The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-03
..FI7ZSIMM0NS won.
But the Sailor Was Given the De-
cision Against Him.
SHARKEY FAIRLY KNOCKED OUT

Decided Against the victo Fifteen to
Twenty Thousand Spectators, Including
Several Hundred Women.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec B-No event in the
history of pugilism on the Pacific coast
ever attracted public attention here as did
the battle between the heavyweights
Robert Fitzsimmons and Thomas Sharkcy,
last night.
Between 5000 and 10000 people occu.
pied all the available space in the big Me
chanics Pavilion and watched the contest
which everyone regarded as practically de-
Gliding the championship Of the world
The long, lean New Zealande who had
had succession Of victories in the United
States for the last five or six years, entered
the ring with almost every apparent ad.
vantage In his favor. He could count upon
IN his favor experience and science, his
height and reach and every other quality
which enters into the making Of the sue
cessful prize fighter.
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 oolors Of Cal.
ifornias idol, James ]. Corbett Against
the science and experience and the su.
perior height and reach of Fitzsimmons
was Sharkey with his youth and strength,
probably one of the greatest examples OF
muscular development that the prize ring
has produced.
Both men had trained hard for several
weeks before the contest and each had ex'
pressed the utmost confidence In his ability
to gain victory and the $4,000 purse
which the National Athletic club offered
the victor. Although the contest was lin
tied to ten rounds there was hardly spec
tator In the pavilion who did not expect
to see one or the other Of the fighters go
down to defeat before the full limit of the
fight had been reached. The men them
selves evidently expected the same.
One unique feature of the fight was the
fact that for the first time in the history
of pugilism the management Of the club
threw open the doors to women, and sew.
eral hundred of their sex were in attend.
ance. Some of them were gray haired
matrons whose enthusiasm on the sub
ject had led them to venture beyond the
bounds of conventionality.
One of the most noticeable differences
In the men was in regard to height the
New Zealander being feet 1ls4 inches
and Sharkey & feet 81 inches Each of
the men weighed about 175 pounds
The seconds for Fitzsimmons were Mar
tin Julian, Dan Hickey and Jack Stelz-
ner. For Sharkey were George Allen,
Australian Billy Smith and Danny Need
ham.
Wyatt carp the fam Gus Arizona stage
driver who has figured in many gun
fight on the border was chosen referee
late yesterday afternoon.
1t was after 10 o'clock when Fitzsim-
mons made his appearance, and was
greeted with thunderous applause. Shar-
key appeared two minutes after Fitzsm-
MONS and his welcome was equally as
warm. When Sharkey entered the ring
Bob walked across the ring and shook
hands cordially with the sailor and his
seconds.
There was brief delay at the outset,
Martin Julian objecting to Referee carp.
Finally Fitzsimmons said he has given up
his referee in all his fights, and would
give in to this. He objected, however, to
bandage which Sharkey wore on his
right hand, and 1t was removed.
Both men advanced to the middle of the
ring promptly on the call of time. Fitz
scored Touchdown in the first round,
and in the fourth Sharkey knocked his
opponent down A moment later Sharkey
was again knocked down, and the fight
ing became more vicious. Fitz made some
terrific plunges and had Sharkey prao-
tically knocked out in the eighth round,
but the referee gave the decision to
Sharkey on a claim of foul, claiming that
while Sharkey was falling from Fitz' 8 left
hook on the chin Fitz struck Sharkey in
the groin with his knee.
In the final round. after two minutes
and half had expired, Fitzsimmons
landed his right for Sharkey's jaw, and
then put his left on the chin, which put
Sharkey on the floor with smash. AS he
fell he put his hand to his groin. He made
no attempt to rise, and was carried I'M
conscious from the ring. The foul, if foul
it was, could not be seen from the press
stand, but Referee carp gave his decision
in spite of Fitzsimmons' protests.
1t was Fits fight from start to finish
He fought fairly, while the sailor contin-
ually used foul tactics. He would clinch
and lift Fitz from his feet, strike in O
clinch, though the men had previously
agreed not to do SO, and he was generally |
unfair. Several times during the fight
Fitz had the sailor going, but could not
land knockout blow. In the eighth
Sharkey started in to do the leading, but |
seldom landed. Bob continually sent in |
left hand jabs on Sharkey's face, sending |
his head back every time
Hardly any one among the spectators
saw the alleged foul, and the decision was
received with Kisses and groans. As far as
the art Of fighting goes Sharkey is not in
the same class with Ftz. He Is q willing,
strong man, but has little science. A
clover man like Fitz had no trouble in