The San Francisco call., 1896-10-13
CORBE1T MUST FIGHT,
National Club Will Make One
More Offer to the Alleged
Champion.
Sharkey Says He Will Slap inns
Pretty Face Wherever He
Meets Him.

Manager Groom of the National Athletic
Club drew down yesterday the $4,000 he
had on deposit for a ten-round contest
between Tom Sharkey and James Cortett.
He said that the letter which Corbett
wrote. i'll answer to dispatch he received
after the money was deposited, was suffi-
cient to establish in his mind the fact that
James ]. does not intend to fight Sharkey.
81 do not propose, however," said
Groom, "to let this matter rest, because,
in all justice to Sharkey, who has COM
piled with the conditions that have been
exacted by the National Club, the
championship of the world must be wrested
from the man who now wrongfully laws
claim to 1T. Corbett must either fight or
acknowledge to the sporting world that he
is no longer physically able to defend the
title.
"After Sharkey gave him an unlocked
for surprise in the Pavilion ne imme-
diately challenged the sailor to finish
night and articles OF agreement to that
effect were drawn up and signed by the
pugilists When Sharkey and Corbett
met in New York in the office of sport
ing paper Corbett said in the presence of
several witnesses that he was booked to
fight Sharkey to finish within six months
from the time of signing articles before
inducements.
"Well, l now propose to test Mr.. Cor
belts sincerity and will deposit a sub
stantial forfeit in the keeping of any re-
sponsible person or firm as a guarantee on
the part of the National Club to carry out
the conditions of the articles of agreement,
which were signed by him in this City
prior to his departure Tor the East The
National Club will guarantee Mr.. Corbett
a suitable place, where he can decide with
MIR. Sharkey in contest to finish which
of the two pugilists is entitled to the belt
| and the heavyweight championship"
Dan Lynch, the manager and backer of
Sharkey said that he was not at all sur
prlsed when he read Corbetts answer
II knew that the coward and blowhard
| was afraid of Tom, and he now takes on
Fitzsimm ons for another wildgoose chase
| through Mexico and Arizona. CorDett
| has no idea of fighting Fitzsimmons or
any other man. His cards are played and
| his constitution has been completely
wrecked. He knows that he is a dead dog
| in the pit, and why don't he come out like
| a man and say soP
"Fitzsimmons knows as well as l do
that Corbett is physically disabled and
can no longer do any fighting. The pair
| may keep on shooting paper-wads at each
| other for some months, but the sporting e
people of the East will soon grow tired of
! Cnln music ana com pei the TWO Dlu1erS TO
get in and fight or get off the earth.
"Sharkey is the only man among them
who means business, and if Mr.. Corbett
will refuse to meet him in a finish fight an
offer will be made to Fitzsimmons. 1t is
nearly time that the public stopped
patronizing those hippodrome fighters
whose best work is on the stage. where
they meet IN friendly tapping bouts; but
think Corbett could beat Sharkey at this
game. Anyhow, l will not challenge him
to such contest, as 1 am afraid that he
would cover my money too quickly"
Sharkey is wild at Corbett and threaten s
to leave here on Saturday with the avowed
object of slapping Corbett's pretty face at
first meeting.