The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
THE RING.
Olympic Club Will Inquire Into
Tournament Decisions.


Tournament Decisions.
| The Olympic Club directors will meet
on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from the
regular business of the session affidavits
from Phil Wand and Alexander Ros-
borough, who were judges of the late
tournament, will be read. As stated in
yesterdays CALL, it Is quite probable that
the directors will decide upon giving
EgaD, the boxer who was defeated, accord
ing to George Green's decision. by Hayes,
a handsome prize. Phil Wand and Alex
ander Ros borough were the judges Sc
lected. Wand decided in favor of Egan
and Rosborough decided upon an extra
round, which, under the amateur rules, is
not allowed. Green, the referee, instead
OF calling the match draw, as he should
properly have done, deliberately decided
in favor of Hayes, the contestant, who
scored lead only IN the last round, Egan
having had the best of the first, second
and third rounds.
1t has been suggested that in future
boxing contests the club select referee
from some of the outside clubs, who will
not show any partiality.
The sports of this City were not in the
least surprised when the news that Peter
Maher had put Steve O'Donnell to sleep
in short order arrived. O'Donnell has
never been recognized as successful
pugilist, but as a boxer he ranks among
the clever men of the land. Makers
"hoodoo" must have left him, as recently
he has been successful in his engage
ments.
A match between Peter and Sharkey
et,n Y,tA ms hnr raa-
Rod. The contest would not last long, as
Maher would certainly put 1t onto
Thomas the first opening that would be
offered TO him for a knockout. Sharkey
will never consent to meeting with
Maher.
1t will be interesting to know what Fitz-
simmons will say to Dan Stuart when
they meet i'll the East relative TO that
much-talked-of finish fight. Corbett has
signed articles and there is hardly doubt
that Fitz will refuse to attach his sigma
ture to the document.
There are, however, hundreds of people
who will wager money now that the fight
will never take place unless 1t is decided
under the auspices OF some popular ath-
ietic club.
The result of the Fitzsimmons and
Sharkey mill has paralyzed professional
boxing in this City, and it is doubtful if
any contest worthy OF note will be pulled
off, by any of the professional clubs for
some time. 1t seems as if the club man.
ayers are never satisfied to let well enough
alone.
Tom Sharkey, the sailor pugilist, is a
fortunate fellow so far as money aking
is concerned. Thomas says that ne never
met man, excepting FitZsimmons, who
gave him hard rub, but according to the
following excerpt from the Philadelphia
Item Sharkey met his M tch IN Honolulu.
This is how the story is told:
II was in Honolulu during the early part of
1894 Sharkey was then on the Philadelphia
and was the pet of the crew, Williams, tall,
lanky, but superbly built specimen of the
Englishman, was member OF the crew of the
Nymph, then in Honolulu harbor.
The fight came off soon after the trouble IN
the Hawaiian Islands, caused by the dethrone-
ment OF Queen Liliuokalani, when the feeling
between Americans and the Eng lish was quite
bitter. Consequently, when the fight was
arranged. each side was determined to win,
and both men went into training in earnest.
When the night of the fight came the hall in
which il was held was crowded with sailors,
no outsiders beng admitted, except the local
newspaper men and a few residents OF sport
ing procliyities.
When the men en- tered the ringit looked as
though the Englishman had all the best of it.
Sharkey had magnificent physique, but so
had his opponent, and the advantage of the
latter in height and reach was as apparent as
that Of Fitzsimmons over the sailor. Shar-
KEY, however, was broader across the shout
punishment than could the Englishman.
AS as the fight began it was evident
that the men were closely matched. Sharkey
did not have any reputation then outside of
the navy, but in that he was noted for his bull
dog courage and his ability to stand punish
ment. The spectators were violent partisans,
and whenever Sharkey landed on the English
man the Americans would howl with delight,
while the Englishmen preserved logged ST.
lence. The next moment this would be re-
versed. Williams would reach Sharkey, and
the Englishmen go wild with enthusiasm.
Several times a free fight between the TWO lac
lions was imminent, but was arrested by the
desire to see the finish.
Round after round was fought, and neither
man had any advantage. By the time the f1f-
teenth round was reached both principals
were groggy, and it began to look like sure
draw. Both men were dead game, and neither
would give up. At the end of the sixteenth
round the referee suggested that the fight be
declared draw, and both men turned on him
with snarl and announced their in mention of
staying until one or the other was out. For
four more rounds they fought and at the end
OF the twentieth neither man could strike
blow that would injure 10-year-old boy,
Their fatigue was so great that they were
hardly able 10 rise from their chairs without
assistance. In the twenty-first Sharkey caught
the Engllshman feeble blow on the jaw and
Knocked him down, but the effort was so great
that he himself fell. They sat on the floor and
rise, and the fight was declared draw. Both
men were cruelty punished, their faces and
bodies streaming with blood.
Arrangements were made at once for q re-
turn match, but the English ship left two
weeks later, aud the men never met again.