Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1889 — THE BIG PRIZE FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

THE BIG PRIZE FIGHT.

SULLIVAN WHIPS KILRAIN IN SEVENTY-FIVE ROUNDS. KHrain’B -Dropping Tactic* Prolong the Contest—SUHltbh Bnimlly on Him While Down—Neither Combatant S-verlf Punished—First Blood for Kll-ram-First Knock Dowd for Sullivan. ;Ji.~ -■■■ The great pr ::} fight between John L. Sullivan, of Boston, and Jake Kdrain, of Baltimore, for SIO,OOO each aide and the championship of the world occurred at Richburg, Miss., Jnly 8. Kilrain was fairly, squarely and honestly whipped in a contest in which the beaten man has no cause to be ashamed of himself. There is no manner of doubt tfaatrJake Kilrain, is a game man and a good fighter, and the men who saw him fight Monday will pat np their money on him the next time he enters the ring against any living man, except Sullivan. The ring was pitched at Richburg in a clearing on the edge of a pine forest near the little village. The ring was pitched on a patch of green turf, and surrounding it on three sides were tiers of seats ten feet high, put up by an enterprising local speculator, who charged $2 lor the privilege of a seat. The first train from New Orleans reached Richburg at 8 o’clock and the second at 9. The crowd then numbered about 2,. g flo who had each paid $lO or sls for the privilege of witnessing the mill. The general aspect of the crowd was anything but tough. The hoodlum element was largely outnumbered by an eminently respectable crowd. Professional men, merchants, bankers—some from New Orleans, others from neighboring States—were present to a preponderating degiee. Many of # the spectators came from points as far distant as San Francisco in the West and New York and Boston in the East, but these were mostly of the sporting variety—book makers, gamblers and professional pugilists.

Kilrain was the first of the gladiators To - put in an appearance. He was accompanied by Charley Mitchell. They were both received with applause and cheers, in acknowledgment of which Mitchell tipped his Derby. Kilrain’s appearance dismayed his backers. He was unshaven and looked haggard, worn and weak. In short he looked scared. He was white under the gills and behaved like a man being ted to execution. He was not stripped, but wore a thin shirt and-striped pants. He afterwards disrobed in the ring. Soon after Sullivan came, accompanied by the ever vigilant Myldoon. Sullivan wore along ulßter, or “sweater,” as it is called, extending from his neck almost to his ankles. His appearance was the signal for a tornado of applause and cheers, a demonstration not without its depressing effect in the Kilrain corner. Both principals were led to seats in comers diagonally opposite each other, and were surrounded by friends, bottle holders, seconds, backers and a miscellaneous throng of partisans. The fanning process seemed to have an invigoring effect on Kilrain, and he began to brighten under its influence. Sullivan looked flushed, but not particularly buoyant. He also submitted to being fanned with patient meekness, and seemed to realize that his destiny hung upon the issue of the contest. There was great excitement,, at the ring siae as Bud Renaud, Mike Donovan and Johnnie Murphy made their appearance, which they did at 9:50 a. m., and the excitement among the crowd was increased when it became apparent that the fight was actually to occur. On the toss-up for positions Kilrain’s representative, Mike Donovan, won, and he selected the northeast corner. Muldoon, Sullivan’s representative, choosing the southwest corner. At this juncture the sheriff of the county made his appearance, and in the name of the State of Mississippi commanded peace, and retired, this being the only effort on the part of the authorities to interfere with the fight. At this moment the flag of Sullivan, brought from Boston, was placed- in his corner amid great enthusiasm. About 10 o’clock the sun went behind a cloud and there was no perceptible advantage in either comer. After preliminary parlaying John Fitzpatrick, of New Orleans, suggested by the Sullivan side, was accepted as referee. W. E. Haring then stepped up to Kilrain and placing SI,OOO in his hands, told him it was sent him by Mr.Eox for him to bet with Sullivan. Kilrain at once went over to Sullivan and offered to bet him that , he would win the fight The bet was immediately taken and the money ($2,000) was deposited in the hands of the referee. Both principals began to strip. Sullivan was already arrayed for the encounter and had simply to remove his sweater, revealing his magnificent torso, pink with the glow of health and the pevfection of condition. His chest and back looked as big as the side of a house and an involuntary buzz of admiration circulated through the crowd when his massive frame was ering immensity. He wore green knee breeches, white socks and spiked shoes. The American flag encircled his waist like a Ash; but did not cover the pinepitch plaster, "Resembling a corset, which he wort.- Kilrain wore one o! similar construction, but not so perfectly adjusted as Sullivan’s. Kilrain w., attired in black tights

