Evening star., 1938-06-23
Joe LOUIS BLOW
CRACKED z BONES
IN BACK Of MAX
SchmeIing Was FIoored by
Punch Above Kidney,
X-Ray Reveals.
GERMAN MAY REMAIN
IN HOSPITAL 2 WEEKS
Injury Not Thought Foul Despite
Hint-Harlem Is Jubilant.
Rioting in Cleveland.
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 23.-Two bones
in his back fractured by the power of
Joe Louis fists. Max Schmeling lay
in Polytechnic Hospital today, his dream
Of regaining the heavyweight title .
dream and nothing more.
One powerful right-h punch to
the kidneys partially paralyzed the
German challenger in the opening
minute of his 15-round bout with
Louis last night, made him an easy
mark until the champion knocked him
out In 2:04 of the first round and sent
him to the hospital for an indefinite
stay.
Physicians Report.
Just how seriously hurt the German
was remained to be disclosed. A dag
nosis by DR.. Robert Brennan, professor
OF surgery at the Polytechnic, revealed,
however, that Schmeling had suffered
fractures of the transverse processes
OF the third and fourth lumbar verte-
brae as we'll as hemorrhage Of the
lumbar muscles.
There was no indication from any
source that Schmeling's condition was
serious.
"a wild runor that Max Schmel-
ing was dead, apparently originat-
ing in the misunderstanding Of an
account OF his injuries given over
the radio brought hundreds of tele-
phone calls to Washington news
pers and press association offices
today)
Physicians explained that the trans
verse process is small. thumb-like
knob on the vertebrae. There are two
transverse processes on each of the
bones OF the back. They act as pegs
on which the back muscles are hooked.
Treatment for such injuries fire.
quently is difficult. In many cases q
surgeon must operate to remove the
broken pieces of bone. Sometimes it Is
possible to permit the bone to knit by
keeping the patient absolutely quiet
Ava q pNlAOd VI SO1kC WGSkS.
Second Cause Advanced.
Medical sources said that Schmel-
ing's injury either could have come
from Louis punch or from three sub
sequent tumbles the German took on
the canvas.
Brig. Gen. John j. Phelan. chair
man of the New York State Athletic
Commission. was caller at the hos
pital. He remained with Schmeling
for some time. and when he came
down, told reporters he thought
Schmeling would have to remain in
the hospital for "at least two weeks
and maybe longer"
While Schmeling rested in the mid
town hospital, Louis remained in Sc
clusion in an apartment house OF
Harlems gold coast.
Plans to Sail July 2.
Despite the severity of his injury,
Schmeling went ahead with plans to
sail for home on the Bremen July 2.
Barring much quicker recovery than
is expected by DR. Brennan, Schmeling
will be taken to the boat in an ambu-
lance.
DR.. Brennan warned Schmeling
that he would have to remain under
medical care for at least three weeks
and stressed the possibility of a hem
orrhage Of the kidney. He said how
ever, there were no indications of
hemorrhage now.
DR.. Brennan, at the request Of Gen
Phelan, will prepare detailed report
OF Schmeling's injury and condition.
Joe Jacobs, Schmeling's American
representative. emerged from hospi-
tai conference to make it emphatic
that the German was in no danger
and that there was on claim of a foul,
based upon the right hand punch to
the kidney delivered early in the fight
by Louis.
II claim no FOUL" said Jacobs. "All
I claim is that it was no fair test be-
cause Max received kidney punch
early in the fight. He deserves a re-
turn fight
Gen. Phelan added: There was no
foul and there has been no claim of
foul, but I've ordered full report so
everybody will know what happened"
Blow Declared Fair.
Bill Brown, member of the Athletic
Commission, declared there was no
doubt that the punch was fair and at
the same time clarified the commits
sion's rules on kidney punches
"A punch to the kidney Is not a
foul blow if delivered from out in the
clear" said Brown. "The only time
kidney punch is illegal is when it Is
deliberate, as when the men are in a
half clinch and one deliberately hits
to the kidney.
ANY punch delivered from out in
the clear is legal if it lands anywhere
above the belt. When q fighter lets
a punch 60 his opponent may twist or
turn and so receive the punch in the
kidney. Certainly you can't blame
the man throwing the punch"
In his dressing room after the fight,
Schmeling still was suffering severe
pains in the back. He was taken
by taxi to the hospital, walking in
under his own power. After a pre-.
liminary examination, however, he
(See FIGHT, Page A-30