Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1894 — INTERNATIONAL “MILL” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INTERNATIONAL “MILL”

Mitchell Knocked Out in Three Rounds. ~ America’s Champion An Easy Winner—A GreJJt FnglUa.ic Event. The long expected meeting between the great pugilists, Jamas J. Corbett, of the United States, and Charles Mitchell, of England, arranged to take place at Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 25, 1894, came off according to the programme of the Duval Athletic Club at that city. Thursday. Efforts to prevent the fight by tho authorities failed to materialize and tho contest was not interfered with in anyway after the granting of an injunction in favor of the Athletic Club, Wednesday, preventing Governor Mitchell from taking any further steps in time to prevent the tight. Great interest was manifested and more than 1,000 men viewed the fight. The platform was of the regulation pattern,

surrounded by heavily padded ropes and a barbed wire fence. At 1:50 p. m. Corbett arrived enveloped In a bath robe and examined the platform. At 2 p. m. Mitchell appeared. Both men were given an enthusiastic reception by the spectators, fAt i:SO were called to the center of the ring and given instructions by the referee. At 2:51 Ed. Smith, of Denver, challenged the winner to fight for *IO,OOO a side. The fight then proceeded by rounds as follows: First Round—The referee gave nottce that it would be a fight to a finish. Corbett led off and hit Mitchell on the chin. They exchange body blows, and Jim reaches Charlie’s left eye heavily. Miteh?li reaches the ribs: another exchange and Mitchell clinches. Mitchell is on Corbett’s neck, and Jim lan Is right and right again, just as time is called. Honors easy in first round. Second Round—A wild exchange and clinch. Corbett uppercuts bis man and they come together. Mitchell lands hard on the ribs, and, as Mitchell came in, Corbett knocked him down twice in succession. Jim floored his man clearly and knocked him down again as he essayed to arise. The gong saved Mitchell. Third Round—Mitchell rather groggy. Corbett wins; Mitchell knocked out. notes, Tho contest was for a purse oj *20,030 r and the sporting world has b *en agitated for months over the probable result. Betting had been largely in favor of Corbett at at all times in the United States, bnt in England Mitchell Is said to have been heavily backed. James J. Corbett was born in San Francisco in 1865, and has had a remarbable career in his profession which culminated in New Orleans, September 7,1892. when he defeated John L. Sullivan, and became tho champion of America. Charles Mitchell was born in Birmingham. Eng., In 1861, and has devoted the years of his manhood to the pugilistic art. He boxed with Sullivan in May. 1884 at Madison Square Garden, and knocked the American champion down, but the police stopped the fight in the third round before the contest was decided.

Mitchell was defeats! in the first ronnd because of bis own cowardice and timidity. He knew be had no chance to win, and when the men were called to the center of the ring by the referee he appeared like a dwarf beside Corbett. Corbett refused to shake hands with Mitchell. It Is well known among the sporting fraternity that Mitchell has repeatedly spoken of Corbett in the most Insulting terms and the contestants were personal enemies as well as pugilist, fighting for the championship of the world. Corbett rested for a quarter of an hoar in his dressing room, chatting with his friends and expresses his satisfaction with the result. He would have liked to punish Mitchell more, and that was apparently his only regret. Mitchell had to be assisted from the ring by his friends an 1 seconds, bat Corbett sprang oat as lightly as he had entered, apparently not the least excited or worr <>d. Crowds followed both Corbett and Mitchell as they pushed their way from the ring to the dressing rooms. Corbett

walked with a Jaunty ahr. surrounded of his second* and friends, while Mitchell, A triffie disheartened, plodded along shortly afterwards. Outside the gatesa most disagreeable surprise awaited both pugilists. Sheriff Broward, of Duval county, with a hackful of deputies, blocked the way as t|M men came abreast of him. He Jumped from his carriage and declared both under arrest. This was something neither was looking for, and consternation was written on their faces. “What is the charge?" asked Corbett. “Fighting," W3B the laconic reply of the sheriff, and with a •‘Come along, boys,” he jumped upon the box of M trheli’s back and ordered the driver to proceed to the courthouse. Two deputies took charge of Corbett’s carriage and started in the same direction. The whole thing was done so quickly that few of the crowd comprehended what had happened. Mitchell asked and was given permission to go to the hotel for a batn and rub down but Corbett wanted the matter settled at once and proceeded to the court house. After the usual preliminaries, Mitchell having appeared at the court honse somewhat refreshed. both men were place l under *s.*X> bonds to appear in the Cr.minal Court, Friday. The seconds and other participants were likewise held in *2.500 bonds as accessories. Corbett and party appeared at the Zoological Gardens In the evening and. the purse of #20.000 was formally turned over to the Champion of World, and acknowledged by him, In the presence of aa immense and enthusiastic audience. Mitchell and Corbett in the evening by mutual friends. The men shook hands and Mitchell apologized and acknowledged that ho had said mean things of Corbett, hut said that he had often been 'misquoted and wished to retract what he had said. He admitted that he had been fairly beaten. _____

JAMES CORBETT.

CHARLES MITCHELL.