The sun., 1897-06-10
They Stop the Maher-Sharkey
Glove Contest. :
THE BOUT DECLARED A DRAW.
Practically No Hard Hitting Until
the Seventh and Last Round.

unsatisfactory ana There were No Evidences
OF brutality when the Interrercnce Came
Almost Riot In the Ring when the Bius-
ceets rnyaded tt-Ench Aunn scored .
knockdown, the last One by Maher Being
Bcauty-Ssaber Looked Like n winner.
Tho police stopped the fight for n $4,000
purse between Peter Mnhcr and Tom Sharkey
in the arena Of the Palace Athletic Club last
evening when 1t was at the most exciting point.
The men had fought six wary rounds with
Sharkcy doing most Of tho work and Maher
acting cautiously. The patrons of the fstic art
had not seen much 10 admire outside of the
shifty foot work OF both men. Maher had been
knocked half way through the ropes by tho sailor
In the sixth round. and the incident served to
arouse the 800 spectators to the highest point
of expectancy. Maher was infuriated when the
seventh round began, and for the first time dur
ing the battle the big lad from Galway displayed
his tremendous hitting powers. Step by step
ana foot by foot he forced the herculean Sharkey
to the ropes, and shot home a straight right
handler, which caught the sailor flush on the
chin. Sharkey's heels cleared the floor and
he would have fallen on his back had
the ropes at his back not stayed him. He gazed
wildly about him for a mon ent grasped tho
ropes, and slowly struggled to his feet. Maher
was upon him like n demon and the men
were striving for the mastery when the gonG
rang. Both men were deaf to the sound of the
bell and they pummeled and smashed long
after the brazen echoes had died away. The
police under Inspector Mclaughlin swooped
down upon the ring. and before the participants
realized 1t they were under arrest
For moment a general fight was imminent.
The frenzied seconds OF both men claimed foul
because hostilites had not censed at the sound Of
the gong. Sharkey struck viciously at one of Ma
hers camp-folowcrs, and the police brandshed
their clubs threateningly. Thousands of excited
spectators rose in their seats and jeered
at the police. who, undismayed, quickly
put stop to warlike demonstrations. They
drew their clubs, and were evidently IN
o temper to use them. All the participants in
the affair, including the seconds and the ref
cree. James Colville Of Boston. were taken to
the East 104th street police station under guard,
and the disguised spectators departed reluo.
family for their homes.
As for the fight itself 1t is safe to say that 10
was the most unsatisfactory that has been held
| In New York under the existing law legal
izing glove contests. There have been
contests hundred times more brutal than
that between Maher and Sharkey but the au-
thorities have not moved finger. Not one
drop Of blood was shed save that which flowed
from Maher's lip and a scratch on his right
thigh where the ropes tore his skin triio
when Peter went half way through them.
II the police are consistent and measure
| all ring contests by that Of last evening the
deathknell of boxing has been sounded in New
York. Not finger was moved during the
opening bout between Roden and Quaide,
which was decided before the event
of the evening was called, but Roden
was staggering and bleeding when the
referee gave his decision 1t is true that the
authorities gave ample warning that tho bout
between the stars Of the evening would b0
stopped at the first signs of brutality, and many
thought that this announcement was RESPONSE
BILE for the altered style of fighting by
both Maher and Sharkey. Up to the concluding
round Sharkey had shown not any of the rushing
tactics which were the chief characteristics OF
| his battles with Corbett and FitZsimmons.
while Maher did not cut loose with
| his terrible right until a few minutes
| before tho fight was stopped. Inspector
| Mclaughlin had warned the men before they
| entered the ring, and the battle was a wary one
until the seventh round. There was not much
opportunity to measure the men. Sharkey
| Is a magnificent specimen of physical de-
velopment He lacks the height to be
| great fighter In his class, has an
| awkward and unscientihc right, and re-
lies almost entirely on straight left. He shows
skill on his feet, but has whole lot to learn
| about fighting. His knockdown was scarcely
clean cut. He caught Maher with his left
| on the chin, staggering him, and he
going landed with tho right on the side OF the
| head and half knocked, half pushed Peter
| through the ropes. The Sailor was half crazed
by the possibility of victory and stood over
| him, when Choynski, his chief adviser and
| one OF his seconds. left his corner, ran along
| on the ledge outside the ring. and besoughb
| the burly Sharkey to lot Maher gain his feet and
| renew the battle in the centre OF the ring.
| Mahers knockdown blow clean and
straight. right-hander from the shoulder. and
the Sailor plainly felt its effects. The referees
| decision was draw, but the sports will back
| Maher IL they ever meet again.
| Regarding the inconsistency OF the police, 1t 10
| only necessary to recall the knockout fight
| between Maher and Choynski last December,
| when the Irishman put the Californian to sleep.
| Former Police Commissioner Roosevelt had
| front seat on that occasion. and at the
conclusion Of the bout said that he saw nothing
brutal about 1t. This announcement was re-
| sponsible for the formation OF number Of new
clubs TO promote boxing, and the busi-
ness became gigantic affair with intense
| rivalry and more or less bitter feeling. The
| Palace Athletic Club, where tho fight took place
last night, was one OF these. 1t is controlled by
| William A. Brady. the manager OF Pugilist
| James J. Corbett
| When the doors were thrown open at o'clock
| Lexington avenue was crowded for a block in
front of the building so that the street cars had
difficulty in making headway. The prices for
seats were %, S5, 81, 90, aud $40, and the box
offices were Immediately bosieged The cheaper
vantage points were secured in short order, and
as the crowd poured into tho great amphitheatrs
1t was evident that the attendance would he
large.
In spite OF tho fact that the management
claimed accommodations for 10000 persons. II
is doubtful II more than 1880 could have been
squeezed inside tho walls. Tho box seats
went rapidly. and they were soon allied by
an Assemblago OF sporting men from all
parts of the country. Delegations from
Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chicago. Gin
cinnati. and even San Francisco were present.
and tho betting became lively, The Pittsbura
sports had a ton of money to wager on Maher.
and ono of their number. John Fleming. had
| aayerAl Thousands to bet ON him