St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-09
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Sullivan's Selection of the Referee
Agreed to ffer Some HaUplinp O.


SuIlivan's Selection Of the Referee
Agreed to After Some Haggling.
New ORLEANS, July S.-There was
great excitement at the ring side as Bud
Renaud, Mike Donovan and Johnnie
Murphy made their appearance, which
they did at $50 a. m. The crowd cheered
when it became apparent that the fight
was actually to occur. On the t0ss-up
for position Kilrain's representative,
Mike Donovan, won and selected the
northeast corner. Muldoon, Sullivan's
ner. At this juncture the sheriff OF the
county made his appearance. and in the
name of the state of Mississippi
commanded peace and retired, this
being the only effort on the part of the
authorities to interfere with the fight.
AT this moment the flag of Sullivan,
brought from Boston, was placed in his
corner amidst great enthusiasm. At
about 10 o'clock, the sun having gone
behind cloud, there was no percepti-
BILE advantage in either corner. Kilrain
was the first to make his appearance,
accompanied by Mike Donovan and
Charlie Mitchell. He was greeted with
applause, but wore very serious air,
as if fully realizing the work before
him. AS the crowd recognized the stall
wart form of the big fellow as
he jumped into the ring, the
cheers were deafening. He looked in
marked contrast to Kilrain, seeming
to be perfectly at his ease regarding the
termination of the contest. The name
of Pat Kenrick, of New Orleans, was
offered by the Kilrain side as referee,
but he was not acceptable to the other
side, the representative OF Sullivan
proposing the name of John Fitzpatrick,
of New Orleans, saying:
Iwant the fight to-day to take place on Its
merits. and may the best man win. hav
only one name to present for the position OK
referee, and that one Is known throughout
the state as an upright, just and honest
man. name John Fitzpatrick. OF New Or
leans. [Great applause.]
Charley MItchell-I don't know the gentle
man just named, but think If the other side
want to fight, the one we have named ought
to satisfy them.
Charley johnson would not agree,
saying if the Kilrain party would not
take John Fitzpatrick they did not want
to fight. At this juncture Mitchell pro-
posed that they toss up to see which OF
the above-named gentlemen would act
as referee, but this did not seem to be
the wish of the Sullivan side, though
the crowd favored the idea. Then Prof.
Butler proposed the name of New
York man, who, however, did not prove
acceptable to the other side, and after
considerable wrangling over the matter
Charley Mitchell finally said they were
willing to accept Mr.. Fitzpatrick, and
the announcement was received with
cheers. Mitchell here went over and
examined the spikes in Sullivan's shoes,
Cleary doing the same with those be-
enging to Kilrain.
tI am not very conversant with the rules"
said Referee Fitzpatrick. "This will be
fam contest of the merits OF the two men.
and will do the best can. In regard to the
question as to what time the thirty seconds
between the rounds shall commence. de-
eide that it commences from the time the
mer falls, s ..... s..
w. E. Harding at this moment stepped
Ss:5 ~ kilrain, and placing $1,000 in his
hands told him it was sent by Richard
X. Fox for him to bet with Sullivan.
Kilrain at once went over to Sullivan
and offered to bet him that sum he
would win the fight. The bet was i'm
mediately taken up by Sullivan and the
money, $4,000, deposited in the hands of
the referee. Both men being now
stripped. 1t was apparent to every one
present the great superiority possessed
by Sullivan over his antagonist IN the
matter of size and development, the
muscles of his arms standing out in big
welts, his driving power appearing tre-
mendous, and he seeming in the very
best of spirits.