The evening times., 1896-12-03
REFEREE EARP's CLAIMS
Says He Plainly Saw Fitz Give a
Foul Blow.
EMPHASIZES HIS HONESTY
Says He Decided In All Fairness
and That His Decision Was as
Clear as His Eyesight Opinion
of a Sporting Expert Differs From
That of the Referee.

New York, Dec. 3.-Wyatt carp, referee
OF the Sharkey-Fitzsimmons fight tele-
graphs the Evening Journal as follows re-
garding his decision:
1.-The foul blow of the night was seen
plainly by Inc. FitZ smashed with his
right Oh SharkAy's shoulder and then,
with an uprercut with the left. he struck
the sailor below the belt Sharkcy was
leaning over, and the blow knocked him
down.
1T was clearly foul, and before the
sailor moved l mentioned that the fight
was over. The first blow was weak, and
1 believe the second blow was intended
for an uppercut, hut 1t struck foul.
No man on earth ever questioned my
honor. | have been in many places and in
peculiar situations, but no one ever said
till tonight that | was guilty OF dishon-
orable act And | viii rcEcat that l de
cided in all fairness and with II judgment
that was as true as my eyesight. l saw
the foul blow"
William McNaughton, sporting editor OF
the San Francisco Examiner telegra pied
the Journal as follows:
DID NOT SEE 1T.
IF Fitzsimmons struck sharkey foul
blow last night did not see il. But even
at that 1 would scarcely like to go on
record as saying that the punch on which
the fight was given to the sailor was no
foal 1t was this way with me:
Il was in the press stand on the south
side of the hall and when the critical mo-
ment arrived Fitz was forcing Sharkey
along the ropes toward the north. The
Cornishman, whose back was to me and
whose frame shielded Sharkey, was fast
bearing the sailordown. There was not the
slightest doubt about that part OF it III
my mind.
Il called off the blows to sienographer,
and saw a whizzing left hook go up from,
FItZsiInmons' hip. Ii caught Sharkey on
the chin or mouth and the sailor began TO
sink. Then saw Fitzsimmons right elbow
come back and he delivered body punch.
l should Imagine it took effect somewhere
about Sharkey's stomach or short ribs on
the left side.
NOT KNOCKED OUT.
Anyhow, in a moment Sharkey was on
the floor on his back. He was not knocked
out. He was making grimaces and placing
his hand on his groIn, and If he Were not
in agony all | can say is that he must be
consumnate actor. and must have acted
that particular scene many a time
"Afterward ! heard dozen citizens Of
excellent reputation say they saw the foul
plainly. They Were In a better position to
see than was, as they were at the ringside.
close to where Sharkey fell down. and there
was nothing to intercept their view. Some
of them said the blow was accidental, and
others thought from the manner Of its de-
livery that IL was Intentional. That is
something / cannot understand
In thefifth round. when Fitzseut Sharkey
down under the ropes with a left ha nder. the
Cornishman put out his ha nd and h epedth
sailor to his feet. lie complained to the
referee and chided Sharkey every time the
sailor struck foul n the ciinches.
why on earth should he alter his tactics
and fight foul the more especially as he was
over the worst part of the journey and had
his opportunty?'