Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-22
NEITHER COULD LICK
The Jackson-C -COrbett Fight
Declared a Draw.
1t Was a Pretty Battle For the
First Two Hours.
Then 1t Developed Into Wearing
Out Contest,
.Corbett Had the Best of 1t, But Was
Too Weak to Give the Knock Out
Blow-Sixty- One Rounds.
Associated Press Dispatches.


SAN FRANcrsco, May 2l.-No pugilisti,
event which ever occurred on the Pa
cifc coast created more interest or ex
citement than the great heavyweight
. battle between, Jim Corbett of Sar
Francisco and Peter Jackson of Aus
tralia, which was fought at the gym
nasium of the California Athletic clul
tonight. The purse was large one
$4,000, $500 of which went to The
loser. The wonderful degree of Interest
IN the matter was due, not only to the
merits and prominence OF the two prin
cipals, but also to the fact that the con
test would open the way to settling the
question of the championship of the
world, for it was generally understood
that the winner would eventually meet
Frank Slavin or any other man who
might come forward for the champion
ship honors. .4
THE CONDITION OF THE MEN
was all that could be desired. They
had trained hard and carefully, and it
was the opinion of all who saw them
that neither of the men had ever before
been in better form. Jackson was the
heavier, but in every respect it was gen.
orally admitted that one man possessed
little advantage over the other. Both
were recognized as game fighters, pos
sessing wonderful ability and quickness.
Neither belonged to the "slogger" type
of pugilist. The colored mans ring ex-
perience was far greater than Corbett's,
and it was probably this fact as much as
any other that made Jackson the favor
ite in betting, during the week before
the fight, at odds ranging from 6 to 10
to s to 10. Some comment was elected
by the fact that Jackson sprained his
ankle some weeks ago, and it was still
slightly swollen tonight but as it caused
him no Inconvenience at all during his
training, there was no real fear ex-
pressed that it! would give him any
trouble during the fight.
A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY
was wagered on the contest. During the
last two days the pool rooms and other
sporting resorts were crowded and there.
seemed to be no end of either Jackson
or Uorbett money. The contestants
were required to be in the club room
this evening at O'Clock. though the
fight was set for an hour latter. The
California club last night appointed
Hiram Cook referee. Jackson was Sec
onded by Sam Fitzpatrick and Billy
Smith. Corbett's seconds were John
Donaldson, Billy Delaney and Harry
Corbett. K
The appearance OF the California
Athletic club rooms was the same as on
other occasions when similar contests
have occurred there. The flooring within
the ring was covered with padding, over
which heavy dark colored felt was
stretched.
NEW FEATURE
at this contest was ten-second clock
which was called into use whenever a
knockdown occurred.
Soon after 6 O'Clock the crowd COM
menced to gather in the streets outside
OF the clubhouse, and an hour later the
street was we'll filled with stragglers who
had come there to get good position in
the hope OF receiving early information
from within the gymnasium. By z
o'clock there were probably two hun
dred people in the club room, and from
that time on they continued to arrive as
fast as the officers at the narrow en-
trance could admit them. Twenty
policemen were in attendance to pre-
serve order. Some of these were in the
building and others were stationed on
the roof or in the street.
THE PRESS FACILITIES
were somewhat crowded; the regular
press stand had been removed to give
more space TO spectators, but half
dozen Western Union telegraph operat-
ora and several correspondents occupied
platform in one corner of the gmyna-N
sium, above the gallery. The represent
atives of the local papers were obliged to
hold their paper in their hands and take
seats in the body of the hall. As s
O'Clock approached every one in the hall
showed eagerness to have the principals
appear, thought was yet an hour before
it would be time for them to enter the
ring.
BEFORE THE BATTLE.
The California club some months ago
abandoned commodious quarters which
itoccupied before the time when pugil-
istic encounters were more popular here.
The seating capacity of the gymnasium
is not more than 1000 or 1200 people, but
soon after O'Clock this evening nearly
every seat was occupied and in the street
outside the crowd was almost as great.
The best order prevailed within the
building. though there was continual
hum and murmur OF excitement. and
occasional calls for the preliminary box
/. ing exhibition which was to precede the
principal event. Jackson and Corbett
arrived at the club rooms at about 8
o'clock. They entered the building
without attracting much attention and
went to their dressing rooms Immediate
ly. Betting this evening generally con-
tinued at the same odds in Jackson's
favor, which had prevailed during the
last twenty-four hours 100 to so and 100
to 65 were the usual figures.
THE MEN ENTER THE RING.
1t was some minutes after 8 o'clock
when jackson and Corbett, with their
seconds, entered the ring. Both prin-
cipals were received with cheering.
During the few minutes that followed
while the gloves of the men were being
adjusted, every eye in the building was
turned on the men, and there was a