The San Francisco call., 1896-06-08
A Decision Must Be Given to the
Best Man After Four
Rounds.
THE REFEREE TO BE SUPREME
The Sailors Backer and the Club
People Inclined to Break Their
Contract.

himself famous If the latter's friends do
not indulge in too much jockeying at the
start AS a matter of fact, Corbett has
already done that by listening at all to
Sharkey's unreasonable talk. But Corbett
has decided to do more by stepping into
the ring with him and giving him a
punching.
Yesterday afternoon, while Corbett was
preparing to take ride through Golden
Gate Park, James ]. Groom, treasurer of
the National Athletic Club, and Mr..
Lynch, manager for Sharkey, met him in
the st. Nicholas Hotel.
The trio were in perfect accord, and had
the articles been drawn up there and then
they would have been signed.
This is the situation said Corbett
"and these gentlemen representing the
other parties interested are agreeable. l
will meet Sharkey in four-round contest
on the night of June "a. I fix that date
on account of the departure of Nat Good
win on the next day for Australia. He
wants to see the mill, and L asked for the
oath instead of the 23d, which was the date
heretofore mentioned.
II must get so per cent of the gross
receipts and Sharkey can look to the club
for his compensation.
1.-The only point on which we have dis
agreed has been wiped out. It was the
clause which called for the meeting to be
declared draw in the event OF Sharkey
being on his feet at the end of the fourth
round.
eve have settled now TO leave the de-
cision entirely to the referee, whoever he
bo oh Nv ~ L
to both Sharkey and ma. If Sharkey has
done better than during the four rounds,
and is still able to go on, the decision must
be given him. If 1 do better than Sharkey,
and am still able to go on, the decision
must be given me.
Naturally, if the result is a standoff
the referee must declare the mill draw.
"Should knock Sharkey out it is agreed
he Will get nothing of the receipts, but
should 1 only best him and he is able to
face me after the fourth round, then he
will be entitled to 25 per cent of the receipts
from the club.
SIS that right7" asked the champion.
"That's right" answered both Lynch
and Groom.
"Then, ooys," added Corbett, "get your
articles in black and white, so we can have
no Misunderstanding. When [ come back
from my drive fetch them to me and I'll
sign"
After this conversation it seemed that
everything would work along smoothly
and the fight take place. Groom and
Lynch went away to prepare the articles
OF agreement, and, having labored over
them during the whole afternoon, they
brought forth the following. which Cor
bett refused to sign, the second clause
being in direct contradiction to the agree
ment made by the trio in the presence of
THE CALL representative:
SAN FRANCISCO, June 8, 1896.
We. the undersigned, James j. Corbett of
San Francisco and James Sharkey of the same
place, agree to contest in boxing bout of four
rounds before the National Athletic Club of
this City on June "a, 1896, at place to be
selected by the said club, on the following
conditions:
First-We both agree to contest for so per
cent of the gross receipts, the winner to take
all.
second-we agree with the club and referee
that if either of the contestants at the end of
four rounds is on his feet and able to continue
the contest, then the bout to be declared
draw, in which event the purse to be divided
equdlly DeLNeeu Jle contestants.
Third-We agree that the National Athletic
Club select the referee at the ringside, and
that said referee shall be agreeable to both con-
testants.
Fourth-We agree that the contest shall be
governed by the Marquis of Queensberry rules
and that the gloves shall be regulation size,
viz: fve-ounce gloves
Fifth-We both agree to be in good physical
condition and ready and willing to enter the
ring at O'Clock on said evening to carry out
the above agreement.
Corbett is very much put out that even
such meeting with Sharkey, a man who
is almost wholly unknown, should be sur
rounded with such petty maneuvering.
You'd think | was making match for
thousands against one of the stars in the
pugilistic armament. thes way there is
backing and filling in this case,' Corbett
stated last night.
81 don't want to allow Sharkey draw
if do not knock him out. There are a
score of things that might interfere to pre-
vent that result. While | believe that he
may stand up like man and fight, still
he may not He is a man also who can
stand considerable punishment, and while
may prove to everybody present that l
am his master, still l may not put him
asleep IN four rounds. l do not think,
under such circumstances, that the match
should be called draw and the purse di-
vided."
According to the proposed articles of
agreement with which Corbett will have
nothing to do the division of the so per
cent would leave the remainder as the
earnings of the club. whereas, under the
L.
afternoon, Corbett was to get so per cent
anyhow and Sharkey 25 per cent if he was
not knocked out in four rounds.
Corbett believes that the original under
Standing will be lived up to, and to-day, if
the articles are changed, he will be glad to
sign them.
The following is a note received from
the champion
To the Editor of the San Francisco Calt-SIR:
My idea of this fistic engagement with Sharkey
is giInnlv this. ~ friends in San Franoisoo ra