Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-03
TllL LUOEO UN FUUL
Sailor sharkey Gets the Decision Over His
Lanky Antagonist,
KNOCKED OUT, BUT STILL THE WINNER
Victor Carried from the Ring While the
Loser Walks Away,
FIERCE FIGHTING AND UNEXPECTED END
Referee Earps Decision Based on Alleged
Use of the Knee.
CnprpT DINO hHhlACT nADn GAME
ROBERT RUNS AGAINST A HARD GAME
Tom Proves Himself u Better Mnp
<hnn Generally Considered nnd
Makes u Desperate Resist
nncc All Through.

Fitzsimmons in the eighth round of the
ten round match, was given the decision by
Referee carp, on the claim of foul. Fitz-
simmons jolted Sharkey under the chin with
! his left and the sailor went over back
| wards AS he fell he put his hand to his
groin. He made no attempt to rise and was
| carried unconscious from the ring. The foul
could not be seen from the press stand, but
! Referee carp gave his decision In spite or
Fitzsimmons' protests.
| 1t was Fitzsimmons fight from start to
finish. He fought fairly while the sailor
| continually used foul tactics. He would
clinoh and lift Fitzsimmons from his feet.
strike in a clnch, though the men had
! previously agreed not to do so, and he
was generally unfair. Several times dur
! ing the fight Fitzsimmons had the
| sailor going, but could not land a knockout
| blow. In the eighth Sharkey started to
| to do the leading but seldom landed. Bob
! continually sent in left hand jabs on
Sharkey's face, sending his head back every
| time. Fit2simmons soon had his man going
and went at him ferociously. rght-hand
| swing staggered the sailor and then came
a left-hand swing and left half-arm punch
| under the chin that sent Sharkey over with
| a. thud.
| claims that Fitzsimmons struck him in the
! groin with his knee, thus committing a foul
! Sharkey was undoubtedly badly hurt. He
was unable to move his legs though he
| clutched spasmodically at his groin with his
| gloved hand. His seconds rushed into the
| ring and raised him up but he tainted
away and borne from the ring uncon-
scious Hardly any one among the spec
| tatcrs saw the foul and the decision was re-
| ceived with Kisses and groans.
FITZ DENIES FOUL.
At first the crowd did not seem to grasp
| the situation. but when IL dlMned uDOn them
| that the decision had gone against Fitzsim-
mons such howl OF Indignation as went
up has seldom been heard in this section.
| Kisses. curses, groans and boots split tho
| air. On the platform and in the
ring Bob Fitzsimmons and Martin
| Julian were jumping about and try
! ing TO make themselves heard. Although
| their words were indistinguishable, their
| actions were expressive enough. Dismay
and disgust were vividly portrayed. Fitz-
| simmons Indignantly denied that he had
| foued Sharkey. He said he had fought
| fairly, and there was no temptation for him
| to commit a foul, as he knew he had his
man going Sharkey could not be seen.
He was carried into his room by his Sec
onds, and followed by doctor, who ex-
| amined the injured sailor. The psysician
| has not yet made his report.
1t was a lively fight from the start. Bob
was even more on the aggressive than
Sharkey, and kept his man on the move all
| the time. In the very first round Fitzsim-
| mons saw an opening and right swing on
| the jaw sent Sharkey to the floor. That
made the sailor bit more cautious, and
during the next four rounds he tried to keep
out of reach
SHARKEY DOES SOME FoULING.
In the fourth Sharkey pushed Fltzsim-
mons over onto the floor and before Bob
could get up made couple of vicious swipes
at him. FitzsimmOns cleverly clinched and
avoided damage, but 1t was a clear case OF
nn a n Ia nnha
however, and the fight went on. In the fifth
Sharkey did more mean work, grabbing FitZ-
simmons around the legs and trying TO
throw him. Fitzsimmons began to warm up
and went after the sturdy sailor like cy-
clone. poke on the nose and left swing
on the jaw sent Sharkey down. He
rolled up the ropes and would have
gone off the platform had not
Bob courteously hauled him back. 1t
looked as IL Tom was done for, but the gong
sounded and he wGs given a minute in
which to recuperate. In the sixth Sharkey
made pretense of fighting. leading for
Bob's wind. When the round closed Sharkey
was decidedly groggy, but was on his feet.
joyous shout went up from the many
sports who had bet even money that he
would last six rounds When the seventh
round opened, Fit2simmons tried to end
matters. He swung his right repeatedly
for the jaw, but in some manner
Sharkey escaped. The left jabs always con-
nected, though. and Tom was decidedly on
tHe Wdne. BOD nlInSelt was none too strong
and seemed to be bit tired when the round
closed. Then came the disastrous eighth.
FitzsimmCns went at his man with a will
and fairly smothered him with lefts and
rights. First II would be the mouth that
suffered then the nose and later the eyes.
FitzsimmOns was working like a demon. His
long arms shot out with amazing rapidity and
Toms head bobbed back and forth in re-
spOnse. Then Fit2slmmOns got up close to
finish the job in a workmanlke manner a
right half-arm jolt under the chin sent the
sailors head to one side. a left hook sim
larly applied sent him over backwards, Then
came tho foul Very few Of the immense
crowd could be convinced that FitZsimmons
had been unfair, and It Is almost certain
that If foul were committed 1t was unln-
territorial.
HAD A NICE CROWD.
Between $1,000 and 10000 people oc-
cupled all the available space in the big
Mechanics pavilion and watched the con-
test, which everyone regarded as practically
deciding the championship OF the world.
The long, lean Cornishman, who had had a
succession OF victories in the United States
for the last six years. entered the ring to-
night with almost every apparent advantage
in his favor. He could count upon his ex-
pcrience and science; his height and reach
and every other quality which enters into
the making OF the successful priZefghter.
Against him was the sailor lad. who was
unknown six months ago, but who rose to
fame recently when he came perllOusly near
trailing in the dust the colors of Californla's
idol, James j. COrbett. Against the science
and experience and the superior height and
reach OF Fitzsimmons was Sharkey, with his
youth and strength probably one Of tho
greatest examples Of muscular development
that the prize ring has produced. A man
not accredited with the science OF a Fitz-
simmons. or Corbett, but who had proved
that he would be "choppng block" for no
one, and who was known TO possess most
remarkable strength and endurance and to
fear nothing that ever stepped into a prize
ring
Both men had trained hard and well for
several weeks before the contest and par
ticularly during the last few days and each
had expressed the utmost confidence In hls
ability to gain a victory and the 3l00
purse which the National Athletic club