The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-02
PRELIMINARIES
STARTED EARLY
TO QUIET CROWD
Threatening Weather and Rain.
drops Worry Fans.
Enthusiasts From Every Corner
of Globe Present.
EARLY FIGHTS ARE FAST
Referee Stopped Herman Me-
tranga Go in Fifth.
Burns and O'Gatty Fight
Almost to Draw.
PRELIMINARY WINNERS

First Bout.
M;nlss Lack ,S Curtain wins easily over
Second Bout.
frankie Burns shades Packey o'Gat-
ty in fast battle.
Third Bout.
Heferee stopped Herman-Metranea
Dout In the fifth round. Metranga
was hanging lifelessly over the ropes.
Fourth Bout.
Dick Griffin scored knockout over
Benny Coster in the second round.
Fifth Bout.
Gene Tunney gets bout over Soldier
Jones. Referee stopped bout in the
seventh.
Ringside. Jersey City, July p
Georges Carpenter. idol OF France.
and Jack Dempsey. heavyweight
champion of the world, this afternoon
fought under grey skies that seemed
70 froEn down on the gigantic arena
built here in Boyles thirty acres"
especially for this conflict
The threatening weather-it seemed
at noon that 1t would surely rain be-
lore the battle of the century" got
under way at o'clock-did not keep
any any nght rams away They started to
tlle into this vast arena the minute
the gates opened this morning and
they Kept coming steadily right up
until the hour set for the big battle.
Around the ringside the fight was
one not to be forgotten. Millionaires
and even some billionaires rubbed ell
bows with grimy handed sons of toll
who were willing to spend fifty doll
lars in order to be right up in the
front row at this struggle, which, from
a spectacular standpoint. is the great
est fistic event ever held.
Fans From Whole World.
Men from faraway Australia,
Frenchmen who came to this country
solely to cheer on their "saper-man'
and Britishers, who. for the most part.
are picking Carpenter to win sat side
by side with the boxing fans of this
country.
Women, beautiful and otherwise,
were scattered thruout the chowd. The
fair sex. for the most part, were late
IN coming. The boxes, where most of
the feminine contingent are expected
to be. are almost bare of customers at
noon.
A few drops of rain fell at 11:40. Il
looked like il might be a passing cloud.
The rain let up after few minutes.
Big Crowd Restless.
The crowd was restless during the
long wait thru the morning hours.
All seemed to fear the rain. When.
shortly after 1880 O'Clock, IT was Of
ficially announced that the fight
would go on at p. m. rain or shine,
faint cheer rippled round from the
| riHgside. The faces around the inn
mediate ringside were for the most
part the same that they have been
around the rings at every big cham-
pionship fight for the past decade.
Several song boosters were scat
tered thruout the crowds and during
/ the long wait for the preIiminaFies
started their humor with their voca-
tions. The motion picture "ops" were
on the job early getting the shots"
at the crowd and getting their ma
chimes focused on the ring.
At noon each entrance in the big
bowl was choked with incoming
crowds The seats were filling up
| rapidly and it seemed certain that q
| capacity will be present II the arena
is filled, it means that 91,t13 persons
/ witnesses the battle and that the to-
tai gate viii be approximately ST.
100000, This figure is a record
breaker for sporting events.
PreIiminaries Start Early.
Taking into consideration the rest
iessness of the crowd. Richards -starte
Il Continued on Page Two.l