Evening star., 1937-02-01
Death of Boxer From, District
In College Bout Investigated
". ]. Eastman, of Y. NJ. 1.
Succun,bs after
Losing Match.

way today into the death OF William j.
(Tubby) Eastman, 18-year-old WASH
ington student at Virginia Military
Institute, who died at Lexington, Va,
yesterday after losing a boxing bout
Saturday night to Mike Lombardo Of
the University Of Maryland.
As Coroner E. P. Tompkins of Rock
bridge County. Va. planned to open
an inquest, it was understood that
Eastman, who formerly lived at l34l
Madison street, was injured in gym
nasium workout several days before
the meet with Maryland.
DR.. Tompkins said an autopsy
showed the cadets neck had been dis
located, apparently as the result Of
blow on the chin.
Announcing he would continue his
investigation after conferring further
with college authorities, the coroner
said: I'VE will attempt to determine
the boys physical condition at the
time he entered the ring as well as
facts about his opponent"
Regrettable, Says DR.. Byrd.
so far as I can see," DR. Harry G.
Byrd, president of Maryland. stated,
there is nothing for which Lom-
bardo can be held at fault. 1t was one
of those regrettable things that hap
pen"
While expressing his utmost SYM
pathy" for the family of Eastman,
Byrd said he did not wish to COM
ment at this time on the possible
effect Of Eastham's death on South
ern Conference boxing.
According to adviceS from Iexing-
ton, Eastman was knocked to the floor
in sparring session with a heavier
v. M. I. teammate and appeared to be
dazed."
Maryland boxers and Coach Maj.
Harvey L. Miller declared that Lom-
bardo did not hit Eastman hard
enough in the bout Saturday night to
inflict any serious injury.
"Lombardo probably is the lightest
puncher on the Maryland squad, for
his weight" said Maj. Miller today.
He purposely took it easy when he
saw that Eastman was outclassed. AS
a matter Of fact, Eastman never really
hit the floor. When he was knocked
down his head did not strike the can
vas, but rested on the bottom ring
rope"
Referee Stops Bout.
After this knockdown in the second
round, Referee Jack Lowell stopped
the bout and awarded Lombardo a
technical knockout. Eastman appar-
emily recovered, shook hands with
Lombardo and walked out Of the ring
to join his mates on the bench. Sud-
denly he slumped over and was taken
to the University Hospital, where he
died at 11:40 am. yesterday without
regaining consciousness Hospital au-
thcrities said he had broken neck.
The Richmond. Va, News Leader
quoted DR.. William H. Wannamaker
Of Duke University. president of the
Southern Conference, today as saying
that conference officials planned no
action in regard to curtailing confer
ence boxing activities as the result of
Easthams death.
1.-The accident was an unfortunate
one" DR.. Wannamaker said, land the
conference regrets that it occurred.
We understand, however, that it was
accidental and that officials of v. NJ l.
consider it as such. We. therefore,
contemplate no action of any kind
unless we are requested to take some
by one Of the member schools. If such
a request is made I will call meeting
of conference officials to discuss the
matter. Personally, I see no need for
any action or for the curtailing of any
activities"
Maryland boxers declared today
that they were permitted to enter the
ring at Lexington without having to
submit to a physical examination. It
also was learned that at least one
other college boxing team in the past
was allowed to face v. M. I. in Lex
ington without examinations.
Lombardo was broken up" over
the news of Eastham's death, accord
ing to the Maryland athletes friends,
and it is doubtful if he ever will box
again for the Terrapins. He was not
informed of the death Of his opponent
until the Maryland team reached
Washington yesterday morning.
Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, v. M. I.
superintendent, Cancelled the re-
of the varsity and freshman
boxing schedules, but the death will
not affect Maryland boxing, according
to Maj. Miller, except in the case of
Lombardo. The unbeaten Terrapins
will carry on with their schedule,
which includes several more dual
meets and playing host at the annual
Southern Conference boxing tourna-
ment.
No blame is expected to be attached
to Lombardo, Maj. B. B. Clarkson,
v. M. I. athletic director. said in tele-
graphing Geary Eppley, Maryland
athletic director, that the fatality was
an unavoidable accident.
Eastham's mother, Mrs. Mary
Browning Eastman of 1341 Madison
street in Washington and Flint Hill,
Va, was summoned by telephone after
the boxer was removed to the hospital
and was at her sons bedside when he
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