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joii hi ms 011ST1KT MAKES A MISTAKE IN THESEVENTH.Considered the Most Wonderful Contest In this Western Country—Large Audi, euce at Claus Oroth Hall Last K veiling Ka«ll]r a Thousand Spectators Attend from all J*arts.John Root was declared the winner of the Root-Stift glove contest last night. It was a most interesting contest and attracted even more attention in the sporting world than did the Barry-Leon contest. The attendance was as large, if not larger, than at that entertainment. fully a thousand and probably more, well filling the hall. The decision -was given, upon a foul and while this is never quite a satisfactory termination of an exhibition of the kind, there is not the slightest ground for even a suspicion that both men were not in it to win and that the decision of Referee Hogan was just as it should have been, and today he is ihe subject of much favorable comment among all of the men who werebeing taken and the boxes were all filled.The announcement that the main event was about to take place soon cleared the hall of tobacco smoke and the great sea of faces depicted many a phase of interest. Some appeared anxious. others were smiling in expectancy of a treat, and while there was a hum of conversation going on over the hall there was nothing boisterous, no loud talking, and It was altogether as quiet an audience as you could find.Preliminary Arrangement.Sonic misunderstanding occurred as to the rules. Stlft contended that iT.e use of the sentence “Marquis of Queensberrv rules to govern'* meant that the rules were to be given the strict construction which permitted of striking with one arm free and in the break-a-wav On the other hand Root maintained that it only meant that the construction usually placed upon them was to apply, namely, the modified eon-fensive work both In blocking and in side stepping. There were several clinches and in one of them Root complained to the referee that Stift was using unfair means in striking in the clinch. Stlft muttered. I can strike you right now, hut I won’t.” Referee Hogan told them that they could strike at any time under the rules as agreed to.Sixth Round —Stift leads with no damage. He leads again and is compelled to duck a right and left. Stlft lands on the left side of Root's head and Root goes to the floor, but is up again in a twinkle. Root forces Stift into his corner, but Stift succeeds in blocking several blows. In a general mixup as the bell sounded Stift struck Root just after, but so soon that the referee did not count it as Root was on his guard.Seventh Round—Opened with a clinch followed by a wild swing by Stift and a clinch. There were morestruction, a clean break-a-way and no words between parties and referee on ifighting in the clinch. The seconds. Charlie Stift and “Farmer Burns were unable to agree and so it was finally decided that the men should decide the matter for themselves. Stift went overin attendance, : to Root's corner and both seated there.There were a few who intimated that j discussed the matter. They were unit was probable that Stift fouled rather able to agree and finally Charlie Stift than lose the contest, but there is no proposed that they “toss coppers and' Stift won.Jack Everhard was then announced1 ground for this even, for though in the j first few rounds he seemed to have the i worst of the contest, at the time of thei; foul blow was given he seemed the j| fresher of the two, if anything, and it 1 Ocean, was announced Root’s is th»* general belief of those in this locality that it was simply a mistake.The most logical explanation given,and the one which is without doubt as j the conditions to govern, stating that near as any one can give, is that, ascomplaint of Root. Root lands on Stift and attempts to foiiow. but is blocked. Root rushes but lost his footing and fell to the floor on hands and knees just as Stift delivered a right on the left kidney. Stift made ready to follow as soon as Root should rise. At Root’s feint to rise Stift delivered the I blow that cost him the contest. ;There were cries of ’‘foul from all Iiparts of the house and as soon as Ref- j eree Hogan could restore quiet he j announced that whether intentionally or by accident, it made no differencethe contest was under the strict construction of the Marquis of Queens-berry rules which permit of fighting ; with one hand free and the break-a-j way. Stift was anxious to get in a tell-i ing blow as Ills antagonist, who had dropped on one knee, was rising. It was legitimate and in accordance with [ the rules. Root made a faint attempt ; to rise from his knee, but seeing Slift ready, decided to await a more favorable time. Stift, however, thinking that Root intended to rise, let go with j his righ;. Seeing his mistake he check-j ed the blow, which though vcious j enough, only landed lightly on the left j side of Root’s temple, showing that | Stift all but stopped it. However, to strike was sufficient, and he lost the con test.The Main **Gov of the Evening.as official timekeeper ana Ixu Housemen. sporting editor tor the Inter-timekeeper, and Tom Dunn of Peoria was j which, though he himself thought it \named as timekeeper for Stift. (was an accident. Stift had struck his jManager Leonard then announced antagonist while the latter was down, jand therefore the con test must be ue- »iboth men were candidates for the i dared in Root's favor. jworld's middleweight championship with Tommie Ryan as the only -manbetween them and the coveted laurei. with Dan Creedon and George Green on ih**. same footing with them. He stated that Tommie Ryan has challenged the winner of this contest and has been accepted by both men in the event that he wins. He stepped out of the ring amid profound silence and in a moifient the contest was on. the hands of the stop-watches pointing to 10:53 o'clock.Contest by Rounds.Round