local boxing fans have
placed all the money they want tC
and also due to the popularity of tht
challenger. Even those who believe
Willard will be returned victor are Sc
partial to Dempsey because of hi,
genial good nature that they are re
luctant to bet against him. One be
of $4,000 at even money was said t.
have been made. This is the larges
single wager reported here.
Willard spared yesterday, stepping
lively thru six rounds
5000 FANS FROM NEW YORK.