The record-union., 1891-05-22
Special to the REcoRp-uN1oN.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 21.-No pugillstlc
event which ever occurred on the Pacific
Coast created more interest or excite
ment than the great heavyweight battle
between Jim Corbett of San Francisco
and Peter Jackson of Australia, which
was fought at the gymnasium Of the
California Athletic Club tonight. The
points Of the two fighters had been mat
tiers of speculation for weeks, and ever
since the match was made and the men
commenced their training the contest has
been the one topic among the sporting
public. The purse was a large one, a
total of $4,000, 81 800 of which went to
the loser.
The wonderful degree of interest in the
match was due not only to the merits
and prominence of the two principals,
but also to the fact that the contest 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 for
ward for championship honors.
THE CONTESTANTS.
Peter Jackson is a West Indian, and
was born in 1861. He stands feet 2 inches
in hight, weighs 1917 pounds, and meas
ures 10 inches around the chest, bieeps
I53 inches, forearm 144 inches, thigh 241
inches, and 10 inches at the calf His first
fight was with Jack Hayes 1t ended in
81 draw, but in a second fight Jackson
beat him insensible in seven rounds. He
next beat Sam Britton In twenty minutes,
and was then whipped by Jack Farnan
in seven rounds, and they again fought a
draw. Jackson next defeated Mick Doo-
ley in three rounds, and Tom Lees in
thirty rounds. Jack Burke refused to
meet Jackson in Australia. In this coun-
try Jackson's victories were as follows:
Beat George Godfrey in nineteen rounds;
beat J Oe McAulitfe in twenty rounds;
beat Patsy Cardiff in ten rounds, and won
on a foul with Jem Smith, of England
ON his return to this country he toured
the country, stopping local champions in
eight rounds. His last match was with
Goddard, who stood before him ten
rounds.
Jim Corbett was born in this city Sep
tember l, 1866. He stands feet ii inches,
weighs Isl pounds, biceps 143, chest 10
and waist 35. AS an amateur he beat
Dave Eiseman in two rounds and James
Daily in four rounds, and shortly after as
q professional bested Martin Costello
easily, and then fought an eight-round
draw with Jack Burke and another draw
with Duncan Mcdonald. He next
stopped Frank Smith in three rounds
Then he beat Mike Brennan in four
rounds, and next Joe Choynski in
twenty-seven rounds. Beat Jake Kill
rain in six rounds and Dominick McCaf-
trey in four rounds.
BOTH IN FINE CONDITION.
The condition of the men was all that
could be desired. They had trained hard
and carefully, and ii was the opinion of
all who saw them that neither man had
ever before been in better form. Jackson
was the heavier, but in every other re-
spect it was generally admitted that one
man possessed little or no advantage
over the other. Both were recognized as
game fighters, possessing wonderful abil-
ity and wonderful quickneSS. Neither
belonged TO the ''slogger'' type of pugiI-
lists. The colored mans ring experience
was far greater than Corbett's, and il was
probably this fact as much as any other
that made Jackson the favorite in betting
during the week before the fight at odds
OF six to ten to eight to ten.
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 had caused
him no Inconvenience at all during his
training, there was no real fear expressed
that it would give him any trouble dur
ing the fight.
4 large amount of money was wagered
on the contest during the last two days.
The pool-rooms and other resorts We're
s-r<ded, and there seemed TO be no end
GJ either Jackson or Corbett money.
The contestants were required 10 be in
the club-room this evening at O'Clock,
though the fight was set for an hour later.
The California Club last night appointed
Hiram Cook as referee. jackson was
seconded by Sam FITZPATRICK and Billy
.nFiRg - 10 IAI,,
Donaldson, Billy Delaney and Harry
Corbett
The appearance of the California Ath-
letlc Club-rooms was the same rs on other
occasions, when similar contests nave
occurred. The flooring within the ring
was covered with padding, over which a
heavy, dark-colored felt was stretched.
i new feature at this contest was the ten
second CLOCK, which was called into use
whenever nock-down occurred.
soon alter o'clock the crowd COM
menced TO gather IN the streets outside of
the club house, and an hour later the
street was well filled with straoqIers
who had come there to get a good nosi
ton in the hope of receiving early in
formation from within the gymnasium.
BY : O'Clock there were probably two
hundred people III the club-roorn. and
from that time on they continued to arr
rive as fast as the officers at the narrow
entrance could admit them.
Twenty policemen were in attendance
10 preserve order. Some of them were
in the building and others We're 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 the
spectators, but half dozen Western
Union telegraph operators and several
correspondents occupied the platform in
one corner of the gymnasium above the