|
_
The fight between Mike McCoole and
Tom Allen
took place today, on Foster's Island, about twenty
miles down river. Jerry Donovan and Tom
Kelly acted as seconds for McCoole, and Butt Riley,
of New York, and Sherman Thurston for Allen.
Jack Looney, of St. Louis, was umpire for McCoole,
and Eph Holland, of Cincinnati, for Allen. McKin-
ney was chosen referee. Both men presented a fair
appearance, but Allen much the better. McCoole's
friends were greatly disappointed at his condition,
he being fat and showing signs of unskillful
training.
_ _
ORGIN OF THE FIGHT
_
After his defeat by Gallagher, Allen
was evidently
anxious for another encounter, in order to give a
more satisfactory demonstration of his skill. He
contended that the victory won by Gallagher was a
mere accident, and he was, therefore, desirius of
having a battle with somebody. His attempts to coax
Gallagher into another engagement failed, and, after
much skirmishing for an opponent, McCoole's name
was brought forward. It should be borne in mind
that McCoole had retired from the ring and had re-
solved never to enter it again. Much influence as
well as considerable provocation was brought to
bear upon him to fight, but for a long time he reso-
lutely declined. But Allen and his men so perse-
veringly kept up their cry for warfare that McCoole at
length consented. Then another difficulty arose -
McCoole had made up his mind not to fight for a
small sum. It appeared, however, that Allen's
friends were unwilling to risk a very large amount
upon him. The matter had almost fallen through,
when McCoole - doubtless somewhat exasperated
by taunts and supplications - reluctantly con-
sented to a match for $1,000 a side. The prin-
cipals and some of their friends met in St.
Louis, where the articles of agreement were signed
and the first instalment of the battle money put up.
Shortly afterwards the men went into training,
McCoole selecting the Fairland House, while Allen
sojourned near Cincinnati. Both proceeded vigor-
ously with their work, and were speedily brought
into excellent trim. From the very beginning
McCoole was the favorite, though Allen's friends
were confident of victory.
_ _
THE FIGHT
_The
men entered the ring at a quarter to two
o'clock, but the fighting did not commence until
some time after. McCoole won the choice of ground,
and offered to bet Allen $2,000 that he would win
the fight. Allen made a speech, saying he was an
Englishman, had no money and could not accept
McCoole's offer, but asked for fair play. The men
then went to work with the following result:
_
ROUND 1.- The men approached each
other cau-
tiously, but with confidence. There were a few
exchanges and then hasty hitting at close quarters.
Finally McCoole planted a heavy blow near Allen's
eye, knocking him down. First knock down and
first blood claimed for McCoole, although blood ap-
peared on both faces.
_
ROUND 2.- Terrific blows in rapid
succession on
each other's faces, resulting finally in favor of
McCoole.
_
ROUND 3.- The men eyed each other
with the fero-
city of gladiators, and after a few severe blow they
clinched and fell together. The struggle caused in-
tense excitement, and McCoole's friends realized that
the giant had met a man worthy of his steel.
_
ROUND 4.- McCoole came to the scratch
with his
face bleeding profusely from a terrible gash under
the right eye. Allen fought cautiously, evidently
husbanding his strength. McCoole got in heavily on
Allen's ribs and latter went down to avoid
another sockdolager. The wildest excitement now
began to prevail at the seeming change in the pros-
pects of the fight.
_
ROUND 5.- Heavy fighting throughout.
There
were desperate exchanges, during which Tom ad-
ministered two or three terrific blows on Mike's face,
which seemed to be a mass of blood from forehead
to chin. He had terrific gashes under both eyes, and
his face was a horribly disfigured. The combatants
clinched, and after a desperate struggle both went
down together near the ropes. The round was de-
cided in favor of Allen.
_
ROUND 6.- Heavy Hitting. Allen seemed
to be the
freshest of the two and looked very complacent,
dancing around his opponent with ease. After some
sharp hitting the round resulted in his favor.
_
ROUND 7.- McCoole presented a forion
appear-
ance, and looked fresh and cheerful. After some ex-
changes of a not very satisfactory charater to Mc-
Coole, Allen decided to go to the grass in order to
escape
another of those terrific blows from the giant's
sledge hammer.
_
ROUND 8.- The backers of McCoole
urged him to
make short work of his opponent, but in vain, for
the prestige of the giant was rapidly being demol-
ished before the superior skill and tactics of his an-
tagonist. Mike struck out wildly with his right, but
missed the mark, his opponent lighting on his po-
tato trap with terrific effect. McCoole received ter-
rible punishment in this round, and it became evi-
dent that the fight would come to a speedy termina-
tion, the giant being partly knocked off his pins,
which ended the round. Allen looked bland and
serene at the close.
_
NINTH AND LAST ROUND - Both men were
slow
in responding to the call, the noise and excitement
being intense. The referee could not be heard. The
combatants approached each other and engaged at
very close quarters. In a few seconds they clinched
and rolled over side by side in close conflict, while
both were hugging mother earth. Allen placed his
hands on the eyes of McCoole and was gouging them
desperately, when the cry of "foul" was raised from
McCoole's corner.
_
The rope was cut and the wildest
excitement pre-
vailed for a few moments, but the crowd soon after
dispersed towards the boat. The referee was afraid
to give his decision. Several pistols were presented
at his head, but he refused to decide the matter
until he reached St. Louis.
_
Allen out fought McCoole all the way
through, and
to all appearances, would have won the fight if he
had been allowed to proceed. McCoole was much
blown and badly punished, and was, in reality,
whipped. The fight lasted about twenty minutes.
Another Account - No Foul Blow Nor Goug-
_
ing Done by Allen - Outrageous
Conduct of
_
the McCoole Party - Their
Determination
_
That Allen Should Not Win the
Fight -
_
Probable Decision of the Referee
is Favor
_
of Allen.
ST. LOUIS, June 16, 1869
The steamer Louisville, with the prize fighting
party on board, arrived here this evening. It is the
general opinion of those present at the fight and
competent to judge, that there was neither a foul
blow struck nor any gouging done by Allen. The
general belief is McCoole's friends deter-
mined from the outset that Allen should not
win the fight nor get any money. It is freely
said that McCoole's friends acted in the most shame-
ful manner, displaying knives and pistols with the
view of intimadating Allen, and in other ways show-
ing they intended having everything their own way.
The rope is said to have been cut as early as the
sixth round, but as Allen was evidently master of
the situation neither he nor his friends made a point
of it. The second round was not in fa-
vor of McCoole, as previously reported, but
Allen punished his antagonist very severely,
and from that time it was evident McCoole
was no match for Allen. In the third round
McCoole lost control of himself, became angry,
fought wildly, and to the end of the battle was at
the mercy of Allen.
_When
the rope was cut on the last round, McCoole's
friends crowded in the ring, and with pistols and
knives drawn, demanded of the referee a decision
in favor of the "giant."
_It
is stated that the referee will publish his deci-
sion in the morning papers. That McKinney was
afraid to decide in the ring against a foul for fear of
being killed on the spot, there seems to be no doubt.
The reservation of the decision until morning is be-
lieved to be favorable for Allen, and to give McKin-
ney time to leave town and escape the vengeance
of McCoole and his friends.
|
