The San Francisco call., 1896-06-04
An Evening of Great Fisticuffs
at the Mechanics Pa.
vilion.
SIX THOUSAND SPECTATORS
Needham and Gallagher Put Up
Great Mill-Sharkey Was a
Disappoin ntment.

Champion Jim Corbett delivered a
speech last night to many thousands of
people in the Mechanics Pavilion.
He said that he was very much pleased
with the reception he had received, and
that he would leave for England in a
week Ito fight Fitzsimmons or any other
man who would put up the dough-
It's rocks that l m after"
He desired to correct various reports
concerning his condition.
81 am not a consumptive or a broken
down hasbeen," he continued, land you
prove that l am very sound man when [
will have an opportunity of fighting some
body"
One hour before the first brace of pugil-
lists who figured on the National Club s
tistic programme of the evening put in an
appearance on the platform the galleries
OF the Pavilion were packed with the
lovers of boxing.
Those who could not get seats climbed
up on the rafters and took possession of
every place OF vantage where q good view
of the contests could be had.
The two and three dollar seats filled
slowly, but when the master of ceremonies
Beef Inspector Jordan" Announced
thousand people in the big building.
Jim Corbett, the famous pugilist, who
had purchased fifty tickets for his friends,
received a great ovation when he put in
an appearance.
James looked more like a bank presi-
dent than pugilist, but within his best
suit of everyday clothes was the bone and
muscle, without which no pugilist can
hope to attain distinction.
The betting on the fights was lively all
day yesterday. Sharkey sold q slight
favorite over Williams OF Salt Lake up to
8 P. NJ, when q lump sum of $500 sub
scribed by the sailors of the American
wsrship Philadelphia arrived with orders
TO be placed on Sharkey at any odds.
This knocked a big hole in the stock of
the Salt Lake champion, which fell
rapidly. The pools closed with Sharkey a
strong favOrite at to l.
Very lively betting was done on the
Gallagher and Needham fight. Gallagher
was favorite all through the betting, which
closed at to 1, with Needham on the
short end.
Sergeant BirdsaIl and his staff of police
men were on hand early to enforce order.
At 8 o'clock Professor George Allen of
Chicago, 146 pounds, and Arthur Walker
of Australia, 147 pounds, stepped under
the ropes. Sergeant Birdsall weighed the
mittens and pronounced them satisfactory
orator, Billy Jordan, made his usual little
speech in which he said: Gentlemen,
please stop smoking"
George Green was selected to referee the
two first contests.
Walker had all the best of the first
round. He smashed Allen in body and
face until the receiver grew weary. Allen
did get home lew stiff punches but
Walker did not seem to mind them.
In the second round Allen hit Walker
two vicious right-handers in the neck and
face and then both pugilists clinched and
fell. After some hot exchanges Allen
brought Walker down with a good right
hand clip on the jaw. Before time was
called Allen knocked Walker down again
and the latter was very groggy when he
walked to his corner.
In the third round Allen watched his
chances for a knockout blow, but failed
TO land several wild swings. This was a
give-and-take round.
In the fourth round Allen, in ducking
from a blow ran his right eye against
Walkers elbow, which cut a deep cash
from which the blood streamed. The sight
of the claret scared all the fight out of
Allen. He simply quit fighting and al
lowed Walker to punch him against the
ropes as he pleased.
Sergeant Bird sail thought that the con-
test had gone on long enough and stopped
further proceedings. The fight was given
to Walker.
1t was 9:3O when Billy Smith and
Patsy Corrigan got to smashing each other
in the true old style OF give and Iake.
Corrigan started out beautifully and
planted some good stiff punches in
Smiths side, but when the round was half
over Smith sized up his man and had Cor
rgan on "Queer street" when the round
closed.
In +ba sao0Dd round c,,, az x.,odo -
ping block of Patsy
The third round was a repetition OF the
previous round and Smith did not force
the fighting.
Fourth round-Corrigan forced the place
a the start and did land a few stiff 'uns,
but before the close Smith sent Corrigan
on his back with good stiff right in the
neck.
Fifth round-Smith opened it by chop
ping Corrigan in the nose and drawing
blood. Smith then gave his attention lo
Corrigan's stomach, and when the gong
sounded Patsy was all but gone and Smith
was very much exhausted
Sixth round-Smith sailed in to wind
up the game and Corrigan fell against a
post from the effects of a punch in the
stomach. Corrigan fell a second time, and
Referee Green ordered the pug;lists to
their corners and awarded the match to
Smith.
At 10 o'clock Billy Gallagher, 14S pounds,
stepped between the ropes and few min
utes later his opponent Danny Needham,
147 pounds, put in an appearance.
The pugilsts looked we'll and the out
look for hot mill was good.
Just before the fight commenced the
crowd shouted Tor Corbett, who was asked
to make a speech; but James only raised
his anatomy from his seat and uncovered
in recognition of the request.
Considerable time was lost IN the selec-
tion of a referee. Albert King was finally
chosen, much against the wishes of the
gallery gods, VINO protested strongly. But
King remained ION deck" nevertheless.
First round-Needham had slightly the
best of the first round. Gallagher missed
some wicked right swings and Danny
planted his left four or five times in Gal
laehers face near the close of the round.
Second round - Gallagher started in
wild, and gave Needham the elbow fire.
quently. He was ratified, and hit Need
ham in a clinch. Shouts of foul Need
ham punched Gallagher with let's on nose
Clinches were numerous. Gallag her caught
Needham heavy right swing on shoulder
as the gong sounded.
Third round-Needham cleverly ducked
right swing. Heavy in-fighting followed.