—' i —r bine socks and spiked shoes. When K drain’s bare form was displayed to the multitude there were audible expressions of disappointment His skin was of a pale, Bickly hue, his chest narrow and the muscles of his arms somewhat too salient Shrewd observers thought him a shade too fine and it was painfully evident that he was no match for Sullivan, either in condition or physical power. It is claimed that he weighed 195 pounds, and that his antagonist tipped the, beam at 205. This was hardly credible. There was not less than twenty-five to thirty ponnds difference in weight in Sullivan’s favor. At Ift 10 all the parties to the contest shook hands and then the battle began. In the first round Kilrain clinched Sullivan, throwing him to the ground and securing first honors. In the second Sullivan caught kilrain heavily in the ribs. The men then clinched and Kilrain was thrown. In the third round Kilrain received a blow in the side which really decided the contest in favor of Sail i van, for ever after that Kilrain was groggy. From this on it was a question of endurance, Sullivan attempting to force the fighting and Kilrain desiring to wear the big man out by strategy. Time and again Sullivan would insist that “this is a fight, not a running race.” “I’m not a sprinter, I’m a fighter.’” “Stand up and fight like a man,” etc. In the seventh round Kiirn.in got, in his work by a good one on Sullivan’s right ear, which brought the blood, and Kilrain was allowed first blood. In the eighth Sullivan hit Kilrain a heavy right-handed blow in the mouth and was allowed first knock down. The remaining innings were devoted to the pounding of ribs, knock downs, etc., in almost every one of which Sullivan had the advantage. In the 42d round Kilrain, retreating as usual, came back and led at Sullivan, who countered, and Kilrain ran away. Kilrain fell from a light blow, Sullivan standing over and stamping on Kilrain. Kilrain s -seconds claimed a foul amid a scene of great excitement, which was not allowed. In 44th round almost immediately on coming to the scratch Sullivan commenced vomiting freely, whereupon Kilrain told him he would not hit him while vomiting. Sullivan blurted out. “Come on; I’m ready,” The latter soon got in another rib-roaster, and Kilrain went down. In round 45 Kilrain landed heavily on Sullivan’s neck with his left, and then retreated, Sullivan smashed him in the ribs, when he went down, and while down Sullivan deliberately jnmped on him with his feet. Cries of foul were heard all over the ring, but it was not allowed hy the referee. This was a shameful act on Sullivan’s part, and—should have lost him the battle. In rounds 43 to 67 Kilrain resorted to running around and dropping at every opportunity to avoid punishment, which disgusted the crowd. Sullivan and his seconds made frequent claims of foul, which were unheeded. In round sixtyeight Kilrain ran around the ring. Sullivan followed him closely, hitting him in the ribs. Sullivan seined, and Kilraiq attempted to drop, when Sullivan hit him with vicious upper and un-der-cuts, knocking him down Round sixty-nine Kil rain was knocked down with a right-hander in the jaw. From this until the close of the seventy-fifth round, Kilrain pursued his running tactics, dropping on every attempt of Sullivan’s to administer punishment.

At the close of the seventy-fifth round Mitchell went over to Sullivan’s corner and asked to have the fight decided a draw, to whioh Sullivan and his seconds nded: “No, no.” Donovan th.n step pad to the ctnter of the ring and ihf j w up the sponge, amid a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. The earlier rounds of a prize fight are not as revolting as is ordinarily supposed. During the entire progress of the seventy-five rounds neither of the combatants showed outward signs of severe physical punishment. There was not that abundant flow of blood irom the nose and mouth which embellishes accounts of “scraps” between third-rate fighters. Sullivan had bis ear split, both of his eyes banged, his neck scratched and both hands disabled, bnt evinced no outward signs of suffering. Kilrain’s lip was cut, his left ear smashed, and his short ribs severely pounded, but he bled to a very inconsiderable extent, and only a braise, the size of a man’s hand, showed where Sullivan’s terrific right had repeatedly jabbed him. Later in the fight when Kilrain began to grow weak In leg and arm, and tottered about a helpless victim of Sullivan’s superiority, bat greatly diminished muscular force, then the spectacle became not only revolting, bnt pitiable. Sullivan seems to have profited some by past experience. He has evidently abandoned rushing tactics. He did not rash to any noticeable extent, bnt when he did his agile and wiry antagonist, before he began to weaken, invariably landed on his jaw or cheek, or some equally available locality. Sullivan was constantly on the aggressive, bnt there was an absence of that farious impetuosity for which he has become noted. He had learned to respect Kilrain’s arm by repute, and his knowledge on that point was greatly enhanced, Monday, by experience. One thing is evident, Snllivar

