European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Long count continued from Page 9 that night of the Long count 50 years ago. Journalists from around the country and Europe began arriving in Chicago in Early summer of 1927, More than two months before the fight reporting every detail and Rumor and the fight mob what the 19th Century British used to Call the fancy gradually filled All the hotels and turned the Loop into a huge rambling party despite prohibition. A minister sued to Stop the fight on the grounds that it was immoral gangster Al Capone was rumoured to have fixed it for Dempsey. And there was speculation about the health of Dempsey s frail but Beautiful actress wife. Estelle Taylor. An oppressive late summer heat wave led Dempsey then 32, to schedule his workouts at night at Lincoln Fields Racetrack. Tunney. 29-Vear-old pal of George Ber Nard Shaw and fat rite of the intellectual set read Somerset maugham s of human bondage and trained relentlessly at Lake Villa i. The Odds originally As High As 9-5 Tunney dropped to even Money by the Day of the fight when More than 6,000 fans arrived from new York and some late Dempsey Money arrived from California. Commander Richard e. Byrd the North pole explorer was one of 400 passengers who left Boston to make up a special Section of the 20th Century limited carrying 1,250 fight fans. The normally Fine cuisine and Comfort of this famous train were quickly exhausted. Special trains also arrived from Hollywood Tulsa Oklahoma City Akron Pittsburgh Nashville Florida new Orleans St. Louis and Milwaukee. A special chartered by former Champion James j. Corbett brought celebrities George m. Cohan Flo Ziegfield Harold Lloyd and Irving Berlin. A travel Agency chartered a four passenger Fokker monoplane for a special tour from new York costing $575 a person including ringside seats and hotel. A 13-year old boy in new York took $120 his father had hidden in a closet Cut school and left for Chicago after Yelling  tickets at Soldier Field which had a seating capacity of 176.950, were priced from $5 to $40 and when the flood lights were turned on at 7 10 ., three hours before the main event the stadium was filling rapidly. Tunney had been guaranteed a record $1 million by flamboyant pro Moter Tex Rickard while Dempsey was guaranteed $450.000. The Gate set a record still unmatched despite inflation $2,658.660 although the air was Damp and slightly chilled it Felt warm under the Bright Klieg lights surrounding the ring. The lights gleamed against the big. Polished brass ring posts and the White Canvas was bordered by ropes wound with White Canton flannel. Graham Mcnamee arrived at ringside hatless and breathless just before 8  At 8 30, a moan swept through the stadium when a few drops of rain fell bring ing Back memories of the rain drenched Battle in sesquicentennial stadium in Philadelphia the year before when Tunney won the title by cutting up an out of shape Demp sey for a 10-round unanimous decision. Only a few half hearted drops fell this time though and the crowd concentrated again on buying hot dogs and ice Cream and placing last minute bets. The movie stars arrived. Douglas Fairbanks Dempsey s Hollywood pal leaped lightly Over three cops vaulted a railing and landed in his seat at 8 32 .," one scribe noted. He was followed a minute later by Charlie Chaplin minus hat and  there were others will Rogers Gloria Swanson Tom mix Buster Keaton John Barrymore Al Jolson. There was economist Bernard Baruch millionaires of business governors mayors . Senators. And Al Capone also known As scar face wearing a wide brim med White hat and smoking a Cigar. A few Days before Dempsey concerned about rumours that Capone might be trying to fix the fight had written a note to Capone asking him to Lay off and let the fight go on in True sportsman  the next Day Dempsey s wife Estelle received a roomful of Flowers with a card signed to the Dempsey in the name of  in the name of sportsmanship Bill Veeck sr., presi Dent of the Chicago cubs presented All his players with ringside seats. Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Moun Tain Landis was in attendance As Well As St. Louis Browns owner Phil Ball who flew from St. Louis in 2v2 hours. Three past heavyweight champions Jim Corbett Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson and one future Champion Jack Sharkey were also at ringside. Elsewhere people were huddled around radios Home made Crystal ets and Telegraph stations in Australia France England Brazil Canada and Mexico. In Small towns and on farms they gathered four or 14 to a radio. Convicts at sing sing prison and several other state prisons were permitted to listen. A double wedding was postponed in new Jersey so one of the bridegrooms who had a Large Wager on the fight could listen to the radio. A Man from los Angeles bet $10,000 on Dempsey with a Man from Saratoga