New-York tribune., 1920-09-07

ing Commission. Dempsey stepped on
the scales at 1877 pounds about five
hours before the fight, and Miske at
lo9. After weighing in, the champion
and the challenger both returned to
card games to while away the time.
Religious Revival Is Rival
Two hours before the first prelimi-
nary the cheapest section of the arena
was filled, while the high-priced ticket
holders remained downtown, jamming
the streets, clamoring for sandwiches
and coffee from street quick lunch
booths. A Benton Harbor religious
sect, The House ct David, sent q band
wagon through the streets with bally-
moo men announcing q circus at their
own grounds as a counter-attraction.
Benton Harbors g police, and a rate
of SIS pint, effectively enforced the
prohibition laws. But incoming spec
tators reported that night trains had
been not only wide open for selling
drinks, but that in some cars nearly
every known variety Of gambling game
aourished.
Candidates for election in Chicago's
city primary, ten days hence, plastered
the inside walls of this Michigan
arena with advertisements of their
qualifications. The signs were taken
uoHn II "HeIl some one ODlecCcQ TO mix
ing prize fights and politics.
The local police force was supple
nented by detachment of Michigan
state constabulary. At the arena
squads Of uniformed soldiers on leave
from Camp Custer, officiated az ushers
and kept order. High fences, sur
mounted by barbed wire, separated the
sections of the sand pit saucer, and
husky guards were on duty at the
turnsties prepared to prevent a repet-
tion Of the debacle at Toledo last year,
when hundreds OF spectators, with
common accord, swarmed into the ring
side seats and refused to be ousted.
Bed Quilt Pads on Floor
AS the main gates were thrown open
and the fight fans began drifting in
.workmen still were busy completing
preparations in the ring. They used
ld-fashioned bed quilts for padding
the floor.
Dempsey was the favorite, but so
confident were Miske's St. Paul hackers
Of his ability to stick the limit that
they bet freely that the blow from the
man that sent the giant Willard to the
floor seven times in the first round
could not stop the challenger, and that
ne would be on his feet and fighting
when the last bell rang.
Dempsey and Miske had met twice
before, fighting ten rounds at st. Paul
on May 8, 1913, to no decision, and six
rounds at Philadelphia on November
% of the same year, with the same re-
suit.
Fans Arrive Early
Thousandsof fight fans began pouring
into the twin cities Of Benton Harbor
and st. Joseph at dawn to-day, swell
ing the tide Of arrivals which flowed
in through every gateway yesterday
and Saturday, Every train and boat
up 10 the hour Of the fight brought its
complement.
Down the roads Of a half dozen
bluffs that half circle the two cities
by the lake, automobiles coasted by
dozens, and long before the fight
there was one Of the largest assem-
blages of small cars ever seen in the
Middle West.
In mid-morning a feet Of giant sea-
planes was looked for to soar over the
horizon. drop swiftly into the lake,
and taxi up the harbor TO discharge q
cotcrie Of officers from the Great Lakes
Naval Training Station, seventy
miles across the water.
The arriving fight fans found rooms
at a premium and even refreshments
hard to get. These summer resort
towns are adept in handling excursion
crowds, bot nothing on the scale OF
to-day's thronC ever before swoopcd
down on Benton Harbor. Hastily
erected stands lined downtown curb
stones. prepared to supplement the
established restaurants. A cursory
survey Of the signs indicated a belief
that a fight fan trains on ''hot dogs"
and red lemonade.
A hard shower Sunday laid the dust
and packed more firmly the sand on
whch the arena is built. The big
saucer. with its $4,000 seats, is erected
in a scooped out depression In the sand.
little Of it's structure being above the
level Of the surrounding countrywide.
Hansel Victor ON Links
Bert A. HanscI won the Labor Day