The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-11
Referee Says COrbett and Fitz May
Strike in n Clinch with One Arm
Free and on BreaI1aways.
NEITHER BRUISER PLEASED
CORBETT WILL REPLY TO GEORGE
SILER'S LETTER TODAY.
He Wants No Construction Placed on
Marquis of Queensberry Rules
Views of Julian and Fitz.


George Siler gave his Interpretation of the
Marquis of QueensberIy rules. under which
the men are TO fight on March il. He had
| decided that the men shall be allowed to
strike in clinch with one arm free and
on the breakaways. This is generally be-
lieved to be more to the advantage of Fitz-
simmonss style of fighting than to Cor
belts. Fitzsimmons has long declared that
he did not desire to have any hitting with
one arm free and demanded that the break
Always should be clean and with no punch
ing. This is generally thought to be a ruse
on the part of the Fitzsimmons crowd. On
the other hand, Corbett's friends claim that
hitting with one arm free will exactly suit
him. Sler's letter to the two principals in
the big fight is as follows:
'Gentlemen-Herewith. L hand you each
the rules of the Marquis Of Queensberry
contest for the heavyweight championship
of the world. in this city. on March IL, 1897
Accompanying the rules. hand you some
suggestions and instructions. These are
based on careful study, research, equity
and fairness. You are principals TO what
| will be the greatest contest of modern
| times. You have both trained faithfully
| and assiduously. The principals and the
| purse are alike enSrossed TO an extent
counter. While it is a departure to issue
| instructions to the combatants of a battle
| like this a week in advance of the meet
| ing, / think the Importance of the affair
| fully warrants this move 1 am confident
| that you both want to win solely and
wholly on your merits. Neither OF you can
| afford to have the slightest suspicion of
! doubt cloud the title which will belong to
the victor To that end, | herewith hand
| you the rules and certain interpretations
under which you are to battle.
THE RULES INTERPRETED.
A copy of the Marquis of Queensberry
rules was sent with the letter, which con-
| tinues as follows:
1.-THE first three rules need no comment,
| as they are plain, simple and understood by
| almost everybody. Rule A, however, re-
quireS some analysis, as some of the points
| are often misconstrued. The rule says: If
| either man fall through weakness or other
wise, he must get up unassisted. ten sec
! ondS TO be allowed TO do so: the other man
| meanwhile. to return to his corner This.
| of course, was intended to prevent a man
| from standing over his fallen opponent. III
| probably never occurred TO the Trainer OF
| the rules that at times man either falls
| or is knocked down in his opponents cor
to his corner. as the rules direct. he Will be
| standing over his fallen opponent and
| doing just what the rules mean he shall not
| do. To avoid all disputes on this score, l
| will simply instruct you, In case of a
| breakdown, TO retire at least ten feet from
| your fallen opponent. TO give him an OPP
Rule u. which says. The contest in all
other respects to be governed by the revised
- Il
| slider one of the most important OF the
| twelve rules and appears to be the bone of
| contention in almost every contest. 1t has
| been the custom OF referees, myself among
| them, to inquire of the principals whether
| they chose to hit in clinches with one arm
| free and also on breakaways. Invariably
| the principals agree not TO hit in clinches
| nor on hreakaways. but they generally for
| get all about their agreement AMI fire.
quently violate it, This. then, causes not
| only the seconds, but the spectators. to
| cry foul every time a blow is delivered
| in a clinch or on a breakaway and causes
| much trouble and argument. 1t also makes
| the duties Of a referee ardUous and disa-
| greeable and keeps him continually i'm hot
| water. Furthermore. it gives the referee
an opportunity to determine a contest in
| a technical foul which is generally unsatis-
| factory to everybody concerned. Neither
| of you. am sure, desire to win the coming
contest on a technicality, and to avoid any
such contingency through hitting in
| clinches with free arm and in a break
| away will rule that you be permitted To
hit in clinches with one arm free and also
| in breakaways. With this Interpretation OF
| this rule announced week before the con-
| test you will both have ample time TO prac-
| tice these important points and will have
| no cause for complaint should either of you
| be caught off your guard.
| ''Pivol blows, missing with either hand
| and whipping back with the elbow. meet
| ing an opponent with or deliberately strik-
| ing him with the elbow or knees are barred
| and will be considered foul. Should any of
| the above blows have any material effect
on the result of the contest, L shall use my
| judgment accordingly.
Should any of the seconds of either of
the principals enter the ring during a round
| to render any assistance TO the fighters or
| prevent them from committing a foul, or
| to throw water upon them, ii shall be con-
| sidered foul. Coaching by the seconds
during the rounds is Objectionable to every
body and is apt to create discord and ar
gument. Both of you have undoubtedly
| mapped out your plans Of attack and de-
| Tense. and need no advice from your re-
spective seconds. The latter will, therefore
refrain from making any comment during
the contest,
Trivial fouls may be Internationally
committed by either of you, which, unless
they have "A direct bearing OH the result
will be overlooked by me my discretion
This, believe. covers all important points.
Both of you are thoroughly acquainted with
| the Marquis of QueenSbery rules not
touched upon by me- and l nope to see you
both live strictly up to them. With fair
field, no favors. no prejudice. l remain -
etc.
CORBETT WILL REPLY TO-DAY.
Duplicate copies of SIer's communion
ton were made and a copy sent TO both
Corbett and Fitzsimmons. Corbett was
writing a letter to his wife when Siler's
communication was handed to him. and
when he had finished writing he read the
letter from the referee through with great
care. He then folded it up. saying: Il do
not care to make any reply To this to-day.
will talk it over with my trainers tonight
and will write formal letter to MIR. Siler
tomorrow"
1T gives you what you desire does it
not?' he was asked.
No" he answered. "All l want is that
we fight under the Marquis of Queensberry
rules, such as | have always fought under
/ carry those rules in my head, and 1 am
very likely to conform 10 them uncon-
sciousiy while fighting. When new con-
struction is put them / might forget all
about 1t in the heat of the night and COM
NIT foul unintentionally. All L want is a
fair show and nothing else"
1t was reported some time ago that you
desired TO hit with one arm tree and on
DTeakawaysI
That is a mistake. / never wanted any
thing but the regular Marquis of Queens
berry rules, and never said l did Now
FitZsimmOnS has said he did not want to
hit with one arm free. but everybody knows
he wants just that very thing. Everybody
comedies that Fitzsimmons is harder hit
ter than 1 am. and everybody comedies
that L am better at long-range lighting
and more scientific. IL stands TO reason
You Will see that Fitzsimmons will not
agree TO this, as he wants 10 have the APP
pedrance of making some concession TO me
However. i am not making any objections
as yet. L am going To talk IL over with
my trainers and will say what | think to-
morrow. L glad. however that Mr.
Siler has made IL clear the pivot blow and
all that sort OF thing is barred. That Is as
IL should be. We don't want anything of
that sort
Sier said. when giving out his construc-
ton of the rules: II have made my de-
cision solely the ground that Ii is de-
Jared in the Marquis OF Queensberry rules