Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-03

| ing dress, escorted the spectators to their
seats. Long before the fighters appeared In
| the ring, a solid mass of humanity was
| banked in from one end of the pavilion to
| the other. There was no lack of enthusiasm
at any stage of the fight, and notwithstand-
! ing the long delay before the actual "event
: Of the evening" occurred, there was nothing
/ but the greatest good nature prevailing
everywhere, and there was not the slightest
sign of a disturbance. Several preliminary
events preceded the chief event and 1t was
1 very late when Fitzsimmons and Sharkey
! appeared in the ring. One OF the most
! noticeable differences in the men was in re-
! gard to teight, FitZsimmons being 5 feet,
| Tx inches and Sharkey, feet, Sh inches.
/ Each of the men weighed about 175 pounds.
/ The seconds for Fitzsimmons were Martin
Julian, Dan Hickey and Jack Selzner For
| Sharkey, George Allen, Australian Billy
Smith and Danny Needham. Wyatt carp,
the famous Arizona stage driver who has
| figured in many a gun fight on the border,
was chosen referee late this afternoon
COMING OF THE GLADIATORS.
1t was fully o'clock before the great
crowd began to mako an impression on the
vast amount of vacant seats. Outside OF the
pavilion stood crowd estimated at 10 0O0
which commenced to assemble as early as
O'Clock. 1t is estimated that the National
club took in at least $40 900 at the box Office
At o'clock. before three-quarters of the
seats were filled, the prelminaries were
hibited their prowess Harry Stefford of New
Orleans and John Howard of San Francisco
came up for three-rouud so. Lon Agnew
of Chicago and Fred Muller of San Fran
cisco, lightWeights, in a ten-rOund contest,
were the next attractions. 1t was a rafting
good fight from the call of time. Muller
made a good showing until the fifth round.
when Agnew knocked him down several
times. The call of time saved him, but he
lasted only about a half minute in the sixth
a m hp ia
put Muller out.
1t was 10 o'clock when the event of the
evening was announced. The crowd CheGred
and the cheers became a roar when the
gladiators appeared. FitZsmmons showed
up fresh and received an ovation. Sharkey
appeared two minutes after Fitzsimmons and
his welcome was equally as warm. Fitz-
simmons Chatted with friends at the ring
side as If a hard fight were not ON his hands
When Sharkey entered the ring Bob walked
across the ring and shook hands cordially
with the sailor and his seconds. Both men
were enyeloped in long bath robes, which
they threw off before putting on the gloves.
PANTHER ALONGSIDE OF BEAR.
1t was then the disparity in the build
of the two men was plainly seen Fitz-
simmons, lean and long and sinewy looked
like a panther, while Sharkey stocky and
sturdy with his immense muscular develop
ment, resembled a grizzly bear. Sharkey
wore a green sash, with red, white and
Dlue trimmings. HIS right hand was ban
daged Fltzsimmons was introduced as
champion of the world, which received
howl of approval
There was little delay before Referee
carp appeared Announcer Dan Jordan an
nounced that owing to rumors of crooked
ness, Martin Julian refused to accept carp
as referee. Julian says he suggested sew
eral men to Sharkey's hackers this morn
ing, but all were rejected. He says a San
Francisco sporting man had come to him
today and said a referee had been selected
who intended to give decision against
his man. This statement was received with
Kisses and jeers. carp made a speech, |
denying Julians statement saying he was
square Then Dan Lynch, Sharkey's |
backer said Sharkey had lived up to every |
article In the agreement, and was here
ready to fight with the referee selected by |
the National club, as per agreement the |
mems hackers having failed to agree on |
referee prior TO 12 o'clock today During |
all the arguments Sharkey and FltzsmmonA |
sat unconnernedly in their corners, ap. |
parently obllyious.
Announcer Jordan announced that Julian |
was ready to take any referee In the house |
except carp Then there was some more |
consultation, while the crowd howed |
carp"
Julian's charge against carp was p sur, |
prise. as the Arizona man has always en- |
ioyed splendid reputation as a square
sport Fitzsimmons says he has given up to