THIRTY TEARS ago ysWday,
Iko We'.r and Fmnk Murphy
fought iheir famous eighty-round
hattle at. Kout, Ind., the affair result
ing in a rtraw. Those who saw this
battle wi ! probably babble about it
with their dying breath. Although
the world's feathr i-weight champion-.
ship was at stake only about a hun
dred dead game ones were let mm
the secret.
The contest was staged tn the little
town hall, and did not commence un
til after midnight. Murphy was the
champion of England, while Weir, a
native of Ireland, held the American
title. The Spider soon discovered
that in Murphy he wna up against the
toughest proposition he had ever
faced. Frank was clever and game,
but Ike had the shade in the early
rounds. After the fortieth chapter
Ike began to slow down, while Mur
phy seemed as strong as ever, and the
crowd began to demand that the ref
eree stop the contest and call it a
draw.
The official refused, and the fight
went on. The men grew slower and
r.iowcr, and. with occasional spurts,
each trying to land a knockout, the
fipht dragged on. At daylight the of
ficers arrived and stopped the ho.
as the tired and battered boys were
facing each other in the eightieth
round. Tt was planned to resume the
ccntst ."er, but the project fell
through, and Weir and Murphy never
met sgain In the ring.
