New Britain herald., 1926-12-14

iS iAiN6I VI lllillS Niidl could have happened in a fight ring anywhere, took place last night in Hartford in the semi-fnal to the Persson Mccarthy fight when Charles Pegulihan, French boxer appearing in his first encounter in this country, collapsed at the end of the eighth round, failed to revive, was taken to St. Francis hospital and died there shortly after o'clock this morning.
 This is the first time in the ring history of Connecticut as far as is known that such an occurrca0C has taken place, and speculation will be rife now as to what its effect on boxing will be.
 To the fans who witnessed the fight and the nice battle that Pegulihan put up, his death has come as a shock. and to all others will come the sadness that comes with the sudden ending of a clean sportsman and a game fighter.
 The feeling that comes over one at the thought of the unfortunate ending of the bout is brought home more forcibly by vivid remem- brance of the boyish face of Pagu- Iihan. He was just 2 years old in all the glory of his youth. He was a pretty picture in the hing. many l. tyr Li,,, tN oo1r Nn1a 1,n champion, because of his clean hit ting.
 What his father in far-off France must feel on the receipt of the cablegram announcing the terrible news, can only be realized by the parents in this country who during the war received the yellow slip bearing the words, Killed in ac- tion."
 There is another side to the story. the feelings of Al Friedman of Bos- ton. Pegulihan's opponent. To us who were sitting immediately at the ringside near the spot where Pegulihan went down the death of the Frenchman is a deep puzzle. We saw no blows that seemed destined 10 cause death. When he went down, he slid down on the ropes into sit ting position. He did not strike his head, Yet, it will be said that the blows that Friedman sent in, caused his death.
 Pegulihan's collapse came so sud denly it was astounding. He had ap peared to be fresh at the beginning of the eighth round and had Just come out of an exchange and gone against the ropes. He was facing the railroad tracks in relation to the po- sition of the ring. Friedman was after him and he delivered three body blows which wtre not eXtraor- dinarily hard.
 Suddenly, his body wilted. Fried man surprised. stepped back and then went after him again. Before he could plant blow on his body, the Frenchman recled along the ropes into the other corner and there started to sag down.
 His body hit the ropes and he landed in a sitting posture. The ref cree started to count him out, and at tho count of 10 Pegulihan arose to his feet but immediately collapsed to the floor, again landing in sitting posture.
 At no time did his head hit the floor. The first man to reach his side was Friedman. His handlers came into.the ring and started to help him up. Restoratives were applied but he failed to respond. Then a doctor entered the ring and advised that he be placed on the floor.
 Another doctor entered and both began to work on him. He did not respond. National Guardsmen were dispatched by Commissioner Thomas Donohue for stretcher and a call was sent in for the ambulance. He was carried out and sent to St. Francis hospital, and there the end came shortly after 3 o'clock this morning.
 Friedman was arrested and will be held pending the coroner's in- vestigation. Just what the cause of death was will not be known until the coroner makes his examination. Whether it was because of the blows he received in the fight or whether it was from some other cause may be determined. but 1t certainly was the strangest happening we have ever seen.
 It Is unfortunate and sad. His body