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(From Friday’s Dally Leader)JOM HI MB 01 I FOULST1JKT MAKES A MISTAKE IN THESEVENTH.Cuu*ld«red the Mont Wonderful Cuutent In thlN WcKiern Country—I.itrtfe Audi, elice at CIhiim Grotli Hull Lmt Kleuiiijf Kuidly » Tliouftuiul SpectHtorit Atteml from mil I'aVti*.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 the subject of much favorable comment among all of the men w-ho were in attendance.There were a few who intimated that I it was probable that Stifc fouled rather j than lose the contest, but there is no ground for this even, for though in the first few rounds he seemed to have the worst of the contest, at the time of the foul blow* was given he seemed the fresher of rhe two, if anything, and it is the 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 near as any one can give, is that, as the 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-way, Stift was anxious to get in a telling blow as his antagonist, who had i dropped on one knee, was rising. It imo Stifrs corner_ He upper cuts Put was legitimate and in accordance with fa„. shor:, suft ie(J wJth ,eft bu£as official timekeeper and Lou Housemen, sporting editor for the Inter-Ocean. was announced Root’s timekeeper, and Tom Dunn of Peoria was named as timekeeper for Stift.Manager Leonard then announced the conditions to govern, stating that both men were candidates for the world’s middleweight championship with Tommie Ryan as the only man between them and the coveted laurel, with Dan Creedon and George Green on the same footing wi\h 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 moment the contest was on. the hands of the stopwatches pointing to 10:53 o’clock.Contest by Rounds.Round One—A few seconds sparring when Root lead. No damage done. Stift leads right, 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 heavily, while Root ducks and slips to the floor, recovers himself and lands terrific left over Stift’s left eye. which cut the flesh and caused it to bleed profusely. Stift was staggered but smiled. Root landed again, the blood from Sri ft’s, eye bothering him considerable and blinding hrm. They ciinched 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 untilStift and attempts to follow, but is blocked. Hoot 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 blow that cost him the contest.There were cries of “foul” from all parts of the house and as soon as Referee Hogan could restore quiet he announced that whether intentionally or by accident, it made no difference which, though he himself thought it was an accident, Stift had struck his antagonist while the latter was down,and therefore the contest must be declared in Root’s favor.• •The decision gave universal satisfaction, though it was the general belief that Stift was regaining all of his-lost ground. It was the general opinion that he was the fresher man of the two. while there were those who thought that Root would eventually win the contest.Root Feigns Injury.Root feigned injury after he was aware that he had been fouled. This feature of the affair caused a good deal of levity.The first contests of the evening were mere exhibitions. The first was between Maurice Rauch of Chicago and Clarence Forbes, brother of Henry 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 Sfcreat-Ithey clinch. Root, forces the fighting j er. III., here March 10. and Georgethe rules. Root made a faint attempt to rise from his knee, but seeing Stift ready, decided to await a more favorable time. Stift. however, thinking*that Root intended to rise, let go with his right. Seeing his mistake he checked the blow, which though vcious enough, only landed lightly on the left | side of Root’s temple, showing that | Stift all but stopped it. However, to strike was sufficient, and he lost the contest.The Main “Go” of the Evening.It was 10:20,o’clock when Billy Stiftfound only the air. Root lands heavily on ihe neck with his left and Stift runs into a hard right jab. In a mlxupWoodingham of Chicago. It was very Interesting and she men did some clever work.j 'Tom Dunn of Peoria acted as master of ceremonies last, night and made allRoot goes to the ropes in Stift s corner r of the announcements. The followingbut with no damage. Root recovers andlands with his left Sri ft leads vicious-.Iy as the gong sounds. During the round Root seemed to be leading forthe he-3d and doing most of the effec-•tive work. Stift was mostly defensive,but both the first and second rounds j that paper. Joe Woodwards of the Rec-were clearly Root’s. Once in a clinch ! 0rd, Ed. Hutchinson of ihe Journal, Stift got in a series of hard blows on j an(i Ed Smith of the Chronicle.Root’s kidneys.