The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-07-04
FIGHTERS MAUI
EACH OTHER IN
SCORCN|NC HEAT
Biggest Crowd in Pugi|iStic
History Sees Finish,
BY Frank G. Menks,

ARENA BAYVIEW PARk 1O+
LEDO, OHIO. July Sun rays
broiling. staggering. binding in their
intensity--shimmered down this after
noon on the biggest crowd tina, ever
saw pss,Astic clash in wo-'d's
history.
And under the pitile0 beating Of the
sun. which warmed typewritets and
telegraph instruments almost TO 4 point
where they were untouchable. Jess
Willard and Jack Dempsey fought
their battle with the heavyweight
championship OF the world at stake.
A small thermometer which one Of
the graphers brought to work reg
istered % at II 30. jumped to 90
at noon. was 0H at IL 20 and ap-
parentiy still soaring. Only an oc-
casional whisper OF breeze from
Maumee Bay saved hundreds from
collapsing in their seats.
The emergency hospital, under the
east entrance 10 the stands, was
ready long before noon to take care
OF heat cases.
Few See Prelininariea
Thousands OF persons who came
here early 30 ss TO witness every iistic
asova made, i THE vast stadium, quit
~ the stands shortly AFTER their ar
rivN an dsought refuGe nnder them
and remained until time for the big
fight to begin Willingly they saeri-
ficed seing . few preliminary bouts,
rather than risk prostratioa. And. as q
result, huge sections Of the stands
were peoeled but sparseIy until the
fighters entered the ring.
Those who had the courage to re-
main in the sun baked stadium, WHICH
itself radiated the heat like a do.en
furnaces, divested themselves early Of
coat and collar and many went TO the
extreme Of doifins down to their B.
V. DIS long before fight time.
And all the while airpianes, ready
TO carry away the mail and photos
hovered overhead like vultures wait
ing for prey that the scorching sun
seemed to have promised them. O
CYsvd Less Than Expsetsd.
Two hours before fight time il was
apparent that the promoters dreams
Of 1000 crowd would be rudely dis
pelled. There was only q sprinkling Of
reserved sest holders In sight. The
really surprising TACT, however. was
the bleachess were less than one third
filled. II had bem anticipated tha,
al Of the 200. 900 seats, At SO per, GER
tainly would be cold out BY noon. Ye,
the bleaeher thfng At I p. A., showed
only = trifle more than 600 and the
vacant spaces were being blotted ou,
only . speck OF two at time.
Outside the park. unhappy ticket
speculatoss who had Ibeen kidded into
believing that The Willard. Dempsey
/, skit would be put on '6efore . packed
house, offered pasteboafds al far be.
low cost. Seats of the 80 variet,
were "hawked" and without purehas.
ers--for so and ali the oeher varietie,
were Offered at from 10 to more thar
30 percent below cost, One saddenet
-spec" had six SO seats--totah cos'
ANYBODY can have EN- for $6O," h,
pleaded.
But no one was interested.
| Jack Dempsey may not emerge I
victor In this afternoons clash. but h,
will have-Jwin, lose or draw--th,
glory OF being the only challenger i
sll ring history who went into battle |
betting favorite over the champion.
, Outside the park--and inside. too
the Dempsey enthusiasts devotea
themselves until the noon hour in try
ins 70 locate men who wanted to bacl
Jess Willard at even money. The!
found only rare few. And then, de
, termined 10 have q little money ridinl
on their favorite, no matter what III
odds, the Dempsey folks began 4
shuast .
Ten 10 nine on Dempsey"
Il A few bashfvl Wiiiardites came ios
.. ward and covered . few thoussn'
!. deflsrs At that Price. There was
. NIL In the wagering for awhile an
then once again csne the cry ffos
the Dempsey people:
! "Ten to eight on Dempsey--in an
amount"
Another few thousands were bet I
those ,odds--snd then the wagesin
! ceased because no more Willard COS
= could u uncovered.
A~.Ass~ a. QssSisk svosS<a r~v