The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-10
MAHER- -SHARKEY FIGHT
Stopped by Police at the End Of
the Seventh Round.
THE CONTEST DECLARED A DRAW

sharkey Provoked Police Interference
by Striking One of Maher's Seconds.
A Monster Crowd of sports on Hand
to View the Fight.
New York. June 1o.-Peter Maher
and Tom SharIiey fought last night at
the Palace Athletic club for $4,000
purse. At the end of the seventh
round the police interfered, and the
contest resulted in q most unsatisfac-
tory draw. Never in the history of the
ring has there been such an enormous
attendance at boxing bout in this Vi
cirlty. There were about 10000 per-
sons squeezed into the big building,
which was recently transformed into
fistic arena by the Palace A. c., under
the management of William A. Brady.
A more representative congregation
Of well known sporting men has never
witnessed a boxing mill than that
which assembled last night. The guam
tity of money which would have chang
ed hands had the bout resulted in IA
vor of either man is well UP In six
figures.
lndJ lneTe WOulu De ppilCe lHtellci-
ence IL the men fought hard was feared
by the majority Of those who purchased
tickets, but after the two boys who
took part in the opening bout had been
allowed to pummel each other without
being stopped by the police those pres
ent had hopes that the big fellows
would have d good chance to settle the
question of superiority.
Maher and Sharkey had trained care
fully, and when stripped in the ring
they were the picture of health and
strength Maher was the favorite, but
there seemed to be plenty of money on
Sharkey.
When they began operations Maher's
advantage in height and reach was
very marked. Sharkey's style of leav-
ing 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, and he
looked as If he were holding back for
O good opening.
Maher wore an anxious look from the
very beginning of the bout, and his
eyes had a very wild and hunted ex-
preston in them. 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 sprawl
ing half way through the ropes, where
he struggled for five seconds before he
regained his feet. AS Maher was get
ting UP Sharkey rushed toward him,
but was called back by Choynski. who
was evidently afraid that the sailor
might commit a foul. Ten seconds
later the gong ended the sixth round,
and when Maher returned to his corner
he spat out lot Of blood. Sharkey's
friends, when they saw this yelled
first blood for sharkey," and there
was d great deal of cheering.
The seventh round was nearly COM
pleted when Maher after getting in
some good blows on ShaTkey, sent the
latter to the floor near the ropes with
q left in the wind and a right swing on
the jaw. Tom was up again inside of
five seconds and rushed into clinCh.
In the clinch Maher kept working his
right on the body. When the gong
sounded neither needed the warning of
the timekeeper, hut kept on hitting
each other. One of Mahers seconds
rushed over and grabbed Maher. While
he was trying to pull the big fellow
away Sharkey swung his right on the
seconds face. dazing him.
BY this time the house was in an up
roar, and there were cries of foul
from the partisans of both men. The
din was terrific, but was increased ten
fold when Inspector Mclaughlin or
dered the police to arrest all those con-
cerned in the fight. Policemen in uni
form swarmed into the ring. and
number of detectives also climbed
through the ropes. The principals 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 thousands
Of spectators were clamoring for
decision from the referee, who was
buslly engaged arguing with the Off
GERS who surrounded him. Finally 1t
was made known that Referee Colvillc
had decided to call the bout a draw"
This did not seem to please a good
many. but according to the conditions
agreed upon by both men the judg-
ment Of the referee was right and
proper. j he BTcnt CID"u lell tlG bullu-
ing without the slightest confusion,
and very little comment was heard.
Those arrested, including the princi-
pals, seconds and the referee, were es-
corted to the One Hundred and Fourth
street police station. first allowing
Maher and Sharkey to go to their dress
ing rooms and put on their street
clothes. All furnished bail. SO ia:
Brady has not been arrested
Dan Lynch, Of San Francisco, Shar-
keys timekeeper, and Steve ODonnell.
of New York, who acted as the clubs
timekeeper, were also arrested and re-
leased on bail.
The relative merits of the men is just
as much of a puzzle as ever. and until
they meet again and get definite de.
cision their adherents will not be sat
isfed. It was said that over $4,000
we're taken IN at the box office. and
Judging from the number of people in
the house this is very conservative
estimate.