ia no match for Kilrain, either a~ a wrestler or boxe*. Give Kilrain Seh • van’s immeasnreable drivings power end expanse of chest and shoulder and no man could stand against him. Kilrain’a pluck and gamenesa was a theme ol admiration for those who understand ring strategy and true endurance. The Baltimore man was practically whipped in the third round. Sullivan got in a fierce blow on his side under the heart, from which he never recovered. An ordinary man would have thrown up the Bponge in the next round. Kilrain’s seconds themselves acknowledged that the fight wag over then, but with the indifference es a stoic and the pluck of a hero, Kilrain continued the unequal straggle and ministered many a stinging blow to his adversary, and yet, in spite of this, an indiscriminating crowd, mistaking caution and strategy lor cowardice, yelled at Kilrain, calling him “cur” and “coward,” when he sought to avoid Sullivan’s blow by dodging, or when he tried to outwind him by retreating before him all around the ring. It is undeniably Irne that, alter the ninth round, when suffering excruciating pain from his bruise under the heart and repeated knock-downs, Kilrain did lay himself open to the cnarge of “foul” by falling down when not apparently knocked down. The fouls were repeatedly claimed, but never allowed by the referee. But all this and more was made up and over-balanced in the thirty-second round, when Sullivan, after knocking Kilrain down, deliberately and unequivocally fouled the latter by jumping upon his fallen antagonist with both knees when he lay prostrate before him. It was as anmanlv an act as was ever done in the ring and should have resulted in an award of the fight to Kilrain. Any fair-minded referee, with the courage of his convictions, and knowledge of his duty would not have hesitated an instant. But the “foul ’ was not allowed' and the halfwfiipped man, jeered and hooted by the crowd continued to come up smiling every time, although the certainty or more fearful punishment to come stared him in the face. Even after the final round, Kilrain was ready to again come to the scratch, but his seconds, fearing direful results, threw up the sponge, despite his protests u since transpired that Kilrain’B peconda buoyed him up throughout the tight, by picturing to him the effect of defeat, upon his wife and children. It was not deemed strange, then, that when Kilrain was seated in his car, on the homeward j ourney, sore and bleeding, and brooding over his defeat, the big tears rolled down his cheek and melted the hearts, even ot the rough men who accompanied him. Kilrain was toeing the scratch when Donovan, his second, threw up the sponge, thus declaring Sullivan the victor. Kilrain was by no means satisfied, but notwithstanding his protestations he was bundled up in a black shawl and hurried to a carriage in waiting. Kilrain, Donovan, Butler, Murphy and Mitchell drove rapidly to the train and entered their car. Sullivan, Muldoon and Cleary entered the first coach. When Kilrain had seated himself he was soon surrounded by a host of sympathizing friends, who consoled him for his mislortune. Kilrain weDt like a child and continued exclaiming: “I’jd him beaten.” As soon as the two gladiators and other friends had seated themselves in the coaches, the train moved off at a rapid rate. Kilrain appeared to be suffering more from mental than physical injuries and was very gloomy. At timea he wonld brighten up a little and smile, bat these occasions were rare. His face did not betray the great punishment he had received at the hands of hiß big antagonist. He had a cat under the nose and across both lips and bis left eye was slightly discolored and swollen. His right hand had been injured by a blow on Sullivan’s head, and his left instep bad been cut by the spikes in Sullivan’s shoes, which cut through the leather of Kilrain’s left Bhoe. He had received terriole punishment abont the ribs and doubtless suffered considerable pain, bnt he gave no voice to bis agony, if any he endured. He claimed to have been more overcome by the heat than by Sullivan’s blows. Referring to the fight, Kilrain said that he had not been trained properly, and that he was not in condition when he entered the ring, and this seemed to be the impression of every one who saw him when he entered. He would work and get some money together again, he said, and would once more make a trial for the championship. He had Sullivan “done up” twice, he continued, but he had not been properly trained and was unable to take advantage of this, bnt he was willing to fight Sullivan again. He punched Sullivan several times bnt did not seem to hit him, sad he labored under the impression that something must have been done to him, in other words that be had been drugged. He did not have the strength of a cat, but he could stand any amount of punishment but could not inflict anv, and he could see that his blows w« r > not hurting Sullivan. He complained of the manner in which Sullivan bad deliberately jumped on him with both feet while he was down, but he would not find fault witn this. John L. Sullivan, who waa seen immediately after being conveyed to hie special car, waa in the beet of humor, and, while not talking a great deal, always made agreeable replies to any and all questions put to him by his friends or the representatives of the press. He said, among other things, that he would never enter the ring again under any consideration. He had done hia share of slugging daring his rather brief career in the fistic arena, and wanted no more of it He certainly did not intend to fight the Oalfornia negro, for the simple reason that he considered it entirely too degrading for a white man to place himself on an equality with a negro. Hit reference to Kilrain and hie fighting qualifications were of a moat pleasant character, concluding with the remark that he (Sullivan) had got more effective thnmping in hie contest with Kilrain than ever in hie life before. Owing to the dislocation of a knuckle bone on the first finger of hie left hand, which occurred in the seventh ronnd, he wai compelled to make the remainder ol the with one hard. ♦ , ' J u ' W *