Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-10

Cut-The Biggest Crowd That
Ever Gathered in the East to See
Prize Fight-Had There Been a
Decision, Nearly a Million Dol
lars would Have Changed Hands.
New York, June 9.-Peter Maher
and Tom Sharkey fought tonight at
the Palace Athletic Club for a S15.CO0
purse. AT the end of the seventh round
the police interfered and the contest
resulted in most unsatisfactory draw
Never in the history or the ring has
there been such an enormous attend
ance at a boxing bout in this vicinity
There were about 10000 persons
squeezed into the big building at Oae
Hundred and Seventh street and Lex
ington avenue. A more representative
congregation of well-known sporting
men has never witnessed a boxing mill
than that which assembled at the club
house tonight.
The quantity of money which would
have changed hands had the bout re-
suited in favor Of either man is well
up in six figures.
That there would be police interfer-
ence if the men fought hard was fear
ed by the majority of those who pur-
chased tickets, but after the two boys
who took part in the opening bout
had been allowed to punish each other,
without being stopped by the police,
those present had hopes that the big
fellows would have a good chance to
settle the question of superiority.
Maher was a big favorite, but there
seemed to be plenty of money on Shar-
key.
When they began operations Maher's
advantage in height and reach was very
marked
Sharkey's style of leaving himself
open when stepping away caused a
good deal of comment and it was easily
seen that Maher was in no hurry to
mix matters, as he evidently preferred
to size his man up.
The boxing was very tame for five
rounds, neither man showing a mark
In the sixth round Sharkey, with a
well-directed straight right on the
mouth. sent Peter sprawling half way
through the ropes, where he struggled
for five seconds before he regained his
feet. As Maher was getting up, Shar-
key rushed toward him, but was called
back by ChOynski, VINO was evidently
afraid that the sailor might commit a
foul.
Ten seconds later the gong ended
the sixth round and when Maher re-
turned to his corner he spat out a
lot of blood. Sharkey's friends. when
they saw this. yelled First blood for
Sharkey," and there was a great deal
of cheering.
The seventh round was nearly COM
pleted when Maher, after getting in
some good Bows on Sharkey, sent the
latter to the floor near the ropes with
a left in the wind and a right swing
on the jaw. Tom was up again inside
of five seconds and rushed into a
clinch. In this, clinch Maher kept
working his right on the body. and
when the gong sounded neither needed
the warning Of the timekeeper, but
kept on hitting each other. One of
Maher's seconds rushed over and grab
bed Maher While he was trying to
pull the big fellow away, ShaTkey
swung his right on the seconds face,
dazing him. BY this time the house
was in an uproar and there were cries
of foul" from the partisans of both
men. The din was terrific, but was in
creased ten-fold when Inspector Nc
Laughlin ordered the police to arrest
al those concerned in the fight. Po-
licemen in uniform swarmed into the
ring and number of detectives also
climbed through the ropes. The pria-
cipals were the first TO be placed under
arrest. and then the seconds and referee
were told to accompany the officers.
While all this was going on the thous-
ands of spectators were clamOring for
a decision from the referee. who was
busily engaged arguing with the Off
GERS who surrounded him. Finally 1t
was made known that Referee Colville
had decided to cal the bout a draw.
This did not seem to please a good
MANY. but according to the conditions
agreed upon by both men. the judgment
Of the referee was right and proper.
So far Brady has not been arrested.
The relative merits of the men is
inst as much of a puzzle as ever, and
until they meet again and get a definite
decision their adherelts will not be
satisfied. 1t was said that over $4,000
was taken in at the box office. and
iudging from the number of people in
the house. this was a very conservative
estimate.
When the doors of the Palace Ath-
letic Club were opened at Z o'clock,
evington avenue was crowded with
surging mass of people. each one en-
deavoring to get to the box Office first,
and the corridors at the entrance were