One—A few seconds sparring when Root lead. No damage done. Stift leads light, falls short and ducks while Root lands heavily on back of the neck. Root leads for head and falls short. Stift leads vicious right landing j heavily, while Root ducks and slips toThe decision gave universal satisfac- \■tion. though it was the general belief •that Stift was regaining all of bis lost jground. It was the genera! opinion !that he was the fresher man of the •'two. while there were those who !thought that Root would eventually jwin the contest. \Root Feigns Injury. j■Root feigned injury after he was j aware that he had been fouled. This Itfeature of the affair caused a good deal IWelsh and Charles Welsh. He was greeted with a cheer. He looked the picture of condition and did not show the effects of his work in the least. He wore a smile as he crossed the ring to his corner.It was just five minutes after that John Root climbed into the ring. “Farmer” Burns, his trainer, was his second, and had as aids. John Richie. Bill Bradburn and Frank Steiner He j too was greeted with tumultuousi[cheering as he entered. He looked considerably the more formidable of the two. is taller, with a longer reach and at the same time is of good proportions. However. Slift was the more—stalky and compactly built and bothIt was 10:110 o'clock when Billy Stift |the floor- covers himself and lands wrapped in a bath robe, climbed over terrific ieft over Stiffs left eye, winch the ropes and entered the ring, follow- cu^ flesh and caused it to bleed pro-ed by his seconds. Charles Stift. his | fusel-v- stift wa5 staggered but smiled, brother. E. Parker. Henry Bright. Jim Root landed again, the blood fromSrift’s eye bothering him considerable and blinding him. They clinched as the gong sounded.Round Two—Opened with a rush by Stift. Root does some clever blocking, and with a good show of foot work manages to keep out of danger until they clinch. Root forces the fighting into Srift’s corner. He upper cuts but falls short. Stift led with left, but found only the air. Root lands heavily on the neck with his left and Stift runs into a hard right jab. In a mixup Root goes to the ropes in Stift's corner but with no damage. Root recovers and lands with his left. Stift leads viciously as ;he gong sounds. During the round Root seemed to be leading forof levity.The first contests of the eveningwere mere exhibitions. The first was•»between Maurice Rauch of Chicago and Clarence Forbes, brother of Hen- !iry Forbes, the little whirlwind. It was !a very clever little go and the men received applause.The second was between Harry Forbes who has a standing challenge to all 116 pound boxers in the world, and who is to meet Sprague of Streat-er. 111., here March 10. and George Woodingham of Chicago. It was very interesting and the men did some clever work.Torn Dunn of Peoria acted as master of ceremonies last night and made all of the announcements. The following newspaper men were in attendance:S. Glynn Andrus and C- J. Grady of the Times-Herald. the former the sporting editor. Lou Houseman, sporting editor of the Inter-Ocean, and George Siler, reporting the contest for that paper. Joe Woodwards of the Record. Ed. Hutchinson of the Journal, and Ed Smith of the Chronicle.Iwere as fine specimens of physical 1 head and doing most of the effective work. Stift was mostly defensive, but both the first and second roundsmanhood as you could find.At this time* the hall was well filled.j humanity, and the galleries were filled ! and packed. In th.-- parquet there was I a large sprinkling, all of the best seatsThe Chicago delegation consisting of ! were clearly Root's. Once In a clinch about three hundred and headed by j Stift got in a series of hard biows on ! Hon. Billy O'Brien. Johnnie Powers | R00* 5 kidneys.| and Senator O'Malley had arrived as i Round Three—Stift rushes to thewell as other tele comers on the eve- I °* *-ke ring and leads heaviiyning trains. The raised seats upon the j and right. Root jabs and a jstage of the hail towered back and up ] heavy exchange of compliments follow, j to the very flies with their weight of gets a bad jab on the jaw and JRoot follows with another of the same sort, but falls short. Stift does some clever ducking and fights hard in the ■ firs; of the round. A clinch is followed■ by heavy blows by Stift on the face •j and ribs. Root leads and falls short and j j Stift lands terrific left on Root's wind, j j in a clinch. Root went in again, but j again Stift landed heavy left on his j wind. The round was Stift's but Root ! was apparently quite fresh when he*| came up for the n- x: round.! Fourth Round—Root pushes thecontest in the opening of the round and the field of operations are in Stiffs corner. Root leads but Stift blockscleverly. Stift land? on wind. A rushi1| follows with a clinch in which Stift gets in three good hard Mows on Root's kidneys. Srif: leads again and forces the fighting. He succeeds in landing heavily on the body. Root leads for bead, but falls short- Stift | rushes and Root does some clever foot j work, manages to find an opening and j lands left and right three or four rimes.: the last finding Stiffs jaw and send-] ing him to th-* flo^r under th** ropes, j He takes full rime to rise when the gong sounds.Fifth Round—R-'xd led and pushed Hi** fighting. His Mows did not seem 1o ) l*e as effective as at first. He lands j several times. Stift leads strong right jand lands on s5dlt;* of neck, taking Roof j ;o the floor. Stiff leads again but fell short. He follows it up and lands but gets a strong stinging blow on the side of the head in return. He pushes the fighting in the last half of the rcrond hut Root does faorme clever do-
Newspaper Details
Davenport Daily Leader
Davenport, Iowa, US
Fri, Feb 17, 1899
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 18 May 2018
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