The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-04
ny FRANK G. MENKE


felled Jack Dempsey (''The Nonpa-
reil') SO years ago were recalled the
other night when a youthful ringman.
without knowing what sort of punch
he was using, nearly suffered dis
qualification for trying it.
Generations have come and gone
since that memorable night in San
Francisco when George LIE Blanche
! first used that blow which ever after
/ wards was barred from the prize ring
| But the story of the fight which was
ended by that punch, ever will remain
! as one of the most dramatic in ring
| annals.
/ Dempsey then was at the height of
| his glorious career-a champion of the
middleweights, a conqueror of heavy
+; weights-a super-man of the padded
! arena. Up to that August night in
! 1889 he had never lost a fight in his
entire career.
| LIE Blanche had through 1887 and
| 1888 established quite reputation for
! himself and in 1889 hurled a challenge
at Dempsey. The champion, who new
/ er ducked a foeman in his fistic life
| time, accepted and finish battls for
August p, 1889 was arranged for San
Francisco.
! LeBlanche in reality, was heavy
weight. He lowered above Dempsey
and was at least 80 pounds heavier.
But from the outset of that fight,
/ Dempsey was the master.
Knowing the amazing ability of Lee
! Blanche to withstand hard punches,
/ Dempsey determined not to strive for
a quick knockout over his huge rival.
[ Instead he elected to jab and peck
| away at LIE Blanche until he had cut
the big fellow down to point where
a few well placed and powerful blows
would win for him.
Dempsey Chopped Away.
Through 81 rounds of warfare
Dempsey methodically chopped away
at LeBlanche. Slowly but surely the
splendid strength and endurance pow
ers of LIE Blanche had ebbed away
AS the thirty-second round started
it didn't seem humanely possible tol
LIE Blanche to last another full round
II Time was called for the thirty
! second. Dempsey slipped in and lao
bed LeBlanche into a position wher'
; pile driver right might do the trick
But even as he did so, lie Bfanch'
| turned around with his back to Demp
5 sey.
+ And then the tragedy happened.
Lifting his arm to the level OF nj
shoulder, and holding it straight GU
: and as rigid as a crowbar, Lebanon
l whirled around with all the tina
2 strength and speed he could summon
!. The swing gave him added impetus.
AS he completed the half circle, IN
forearm of the rigid arm struck DemI
p | affa0+-an6
2 pow er-was almost the same as thong
. Dempsey had been hit by an iron bal
: With barely a CULVER of the bod!
q / Dempsey fell in a crumpled heap upo
, the floor.
The scene which followed perhap
l never will have a parallel in Kingdom
The knockout of the man, who, but
i moment before, seemed an absolutel
L certain victor, practically paralyze
, every person in the audience.
Crowd Silent.
Z The referee never moved from tn
: spot where he had been standing vine
; Dempsey was hit. He did nothing
J could do nothing else-but look a
: Dempsey, then at LeBlanche and the,
: back at the unconscious victim of tn
Y foulest blow ever used in prize rims
And LeBlanche, like the referee
d seemed petrified. Not only did h
stand like a craven image, but eve.
: the arm which had struck down DemI
l sey remained in the air in exactly tn
Y same position as when it had hit tn
/ champion.
Not a sound came from the aud
: ence 1t was hushed like the hush i
4! a graveyard at night
l Just how long Dempsey lay on tn
l. floor no one ever has been able to sa
. for the referee never counted and tn
7 timers, too stunned, never looked a
Y their watches to register the passag
y of time.
At last someone moved in the DemI
sey corner. The sound galvanize
others to action. They came forwar
Z into the ring, picked up the falle
8 champion and carried him to his CO.
y ner. LeBlanche still like man in
: stupor, walked to his, snen climbe
through the ropes and went to hi
Z dressing room