The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-18
BEFORE THE Fight


Scenes at the RIngsids before the FIAtle
"HerOea" Appeared.
RTNGsIDE, CARSON, New, March
l7.-As early as o'clock this morning
there was small gathering at the gate
OF the arena. No one was admitted,
bowever, and tho crowd gradually in
creased. The gates were opened at $50
o'clock and there was a rush to get in.
The press was so great that IT was Inn
possible for the gatckeepers to take the
tickets.
AT 10 o'clock John l.. Sullivan entered
arena and took n scat in a box close
to the ring. His appearance was the
signal for an outburst OF cheers. But
beyond broad smile the ex-champion
maid no attention TO the demonstration.
Az the day wore on the warmth OF the
ann increased There was no wind ana
the weather conditions were perfect for
the fight. No one seemed to have any
definite idea OF the hour when the hGht-
cTs were to so in. but II was under.
| stood that II o'clock was the time. Al
1880 Billy Jordan, OF San francisco. en-
tered the ring and made the following
announcement:
Of John L, Sullivan. will challenge the
winner in this contest for 5000, and
ne will nut up 81, 900 as deposit"
Jordan said the money was UP In the
/ hands OF the New York World, This
was greeted with cheers and Sullivan
| was called for. When he reached the
ring he said: Gentlemen, there Is no
necessity OF mo saying anything more.
mean what I say. am going 10 Try
one more battle. There Is one nght IN
RilIy Madden then entered the ring
ana said: ~ have Deposited $500 with
Warren Lewis, OF New York. for Joe
Goddard to fight the winner OF this
fight, giving him his own time inside Of
Onc year. ! also have Il check for $500
for Sharkcy to fight the winner, which
will be deposited at once"
In response to calls. Shnrkcy climbed
into the ring and said Gentlemen, !
have met both OF these men, and
would like 10 have first chance. don't
think either OF them has anything on
me" The crowd Checred and ShRrKey
climbed OF the platform.
EiiGGlImInOnS Arrives.
shortly after 10 o'clock FltzsImmons
arrived and went at once 10 his dress
Ing room. Hc stood near tho stove so
as not to get cold. and Sheerfully chatted
with his attendants.
Al II o'clock there were about 1000
people. present and the crowd seemed
10 have stopped coming. About
dozen good looking, well dressed women
were in the crowd 4 few wore vetts.
but the majority brRvcd the gaze OF the
men.
C0rbett did not start from his camp
M soon rs expected. and did not reach
his dressing room until after FitSssm'
mons.
Eation by climbing into the ring In re-
sDonsc to calls and attempting 10 make
speech. Referee SIlOr ordered him
out, but Connolly wanted to talk and
would not 20. The deputy sheriff at
tempted 70 put him out, but Connolly
gracefully got out OF the predlcament
BY saying: This Ia no time for speech.
making: the men arc ready 10 fight
Then. escorted by the sheriff. he left
Al iI:57 n. IN. sller told the mon TO
get ready. They said they were all
ready aud SIler told them TO como In.
FItzSImmonS came from his dressing
room ut 1851 In blue and pink dressing
gown. Julian lead the procession and
the other three followed, Corbett came
n minute later with hIs seconds. Both
mon were duly chcered, As Fit2slm-
mons DASsed his wife he shook her by
the hand and kissed her. FitZsImmnns
climbed Into the ring frat, but CorbcLt
was close behind COrhctt had a broad
grin on his face and shook hands with
Siler. He tried the ropes, while Fii2-
simmons walked up and down. glanc-
Ing occasionally at COrbett.
SlCr was announced as referee; the
official timckCeper was MuldoOn; sec
nuds for Fltzsimmons. Rocbcr. Hickey,
Julian and SiClEner; tlmckecper, Louis
HousCmRn. For COrbCtt--SeConds, Nc
VCy, White, Delaney. Woods and Dom
aidson; tlmekeepCr. Colyillc.
FltzSlmmons was then introduced and
Cnrbctt text. Cnrhctt got the laHdesi
applause. FItzsimmonF thcn stripped
and put on his gloves. light pea green,
COrbetrs were tan colorcd. Corbctt
wore red. white and blue belt with
green buckle and rosRttG. His trunks
were green ana he wore white socks
rolled down over the top Of his shoes
Fit2simmOns wore dark blue trunks
with small American flags. Silor or
dcrcd the mon to shake hands.
Julian prevented It by saying:
mo. you refused 1t once"
Then they walked TO their corners
The gong sounded at 1907 .. IN.