The Illegal Prize Fight on the River
While crowds flocked to the banks of the river in Washington Territory, authorities looked on as a brutal prizefight turned into an early-round knockout.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
PORTLAND (Or.), Nov. 2.—The prize fight between Dempsey and Campbell took place this afternoon on the banks of the river in Washington Territory, resulting in Campbell going out at the third round, badly whipped. Four steamers left Portland this morning, crowded with 1,500 or 2,000 people. There was great interest over the matter, many prominent citizens going down to witness the fight. The streets are crowded tonight with men discussing the affair. There was no disturbance on the battle ground.
“Four steamers left Portland this morning, crowded with 1,500 or 2,000 people. There was great interest over the matter, many prominent citizens going down to witness the fight.”
In the 1880s, prizefighting was frequently illegal and forced into remote locations like riverbanks or barges to avoid authorities. Today, professional combat sports are highly regulated, but the spirit of underground spectacles and the public's obsession with 'the fight' remains a staple of our media landscape.
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