A DISGUSTING EXHIBITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 3

A DISGUSTING EXHIBITION.

London, December 23. Smith and Slavin fougnt near Bruges, France, on Sunday last. The fight commenced at 8 o'clock in the morning, and lasted for twentytwo minutes. Smith had all the worst of the fighting, and was often down. After fourteen rouuds had been fought Smith left the ring, but returned and claimed to have won the fight. A dispute ensued between Smith’s seconds and the referee, because the latter refused to stop the fight. The Referee was therefore mobbed, and owing to the dreadful conduct of Smith’s party he was eventually com pelled to declare the match a draw. During the melee, Slavin was beaten with sticks by disappointed sports, and sustained severe injuries. Slavin is. now recovering. The first telegram received by the London “ Sportsman ” stated that Slavin had died from injuries sustained during the mobbing, but later messages shewed that he had been only, slightly hurt. • It is stated that a well-known sportsman hired a party of roughs in Smith’s interest, and every time Slavin forced Smith to his coiner, the roughs maltreated Slavin. .. / / This unseemly * conduct occurred several times during the. progress of the fight. It was known in London before the fight eventuated that it was intended to maltreat Slavin. Slavin is comparatively uninjured. Smith is reported to be sick from the punishment he received. Thompson, the well-known. sportsman and backer of Slavin, declined to be present at the fight, having been warned that if he did so he would be mobbed* t