The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-05

GENTLE AS A CHILD
 EsIt was no use to continue, said the ex-champion. 'eMy strength went from me in the first round"
 He sat there, apparently the most surprised man in the United States at the moment. His right eye was closed and his cheek swollen and blue with bruises. Blood covered his body and his arms hung so heipkessiy over the ropes that it seemed as if child
 might give him further abuse
 without aroustng his interest.
 Dempsey was breathing hard when the fight ended, but 1t was from exer- tion and not from punishment He eS- paped almost unhurt, but he had been using his arms like trip hammer on the anatomy of his opponent for nine crowded minutes in that sun that sent the thermometer to 110 degrees, his heart was still pumping at high pres sure and he appreciated the breathing spell. JACK KNOCKED HIM
 DOWN FIVE TIMES
 In the first few seconds of the coz test 1t looked as if the experts who had been assigned to keep detailed ac- count of all blows struck might come measurably close to doing so, but it was only for a fraction of a moment. After that the experts did we'll te count Jacks blows, let alone take note Of how each was made. The chai- 3enger Knocked the big fellow down five times in the first round and had him hanging heiplessly on the ropes or draped over his own shoulders most pf a VC 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 tho gong sounded. It was a modest gong which could not make itself heard be- fore so many people and even De1np- sey did not get it. He cfawled through the ropes and was headed out onto the shoulders of screaming fans when the truth was broken to him. and he was hauled back.
 Such fighting as the Kansas
 ranchnan produced was placed on
 exhibition at the onset. Ude had
 stood in his corner . picture of
 confidence. His smile seemed that
 of one who had brief and not
 unpleasant tAak before him. He
 certainly was all set to go, for just
 before time was cafled he was
 heard to remarks
 ~Lee,s get this thing 0ver.o
 He measured the attendance. which disappointed estimates by about 50 Der cent. with an appraising eye
 Dempsey presented a contrast. None of the confidence of his training camp statements appeared in his bearing. The man across fpom him outweighed him 40 pounds and looked as big and impregnable az metropolitan bank building. The mood of the challenger
 IL .suH~ |, ~At Rxry one rfngside gazer whispered: 'He's licked right now.s
 When they were introduced Jess saun- tered over with the cordial manner of one dc ling to reassure a youngster and took h. hands in the friendliest way. Jacks hAndShake was friendly, too. just then. but 1t was the last token of friend ship from those gloves. minute or so later they were using Willard for chop ping block and some in the crowd were crying, Stop 1t! Stop it! It is plain murder"
 TWO RIGHTS TO JAW
 AND LEFT TO BODY
 Dempsey's first effective blows, and the ones which apparently settled Will lard's fate. were a right over Jess s shoulder to the jaw, a left to the body and a right to the jaw. Jess staggered. His eye was closing and he reeled, and the challenger. with all the energy of his pulsing youth, began hitting him at will.
 The attendance was below expectation Beats were built for 5000, and the esti- mate was that not more than half of these were occupied. Speculators bough. heavily. They resold their tickets at anything from $ to $15 under gate prices. Little betting was reported at the ring side nor was there much else so far as could be ascertained.
 The heat of the day was terrific. in fensified as it was by the vast acreage of green lumber. During the preliminary bouts, witch lasted from Il o'clock till 2:30, the thermometer jumped to 12o which was the limit of what the instru- ment could record. It showed no degrees when Willard and Dempsey entered the ring.
 ner the crowd surged on to the mat in wild scramble to shake the hand oi the new champion. At times some of them toppled over onto the telegraphers and reporters just below, who were struggling in the mad disorder to report what had happened. Police eventually dispersed them by hustling Dempsey away. Willard was taken to an automo- bile and disappeared from view of the crowd. which then itself began the task of covering the four miles from the arena to the city as best they could, by street cars. automobile or on foot.
 While the passing of the heavyweight championship was one of the most dra- mF-ic events of modern ring history. il was As king entirely in high-class boxing With he exception of the first three L sra av left jabs with which Willard NJ cpeHea the contest, the combat was sina Briy series of terrific drives and safs IS, virtually all of which were de Nfs1i by Dempsey.
 WILLARD WAS IN
 GCgiD CONDITION
 The first of these crashing swings ts land Wiilard's jaw and body appeared a ce7 pletely daze and take away iron