Boxing - Prize Fighting
EDWARDSVILLE PRIZE FIGHT
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 21, 1871
For the past two weeks, there has been a rumor that a prize fight
between John Condon, a coal miner, and Jack Luxton, would occur on
the 18th, for $100 a side. Our worthy Magistrate, not favoring such
amusement, read the law at them and forbade them to fight, whereupon
they drew the prize – the money – but repaired to the northeast
corner of the Fair Ground, just out of the corporation, “squared
off,” and pitched into the pleasing amusement of smashing each
other’s faces. After the seventh round, Condon, who came out second
best, threw up the sponge. The parties then came back to town to
finish their drink, but were immediately arrested and taken before
Justice Lusk, and were bound over in the sum of $500 each, which
overreached their pile. Luxton plainly told the Justice h would not
go to prison. The Justice said he would, and appointed a posse to
take him. Revolvers were drawn, but happily no blood was shed, and
the scientific bruisers were finally persuaded to go to jail, where
they will await their trial tomorrow. Some of the spectators of the
fight were considerably frightened when they found out the law on
such matters.
PRIZE FIGHT ON CHOUTEAU ISLAND
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 14, 1873
Jack Looney of St. Louis was indicted for participating in the late
prize fight on Chouteau Island, between Allen and McCoole. Looney
appeared before the circuit court on November 5 at Edwardsville, for
trial. Through the influence of his lawyers, the trial was postponed
until next term of court. After giving bail in the sum of $2,500 for
his appearance at that time, he was released. The design is to
procure the arrest of all the other prize fighters indicted, and try
them all together at the next term of court, which convenes in March
1874.
EDWARDSVILLE NEWS
Prize Fighters Now in Jail
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 16, 1893
The principals and others who took part in the Sharp-Crosby prize
fight in the Bottom last Spring, have been lodged in jail, two of
them being placed there last Saturday evening. These are the
“gentlemen” of the St. Louis Republic style. We hope that wherever
they are tried, in this county or out of it, they will receive as
severe sentences as it is possible for the judge and jury to
inflict. Madison County is not a paradise for prize fighters, we are
glad to state.
Source: Alton Telegraph, December 7, 1893
Several months ago, pugilists Harry Sharpe and Frank Crossby
arranged for a prize fight, and were promised that no interference
to such event would be offered in Madison County. Accordingly, they
went to Nameoki, and on a dance platform in a grove fought seventy
vicious rounds, Sharpe winning the battle. Sharpe netted $1,000 for
his share in the fight, besides a large amount of money bet on him.
They were soon made aware, however, that Madison County citizens are
not clowns, and not easily hoodwinked. Accordingly, warrants for
their arrest were issued, and after much trouble, all parties,
including principals, backers, timekeepers, etc., were arrested and
placed in jail in Edwardsville.
Before Judge Burroughs, Sharpe and his seconds were arraigned
yesterday and pleaded guilty. Sharpe was sentenced to six months in
the county jail, and fined $500. John and Charley Daley were each
sentenced to three months in the county jail, and fined $250. Crosby
and his backers were not given a trial. After sentence was
pronounced, Charlie Daley made a bold escape. Judge Cook, who was
his attorney, started to leave the courtroom, and Daley hastened
after him saying he wanted to see him. He asked, “In whose charge am
I?” Judge Cook answered, “The Sheriff’s.” “You are on my bond, Mr.
Cook, and if I should get away, could they hold you liable?” He was
informed that liability on bond expires with the sentence. The next
instant, he bolted down the stairs, reached a train just pulling
out, and is now safe in St. Louis.
EDWARDSVILLE NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, January 04, 1894
The prize fighters, gentlemanly prize fighters, as the St. Louis
Republic calls them, who have been languishing in jail for some
time, stand a show of getting out soon. Charley Daley was out from
St. Louis for that purpose yesterday. He thinks he will be here
Saturday with the money to pay the fines. With States Attorney Glass
to attend to the county, Mayor Brenholt to look after Alton, the
prize fighters, gentlemanly ones and other kinds, will have a hard
time of it in Madison County.
EDWARDSVILLE NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, March 8, 1894
Our citizens, and those of the whole county, should take a firm
stand against prize fighting in the Bottom, and against gambling as
carried on at Madison as stated by the Post Dispatch of St. Louis.
The great majority of our citizens are down on prize fighting and
gamblers.
EDWARDSVILLE NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 15, 1894
The question our citizens are asking is, “Are we always going to
have trouble with the prize fighters, gamblers, and the racehorse
crowd at Madison?” If we are, Madison County will lose some of its
citizens, who do not believe in that kind of business.
PRIZE FIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 23, 1895
The steamboat Altonian kept up steam last night for some
“mysterious” purpose, and at 10 o’clock forms began to assemble in
the vicinity of the levee. Whispers that the fight was a sure go
went among the crowd. They quietly boarded the boat for the
“picnic.” Several days ago, very neat invitations were issued for a
bout between the renowned middleweight of the Pacific coast, Paddy
Slavin, and Ed McCarty, from the Chicago Stock Yards. The
invitations stated that “your presence is requested, and that
tickets should be secured for $2.” A sparring match was announced to
take place Saturday night. This was to draw the crowd and settle the
place for the battle on the dead quiet, and also to sell the
tickets.
Saturday night, the sports met in a well-known hall in the East End,
and the whole affair was fixed to be a sure go. The principals
showed themselves and their prowess for punching, and the sports
were satisfied that the match would insure enough good nose punches
and eye closers to make the sport rare, so the tickets went like hot
cakes. The Altonian left the dock here [Alton] last night about 10
o’clock, and was landed above the city on the Missouri shore. Here,
the ring was pitched quietly as some of the weak-knees from the East
End had visions of the State prison at Jefferson City, and when it
was learned today that St. Charles County officials had determined
to prosecute the offenders and use requisition papers promiscuously,
it did not remove that weak feeling from the knees.
Well, the ring wat pitched, and the men stepped in determined to
break ribs and destroy nose cartilage to the amount of $2 worth.
Just what happened we are unable to state. One of those in
attendance said, “Dev made a few passes – dat was all – and den
ragged about de stakes.” Another said that a dispute put an end to
the fight, and that it would come off tonight. But the general talk
is that they opened up the first round with a hot exchange, and kept
on punching for eight more vicious rounds, and then the stockyards
man was knocked silly, and out with an upper cut. “I knowed he do
it,” said one of the sports, “and I win a tenner on him.” The
Telegraph did not stand in, however, and the details could not be
ascertained by rounds and punches.
PRIZE FIGHT – ALTONIAN LOSES
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 20, 1896
Peter Peterson, who in prize-fighting circles passes under the
sobriquet of the Terrible Swede, completely whipped Frank Crosby in
a twenty-four battle in a St. Louis downtown resort, Sunday
afternoon. Crosby has been making his home in Alton since the
expiration of his jail sentence in Edwardsville, for his
participation in the Sharpe-Crosby fight at Nameoki several years
ago.
Crosby had been in training here for one month to meet Peterson.
Peterson had the reputation of being a wicked fighter, but Crosby’s
friends were confident that he was the better man. A match was
accordingly arranged between the two to fight in St. Louis, if the
police did not interfere. Scores of Crosby’s friends went to St.
Louis yesterday, and it is said took big “wads” with them to back
their favorite. Crosby was in the pink of condition, but was clearly
no match for the aggressive tactics of the Swede. A fierce battle
was fought, at the close of which Crosby was knocked out. The only
thing that prevented the Alton contingent from losing all its money
was that it could find no takers.
