FROM THE MORGUE
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Copyright 2007 by William A. Mays, Proprietor
July 20, 1889
| THE BATTLE WON AND LOST. |
The battle has been fought, won and lost.
At Richburg, Miss., on July 8, Jake Kilrain, of Baltimore, Md., and John L. Sullivan, of Boston, Mass., faced each other in the 24-foot ring and there did battle for the largest stakes ever fought for, $20,000, the "Police Gazette" champion belt and the championship of the world.
It was a battle of the giants, and the POLICE GAZETTE has no cause to be ashamed of the gladiator whose cause it championed.
The latest reports received up to the time of going to press record the fact that Kilrain was far from being a well man when he entered the ring. Notwithstanding the entreaties of his immediate friends to desist and forfeit the stakes, the hero intimated that he would lose his life rather than disappoint those who had placed confidence in him, or place his patrons in a compromising position.
Suffering from a disordered stomach and enfeebled in condition, he entered the ring and faced an antagonist of his own height, age, physical capabilities and professional prowess, in fact, his equal in everything that goes to make a first-class pugilist of the heavy-weight class. Under a broiling Southern midday sun, and enduring the pain he was laboring under, the "Police Gazette" champion, for seventy-five rounds, lasting two hours and sixteen minutes, faced his brawny antagonist, held him at bay or gave him blow for blow, as the dictates of his professional training or acumen decided.
This certainly was not the action of a coward; this decidedly was not the action of a craven. Jake Kilrain, by his deportment in the Richburg ring on Monday, July 8, has proven to the satisfaction of his friends, and even to those who favored his opponent, that he is neither.
There is a rumor to the effect that the referee chosen was not altogether impartial in his decisions, and that, furthermore, he was not wholly and fully informed as to the technicalities of the London prize ring rules, under which the battle was contended.
Be this as it may, the referee decided in favor of John L. Sullivan, and to John L. Sullivan must be awarded the honor, the glory, the championship, "Police Gazette" championship belt and the $20,000 stakes–unless, of course, later developments prove that the battle was unfairly won, of which there is no probability, so far as we know at the time of going to press.
It is not the intention or desire of the POLICE GAZETTE to detract one iota from the bravery, action or behavior of John L. Sullivan in connection with this now noteworthy and to-be historical encounter.
It was the desire of the POLICE GAZETTE, so far as it was interested, to see a fair, square fight, with no favor, and that the battle should be won or lost on its merits.
That appears to have been done.
We greet the victor!
At Richburg, Miss., on July 8, Jake Kilrain, of Baltimore, Md., and John L. Sullivan, of Boston, Mass., faced each other in the 24-foot ring and there did battle for the largest stakes ever fought for, $20,000, the "Police Gazette" champion belt and the championship of the world.
It was a battle of the giants, and the POLICE GAZETTE has no cause to be ashamed of the gladiator whose cause it championed.
The latest reports received up to the time of going to press record the fact that Kilrain was far from being a well man when he entered the ring. Notwithstanding the entreaties of his immediate friends to desist and forfeit the stakes, the hero intimated that he would lose his life rather than disappoint those who had placed confidence in him, or place his patrons in a compromising position.
Suffering from a disordered stomach and enfeebled in condition, he entered the ring and faced an antagonist of his own height, age, physical capabilities and professional prowess, in fact, his equal in everything that goes to make a first-class pugilist of the heavy-weight class. Under a broiling Southern midday sun, and enduring the pain he was laboring under, the "Police Gazette" champion, for seventy-five rounds, lasting two hours and sixteen minutes, faced his brawny antagonist, held him at bay or gave him blow for blow, as the dictates of his professional training or acumen decided.
This certainly was not the action of a coward; this decidedly was not the action of a craven. Jake Kilrain, by his deportment in the Richburg ring on Monday, July 8, has proven to the satisfaction of his friends, and even to those who favored his opponent, that he is neither.
There is a rumor to the effect that the referee chosen was not altogether impartial in his decisions, and that, furthermore, he was not wholly and fully informed as to the technicalities of the London prize ring rules, under which the battle was contended.
Be this as it may, the referee decided in favor of John L. Sullivan, and to John L. Sullivan must be awarded the honor, the glory, the championship, "Police Gazette" championship belt and the $20,000 stakes–unless, of course, later developments prove that the battle was unfairly won, of which there is no probability, so far as we know at the time of going to press.
It is not the intention or desire of the POLICE GAZETTE to detract one iota from the bravery, action or behavior of John L. Sullivan in connection with this now noteworthy and to-be historical encounter.
It was the desire of the POLICE GAZETTE, so far as it was interested, to see a fair, square fight, with no favor, and that the battle should be won or lost on its merits.
That appears to have been done.
We greet the victor!
