The San Francisco call., 1897-11-19
A Clumsy and Awkward
Scrap Witnessed by Two
Thousand Sports.
THE BARRIER CHAMPIONS KICK.
He Did Not Want to Fight
Because the House Was
Too Small.
BUT he .EINALLY CONSENTED.
The Sailor Won the slOg in the Sixth
Round and Then Challenged
the Earth.

navy, defeated Joe Goddard of Australia
the Barrier cham pion" in six rounds
last night, before the Knickerbocker Ath
Ietlc Club, at the Mechanics Pavilion
There was meager attendance. and tht
fight was rather uninteresting.
When Goddard and Sharkey wert
matched by the Knlckerbocker Club tC
fight twenty-round contest in this city
the sporting fraternity smiled sickly
smile, and remarks concerning the Shar-
key and Fitzsimmons mill were heard on
every corner of the streets where the
sports congregate to discuss turf and ring
events.
wonder if Sharkey imagines that we
have forgotten the Fitz contest2 | sup.
pose Sailor Tom stands in with Frohman
and Havman in their opinions as to San
Francisco being a jay town? Well, l
guess We are not as gullible as the sailor
imagines; he may have good house, but
l guess nit.
Expressions Of this nature were many a
Jew weeks ago; but when Bob Macarthur
was selected by the club and the princi-
pals to referee the mill a shade of conf
dence was felt among those who patronize
would be fought on the square.
When the match was first made God
dard said he aid not mind what the people
rem arked regarding the fight being fake.
He was here TO fight on his merits, and
would meet Sharkey in tue ring on the
evening selected for the fight, and 1t did
not make any difference to him what the
betting was or what the size of the house
might be, owing to the announcements of
q hlppodrome: that he would carry out
his contract and fight Sharksy, come
what might Goddard's subsequent ac-
tlons IN the ring beiied these statements
that he made on arriving from the East.
Goddard and Sharkey entered the ring
almost simultaneously at $3.50 o'clock.
Sharkey was followed by his seconds, Tim
McGrath, Martin Murphy and Spice T
Kelly. Goddard had behind him Teddy
Alexander, his manager, Henry Baker
and a namesake OF Goddard.
AS Goddard stepped through the ropes
he was cheered Justify. Sharkey was re-
ceived with mingled cheers and Kisses,
the latter being the loudest. Goddard S
age was apparent, and many remarks
were made upon the simness of his build
Tor heavyweight, particularly of his
legs from the knees down. He was clad
In white trunks with a red and white
belt, while Sharkey wore green trunk and
the American flag for a belt.
Sharkey looked in the pink of condition.
HIS build was much heavier than that OF
his opponent but he was not so tall by a
couple OF inches. Goddard showed a lit
tie superhuOus lat about the stomach, and
appeared nervous.
When Referee Bob Macarthur was pre-
sented he was received with hearty cheers
the crowd thus showing its appreciation
OF the fairness of his decision in the pre-
nminary bout.
Before the fight OF the evening COM
meaced challenges to the winner were as
thick about the ring as bees around a hive
The announcer uufolded a telegram and
read to the audience the first one:
Have announcer state that should Goddard
win Will hght hlm kid" MCCOY.
Another dispatch from NJ. J. Connolly
manager Of Peter Maher, read:
"On behalf OF Peter Maher | CHALLENGE
the winner OF the contest between God
dard and Sharkey for the championship
OF the world, for SIDE bet and purse, be-
fore the club offerins the largest purse"
The announcer also stated that Young
Mitchell, acting for Peter Jackson, chal-
lenged the winner or any body else TO
fight for the worlds championship.
This last announcement suited the
crowd the best, as Jackson is quite popu-
lar here. Responding to numerous calls
for speech, Jackson arose from his seat
near the ringside and bowed his acknoWl-
edgments to The audience.
For time 1t looked as il the Goddard
Sharkey fight would not come off on ac-
count of Goddard The men had signed
10 fight for a percentage of the gate re-
celpts and the smallness OF the house had
evidently caused a doubt to arise in the
Goddard mind as 10 whether IL was worth
the while 10 don the mitts and go against
the athletlc-l looking young sailor, with the
prospects of a good licking, and very
small emoluments whether he won or
lost.
After the men had been in the ring some
moments Goddard asked for Manager
Abrahams OF tie club, and they held an
excited confab, the gist OF which was that
Goddard wanted guaranteed purse, and
Abrahams was firm in demanding that
ne stick 10 his contract and fight for what
the house would bring.
Goddard attempted to take off his
gloves, but could not, and bis seconds
urged him TO Tight anyway. Finally he
walked 10 the center OF The ring and ad-
dressing The south gallery said
Il am sorry TO say that / am not going
to fight with the house that is here to-
night"
Ii he meant exactly what ne said il was
wise declaration, as it would have been
2000 TO l shot. But what he intended
was that the gate receipts were too small
TO warrant the two-times vanuuisher of
Joe Choynskl from showing his skill in
The ring before such a small though mis-
cellaneous gathering OF sports.
You are coward" yelled some one in
the gallery III response TO Goddard's |
declaration.
mo, l am not coward" responded
Goddard quickly. II have never been a
coward" ne continued. II came here TO
fight tonight"
Then he went back to his corner and |
argued the proposition with his seconds |
and Manager Abrahams. He offered TO
go on Tor ten ROUNDS instead of twenty, as
originally agreed. but the club said no
all or nothing Then the crowd tried to |
egg him on by calling Coward, and he
WINGED under the insinuaiion.
a bright mind in the gallery proposed |