Evening star., 1923-09-15

put, though stunned, ne was Tar from
out.
He drove his sledgehammer right
. into Dempsey's ribs with a thud that
could have been heard a block away.
But the champions ribs weathered
the blow and he returned the attack
! with a fury that sent Firpo to the floor
for the fourth time. A few seconds and
he was down again, this time in Demp-
seys corner. This time it seemed as
if he could not rise again and the
champion stepped over the fallen
body of his adversary looking as if
he thought the fray had ended.
But it hadn't.
With the count of nine the South
American was on his feet again and
rushed his rival. 1t was stupendous,
q staggering rush that sent Dempsey
to his knees. Jack rose, battered but
game.
Jack Is Knocked Out OF Ring.
But Firpo was at him in an in
slant. He loosed a right swing that
landed squarely on Dempsey's jaw.
The crowd, crazed by the drama it
was witnessing, gasped as 1T saw
, out of the ring, landing fiat on his
back on the press benches.
In an instant he was back, but he
was groggy. stunned. His legs quiv-
cred under him, He was pale.
But Dempsey hard fought more bat
}
the Argentine and his strategy saved
| him. He fell promptly into a clinch
until his brain cleared. Had Firpo
then been able to land one of his
staggering rights a different story
might be told, but he was unable to
follow up his advantage before the
bell tolled. Before walking to his
corner Dempsey cuffed the South
American several times about the
head. but the referee appeared not to
notice II.
The crowd was quite unable to- re-
cover from the thrill of the first
round when the fighters were at it
again, fighting like wild men. Neither
thought of putting up a defensive
tight. Each was out to win immedi-
ateiy, to crowd all his chances into
the first few rounds.
| Once, twice more Dempsey sent the
Argentinian crashing to the resined
| floor, but when it seemed impossible
for the fallen giant to rise he was on
his feet again.
FirpO Goes Down to Stay.
And then the knockout.
A left TO the body. a tremendous
right to the jaw and the great Argen-
tine lay fiat on his back under the
cluster of arc lights. His face work
ed in agony. Blood streamed from
his mouth. For count of two he lay
quite still. Then he struggled to rise,
had been too much for him. He flung
his left arm across his body. half
rolled to his right side, stroYe
valiantly to get his legs under him,
hut the count of ten sounded.
Dempsey rushed to his fallen foe
and lifted him to his corner.
. An ovation worthy of the lighting
man he is awaited him. Frenzied fans
crashed down on the press section.
stormed it, captured it, leaped to the
ring itself. For a moment it seemed
as If the police would lose control of
the crowd, but finally victor and
conquered were escorted to their
dressing rooms.
The whole evening had kept the
police on their toes. for outside the
grounds was gathered a thronS as
great as that massed within the
stadium walls, and on several occa-
sions, during which prospective spec
tators rioted around ticket wagons.
mounted officers had to be called into
action to club the crowd into line.
The champion himself, who arrived
at the main gate. had difficulty In
entering, and Jess willard, who sat
at the ringSide, spent forty-f1ye minutes
nghting his way through the throng