5

Evening Chronicle.

VIRGINIA CITY, NEV.

JOHN H. COLEMAN Manager

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1890

LAST NIGHT'S GLOVE SCRAP.

The Keogh-McCormack Performance on the Opera House Stage -- Two Hours' sparring and Nobody Hurt -- Sanguinary Windup.

Last evening at Piper's Opera House the puglilistic match which has stirred up the sporting inwards of this Comstock community for the last five or six weeks, materialized into a culimination on the stage of Piper's Opera House in the presence of very appreciative audience including, of course, numerous delegates and candidates from all parts of the State, gathered in for the Republican State Convention today. Most of them eagerly deny that they were present, but, --. The match was for $500 a side and the gate receipts, together with champion honors of the great occasion.

PRELIMINARY EVENTS.

First in order came a very lively and amusing three-round scrap with full-fledged boxing gloves, between Matt Brannan and A. Kelly of Carson. They did splendidly, exhibiting excellent sparring proclivities with frequent knock-downs, at one time the light-weight, Kelly, being knocked into a whirling acrobatic summersault, lighting neatly on his feet again as he came down and fighting ahead, not noticing the slight interruption. This was really the most brilliant and lively contest of the evening.

A rattling little boxing bout of three rounds followed between two boys in their teens, who stood in well and showed that they were not altogether green hands at the business.

The next was a match against time between the light patience of the audience and a long, heavy wait not on the programme. This was a draw, terminating at 11 o'clock, when Keogh and McCormack came on the stage and entered the ring.

THE PRINCIPAL EVENT

Of the evening was now inaugurated. Both men were in first-class condition and stripped like Spartan gladiators. McCormack was ten pounds the heaviest but not as well muscled and built as Keogh. They were ably seconded by James T. Brady, E. Harris and T. Gore for Keogh and Matt Brannan and Al Needham of Carson for McCormack. James T. Brady, who seconded Keogh, has got a pretty good reputation of his own as a pugilist, having been principal in several prominent well-fought battles. He was formerly second to Heenan and has had much experience in both training and sparring. Both principals were well handled throughout. In the absence of Dominic Briden, the chosen referee, by reason of sickness, Alfred Chartz consented to act as referee, and all was now ready.

JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.

The referee having read the prize ring rules aloud, like the riot act, he told Keogh and McCormack to step out and shake hands, which they did, gazing upon each other in a pensive manner, thoughtful, but smiling, as though reflecting on the possibilities of participation in the financial emoluments of the outcome.

THE CONTEST.

At 11:15 precisely they squared away forninst each other with stern eyes and revolving fists properly protected by warm gloves, as though they intended to hit each other. They failed oftener than they succeeded, and changed their intentions frequently and rapidly, doing little or no damage, and retiring promptly to their corners when time was called.

There were thirty rounds of contention in all, but as all were similar to the first, extending very monotonously through the space of two mortal hours, it is not necessary to bore the readers with the uninteresting details, but speak of all the rounds collectively up to the last two. Many very clever blows were given and received, and McCormack got in three or four times as many as Kehoe, but as an offset Kehoe showed the best elusive and dodging capabilites. Several times when McCormack launched forth a blow that would have shoved his fist through the head or body of his antagonist, the head or the body was not there, or the fist hit where it glanced off harmlessly. At one time Kehoe incautiously left his right eye in the way and got it hit so that it became somewhat discolored, otherwise he showed no punishment. McCormack bled a little from his left ear from a hard side-winder in that locality, but did not show much other injury.

Keogh did all the aggressive fighting, with McCormack seemingly studying the defensive yet getting in the most blows, Keogh carried the war into McCormack's corner all the time and frequently rushed him to the ropes, at one time almost throwing him over and outside the ring.

When they came up for the 29th round McCormack was seen to be bleeding from a scalp wound on top of his head, the blood trickling down over his neck and back. Keogh says this was caused during the severe clinch in the previous round by McCormack's head coming in contract with one of his (Keogh's) upper teeth, ripping a small hole in the scalp. Be that as it may, owing to the intense redness of McCormack's hair it was not easy to tell whether it was his scalp or his hair that was bleeding.

A SANGUINARY CONCLUSION.

This 29th round commenced with hard hitting on McCormack's part and directly there was a fierce clinch which would not break away at the command of the referee, both combatants clinging desperately to each other. McCormack fiercely butting Keogh with his head in the forehead, chin and face, African style, while Keogh strove to crowd him away. The referee actively interposed to make them break away, forbidding any more of that sort of business and warning McCormack against it especially the butting proposition. When finally separated both men were covered with McCormack's blood, and as Keogh bowed forward going away McCormack struck him a fierce parting blow on the back of the head. Tumultuous cries of foul came from all parts of the house, but the men went to their corners and were called up for the thirtieth round.

This was the last, and both men being viciously angry, directly there was desperate clinch and more fierce butting from the bloody head of McCormack, who, apparently, was wildly reckless as to what he did. The police had to assist the referee to part them, and the fight was awarded to Keogh on the ground of foul fighting by McCormack, amid much confusion and excitement.

The decision was generally approved as just and correct.