The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-03
FlTZSIMMONS FOULS
referee GIVES THE FIGHT
10 SHARKEY.

Il
Dec. 2.-No event in the history of pugi-
lism on the Pacific coast ever attracted
public attention here as''did the battle be-
tween the heavy weights Robert Fitz
simmons and Thomas Sharkey tonight.
Between $4,000 and 10000 people &C.
cupicd all the available space in the big
Mechanics Pavilion and watched the
contest, which everyone regarded as
practically deciding the championship of
the world. The long, lean New Zeal
ander, who had IL succession of victories
in the United States for the last five or
six years, entered the ring to night with
almost every apparent advantage in his
favor lie could count up his experience
and science, his heighth and reach, and
every other quality which enters into the
making of successful priZc.fighters
Against him was the sailor lad, who was
unknown six months ago, but who rose to
fame recently when he came perilously
near trailing in the dust the colors of
California's idol, james j. Corbett.
Against the science and experience and
the superior height and reach of Fitz-
simmons was Sharkey with his youth
and strength, probably one of the great
est examples of muscular development
that the prize ring has produced
Both men had trained hard, and sew
cral weeks before the contest, and partc-
uarly during the last few days, and each
had expressed the utmost confidence in
his ability to gain a victory and the $40, =
600 purse, which the National Athletic
Clab offered the victor. Although the
contest was limited to ten rounds, there
was hardly II spectator in the pavilion
tonight who did not expect to see one or
the other of the fighters 90 down to dcfeat
before the full limit of the fight had been
reached.
The betting public naturally leaned to-
wards the man Of experience and the
odds in Fitzsimmons' favor averaged
about 2 12 to /. Many bets were offered
ut even money ard accepted that Fitz-
simmons would put his man out within
six rounds.
The National Club had made most elab.
crate preparations for the fight and it is
probable that Il similar contest was never
witnessed by so many people.
One unique feature of the night was
the fact that for the first time in the his
tory of pugilism the management of the
club threw open the doors to women, and
several hundred women were in attic nd.
ancc o.night, some of them grayhaircd
matrons, whose enthusiasm on the sub
iect has led them to venture beyond the
bounds Of conventionality.
One hundred police and many more
special officers were in attendance, and
100 ushers in evening dress escorted the
parties to their seats. Several prelimi-
nary events preceded the chief event and
it was very late when Fitzsimmons and
Sharkey appeared in the ring
One Of the noticeable differences in the
men was in regard to height. the New
nn1 hni a 4 2 nd
Sharkey . feet S ii inches Each of the
men weighed about ] - pounds.
The seconds for FitZsimmons were
Martin Julian, Dan Hickey and Jack
Stelzner. For Sharkcy, George Allen,
Australian Billy Smith and Denny Need
ham.
Wyatt carp, the famous Arizona stage
driver, who has figured in many II gun
fight on the border, was chosen referee
1t was 10 o'clock when the event of the
evening was announced. The crowd
cheered, and the cheers became roar
when the gladiators appeared. Fitzsim
mons showed up fresh and received IN
ovation. -, 9ssls
Sharlley appeared two minutes after
Fitzsimmons, and his welcome was
equally as warm. Fitzsimmons chatted
with friends ut the ringside rs if IL hard
hight were not on his hands
When 0harkey entered the ring Bob
walked across the ring and shook hands
cordially with the sailor and his seconds.
Both men were enveloped in long black
robes, which they threw off before put.
ting on the gloves. 1t was then the dis
parity in the build of the two men were
plainly seen. Fitzsimmons. lean and long
and sinewy, looked like panther, while
OF CT, ,-it h Iii
mense muscular developments, resembled
n grizzly bear
Sharkey wore IL green sash with red,
white and blue trimmings. His right
hand was handaged. Fitzsimmons was
introduced as champion of the world,
which was received by II howl of APPROX
al There was little delay before Referee
Earn appeared.
Inc announcer said that owing to ru
mors of crookedness Martin Julian refus-
ed to accept carp as referee Julian said
That he suggested several men to Shar-
keys hackers this morning, but all OF
them were refused
He said that II San Francisco sporting
man had come day and said that the
referee intended to give decision against
his man.
This statement was received with
misses ana Jeers. carp made speech
denying Julian's statements saying he
was not square
After more talk Fitzsimmons said that
he has given up his referee in all his
fights and would give into this. Then
he stripped off his black robe and said
that he would insist that Sharkev take
the bandage off his right hand, as he had
none on his.
Sharkey continued to tie his glove and
paid no attention to Fitzsimmons' de-
mand.
But the referee walked over and en-