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-forwrapped in a bath robe, climbed over | Round Three—Stift rushes to thethe ropes and entered the ring, followed by his seconds, Charles Suft. his brother. E. Parker. Henry Bright. Jim Welsh 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 too was greeted with tumultuous 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. Stift was ihe more stalky and compactly built and bo;h i were as fine specimens of physical I manhood as you could find.At this rime the hall was weii filled. The Chicago delegation consisting of about three hundred and headed by Hon. Billy O’Brien. Johnnie Powerscenter of the ring and leads heavily jwith left and right. Root jabs and aheavy exchange of compliments follow.Stift gets a bad jab on the jaw and IRoot follows with another of the same j■ «sort, but falls short. Stift does some clever ducking and fights hard in the | first of the round. A clinch is followed i by heavy blows by Stift on the face and ribs. Root leads and falls short and Stift lands terrific left on Root's wind, in a clinch. Root went in again, but again Stift landed heavy left on his wind. The round was Stiffs but Root was apparently quite fresh when he came up for the next round.Fourth Round—Root pushes the I contest in the opening of the round I and the field of operations are in Stiffs j corner. Root leads but Stift blocks ! cleverly. Stift lands on wind. A rush follows with a clinch in which Stiftgets in three good hard blows on„Roofs kidneys. Stift leads again and forces the fighting He succeeds in landing heavily on the body. Rootnvu. oiu» w mitu. jvnuiiit: ru«eia leads for head, but falls short. Stift Iand Senator O'Malley had arrived as rushes and Root does some clever foot \ weH as other late comers on the eve- j work, manages io find an opening and j ning trains. The raised scats upon the lands left and right three or four times, j stage of the hall towered back and up the last finding Stiffs jaw and send- iIto the very flies with their weight of humanity, and the galleries were filled 'and packed. In the parquet there was a large sprinkling, all of the best seats being taken and the boxes were afilled.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 anx-ilt;us. others were smiling in expectancy of a Treat, and while there was a hum of conversation going on over the ball there was nothing boisterous, no loud talking, and it was altogether as quiet an audience as you could find*.Preliminary Arrangement.5omlt;- misunderstanding oecnrr*v5 as to tfc* rules. ?tift contended that V*e use of the sentence “Marquis of Queensberry rules to govern mean? that the rules w-re to he given ;h« strict construction which permitted of striking with one arm free and in the break-a-way On the other hand Root maintained that it only meant that the construclion usually placed upon them was apply, namely, the roodi5cd construction. a clean break-a-way and no fighting in the clinch. The seconds.Iing him to the floor under the ropes. He takes full time to rise when the gong sounds, fs | Fifth Round—Root led and pushed j R the fighting. His blows did not seem to j be as effective as at first. He lands I several times. Stift leads strong right j and lands on side of neck, taking Root lt;to the floor. Stift leads again but fell j short. He follows it up and lands but \gets a strong stinging biow on the i.side of :h»* head in return. He pushes the fighting in the last half of the . round but Root does some clever de- • fensive work both 1n blocking and in : side stepping. There were several ’ clinches and in one of hem Root com- ! plained to the referee that Stift was : using unfair means in striking :n the j clinch. Stift muttered. “2 can strike 'you right now. but i won't. Refers ]Hogan told them that they could strike • at any time nnd**r the rules as agreed [to. {Sixth Round —Stift lead.- with no :■ A. ]damage. He leads aga:n and is com- ; pelM to duck a right and W:. Stift ! lands on the left side of Root’s head ! and Root coos to the floor, hn: is up again in a twinkle Root forces Stift into his corner. but St if: succeeds in1Charlie Stift and “Farmer” Bums were j blocking several Mows. In a generalanable to agree and so St was finally decided that the men should decide the matter for themselves. Stift went over to Root’s corner and both seated there, discussed Use matter. They were tan-able to agree and finally Charlie Sxifi proposed that they “toss coppers and Stift won.Jack Ever hard was then announcedixnixnp as the bell sounded orift struck \ Root just after, but so soon that the \ referee did not count it as Root was I on his guard.»Seventh Round—Opened with a \ clinch followed by a wild swing by Stift and a clinch. There wcne more worAt between parties and referee on complaint of Root. Root lands on
Newspaper Details
Davenport Daily Leader
Davenport, Iowa, US
Tue, Feb 21, 1899
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 18 May 2018
Other Publications Near Davenport, Iowa
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