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Manitowoc Daily Herald, March 6, 1899 P.1

IT WAS A LIVELY BOUT Charles Higgins, the Pride of Sheboygan, Meets Defeat at Two Rivers. MANY LOCAL SPORTS ATTEND Wells Birdsall, of Two Rivers, Given the Decision Over Higgins-Tournament a Success. Chas Higgins, the pride of Sheboygan's sporting element, was knocked out in a ten round sparing contest by Wells Birdsall, a Two Rivers man. The event was pulled off at Voshardt's Opera House Saturday evening under the auspice of Arion Athletic Club of Two Rivers. The affair was attended by a large crowd of sports, among the spectators being a number of people from Sheboygan and Manitowoc. This was the first public exhibition of the kind ever attempted at Two Rivers and the result was satisfactory both financially and otherwise. The HERALD'S Two Rivers correspondent says of the event: "Higgins, who has been in training for some time, was in good condition. He has participated in several recent events and his backers had a great deal of confidence in his ability to put up a good fight. Birdsall is a Two Rivers man with a local reputation as a scientific scrapper and his friends were not in the least disappointed in him. The two men were very evenly matched in weight. As they faced each other in the ring Higgins tipped the scales at 145 pounds and his opponent at 143 pounds. The fight was refereed by John T. Herzog of Manitowoc, and his accurate and prompt decisions were heartily commended by all. The first round was not marked by any special features, but it convinced Higgins that he had a warm task ahead of him. After the first few rounds it was quite evident to the spectators that Birdsall was punishing his man to a finish and at the close of the sixth round Higgins was practically out. However he recovered sufficiently to enter the ring when the seventh round was called and was able to finish the ten rounds. Birdsall was declared an easy victor. His future in the prize ring is promising. Previous to the event of the evening there were several interesting bouts between local boxers, and a six round contest between Jim Manning of Sheboygan and Billy Verno of Two Rivers which ended in a draw. Considerable enthusiasm was shown during the evening but not much money changed hands.