Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
BEFORE THE kNOCk-oUE
Scenes in the Ring Before the Big Battle
Commenced.

When Sullivan came to the club
house before the battle he took the room |
downstairs which Skelly occupied the |
night before. In the toss for corners
Corbctt won aud chose the lucky one
from which Dixon and McAulitfe |
fought. Jim Ccrbett followed in the
wake of the champion, coming in ID
minutes later. He lad remained in his
room until the very last moment, and
then, with his trainers and seconds and
representatives of the southern Athletic
CLUB, he jumped into a carriage and
sped down to the club. When his party
pulled up in front of the door the street
was cleared and an avenue opened into
the building. Corbett came in first with
u light step and a face wreathed in
smiles. He wore Il tweed suit, cap
and yellow shoes, and his hands were
stuck in the pockets of his coat, He
nodded to friends MS he walked rapidly
to his room, and showed no signs of ner
vousness in the face of the battle be-
fore him. Donovan, Brady, Dillon, DAILY
and others trotted behind, and when
| they entered the little room upstairs
they went to work to strip Corbett. The
two heavy weights remained in their
A PACKED ARENA.
The arena in its enlarged condition
presented striking appearance when
| filled to its utmost capacity, even the
| ovcrhanging galleries, which seemed TO
! iut out giddy height above the throng
| that lined the almost countless tiers of
| seats in the main body of the arena,
being packed with an eager throng, all
intcntly watching every move that was
made in the ring and about it. The
scene presented by the interior Of the
arena was one long to be remembered.
All about the ring were deep rows of
boxes filled to overlooking with persons
who were willing TO pay an eXtrava-
giant price for choice seats. Beyond
the boxes was a broad aisle, and then
from its outer edge to the extreme top
of the wall rose tier upon tier of seats,
Ill Of which Were crowded with spec
tators. The night was warm, and long
before the hour for the men to enter the
ring had arrived, coats had been laid
aside and these great banks of humanity
looked like terraces Of black and white
in regular rows. The dark or black
line representing the trousers and waist
coats OF the spectators, and the white
their shlrt-sleeves.
ENTERING THE RING.
The first sign of the contest for the
championship came in the person of
Police Captain William Barrett, who
went into the ring at S.5j. The scales
on which the gloves were weighed wcrc
laid beside the middle post of the ring.
IX-Mayor GUillDtt, who acted rs master
Of ceremonies, entered Il few minutes
later, and made a speech warning tho
spectators that they must he careful not
to violate any rule of the club. Sullivan
entered the ring first, dressed in green
trunks and black shoes and socks
Corbett followed q moment later, look
ing pale and firmly drawn beside his
bulky antagonist. He wore an mir OF
confidence, however, and smiled and
nodded to acquaintanccs around the
ring.
NINE THOUSAND SPECTATORS.
| The vast arena was packed from llool
: to roof, and 5000 pair of eyes eagerly
scanned the giants as they stripped for
, the contest The night was so warn
, that the costumes worn We're of the
lightest possible character, and aftci
( entering the ring there was little dis
t position on the part of either man tc
, wear the usual loose coverings above
the waist. When they stood up for tho
struggle that must crown the fortunes
| of one and mar those Of the other there
was hum and half-hushed outbursts
. of enthusiasm arose all over the vas
5 arena. The brilliant arc lights brought
out each form distinctly. Scarcely {
S man in the vast assembly was not able
! to note the magnificent conditions tc