n. Y., and Gambler Nick the greek who reputedly won $250,000 at Faro in Chicago the week before the fight was believed to have bet heavily on Tunney. After three prelims Dempsey entered the ring at 10 ., wearing Black trunks with a White Stripe and his old worn White Robe for Good Luck. Tunney stepped through the ropes five minutes later Wear ing White trunks and his Marine Robe. Referee Barry Veteran of some 600 fights and report edly a last minute substitute for Dave Miller who was said to have been approached by gamblers called Demp sey and Tunney to the Center for final instructions. The clamor about the ring As i stood in the Center Barry wrote later was deafening. Telegraph keys were clattering. Flashbulbs were booming. I la never forget the murmur of 145,000 voices As it rolled Down on that  Barry asked the fighters to name their chief seconds then said they would be the Only ones he would address in the Corners. Barry then went Over Only two rules with the fighters one about breaking cleanly from clinches and another about moving to a Neutral Corner after a Knock Down. In Case of a Knockdown Barry told the fighters and seconds above the noise the Man on his feet will immediately retire to the farthest Neutral Corner. I won t begin my count until he has done so. He must remain there until the other fellow has been counted out or is Back on his  Barry asked if they understood and Dempsey s second Leo thelonious Flynn and Tunney s second Jimmy Bronson nodded yes. Is there anything More you want to take up Barry asked. All four men Shook their Heads no. Tunney the Cool often aloof scientific Boxer. Facts and figures on disputed fight principals Champion Gene Tunney new York 29 years old is. Former Champion Jack Dempsey Manassa colo., and los Angeles 32 years old. Starting time 10 10  Cd. Winner Tunney decision 10 rounds. Knockdowns Tunney Down in 7th round Dempsey Down in 8th. Referee Dave Barry. Timekeeper Paul Beeler. Promoters Tex Rickard of new York and George f. Getz of Chicago. Seconds for Tunney Billy Gibson Jimmy Bronson and Lou Fink. For Dempsey Leo p. Flynn Bill Duffy Jerry la vandals and Gus Wilson. Radio 69 stations in National broadcasting company s countrywide Hookup. Graham Mcnamee announcing. Attendance 145,000 est104,943 official paid. Gross receipts $2,658,660. Net receipts $2,151,134.57. Tunney s share $990,445 from live Gate. Dempsey s share $425,000, plus $25,000 from film rights. Federal tax $265,866. Illinois state tax $241,659.43. Soldier Field rental$100,000. Expenses listed by promoter$150,000. Promoter s profit $551,134.57. Dempsey lands the blow. Up picked up where he left off in Philadelphia in the first Battle of the  making full use of the 20-foot ring Tunney circled Dempsey and peppered him with combinations to the face. Through the first six rounds it was rather a Dull fight. Tunney scored easily without seriously Hurt ing Dempsey while the challenger stalked the Elu Sive Champion in search of an opening. Barry gave Tunney five of the first six rounds on his scorecard. Dempsey had begun his comeback the previous Spring after several months of fidgeting around his House in los Angeles following a mysterious Case of blood poisoning in february. Promoter Tex Rickard had been sending Dempsey telegrams and calling him from new York urging him to resume training. One Day babe Ruth an old Friend stopped by after completing a film in Hollywood and spent the afternoon trying to convince Dempsey to come Back. Listen Jack Ruth told Dempsey you lost your Crown while still on your feet. Sure it s Tough but Don t you think you owe yourself and your fans one More crack Dempsey pushed himself hard trimming Down from 227 pounds to 205, and seemed Back on the Road to the championship when he Kafoed top contender Jack Shar key in the seventh round in Yankee stadium on july 21. Like Many of Dempsey s fights that one had its share of controversy As Well. After two Low punches by Dempsey Sharkey turned his head to complain to the referee Leav ing himself wide open. Dempsey took advantage to land a crushing left to the jaw and Sharkey went Down for the count. A s the seventh round began in Chicago Dempsey was getting his crack at the title and was losing again. Sharkey was at ringside and Ruth was listening on radio in new York. If Dempsey lost it would spoil a Lovely Day for Ruth who had won a game 8-7 in the ninth inning with a two run Homer that chipped a piece out of a seat six rows from the top of the bleachers in Yankee stadium. The Homer left him just three behind his 1921 record of 59 with six games to go. In eight Days he would hit his 60th. Jack s wife Estelle who despised boxing and nearly All boxers had locked herself in the bathroom of her hotel room through the Early rounds of the fight but by the time the seventh round began she was persuaded to come Page 10 the stars and stripes sunday september 18, 1977