The times., 1897-06-10
Arrest Maher and Sharkey at
the End of the Seventh.
A VERY POOR EXHIBITION
For Five Rounds the Pugilists
Jump Around the Ring Like a
Couple of Dancing Nasters-ln
the Last Round Maher Plainly
Proves His Superiority.

Sharkey in tie arena OF the Palace Athletic
Club this evening when it was at the most
exciting point The rlen had fought SIX
wary rounds, with Sharkey doing most OF
the work. Maher act ed warily. The patrohs
of the fisic art had not seen much to at
Inire outside of the shifty footwork Of boih
men Maher had been knocked hair way
through TIE ropes by the sailor in the sixth
round, and the incident served to arouse
1900 spectators To the highest pitch OF
expectancy. Maher was infunated when
the seycnth found began, and for the first
time during the hattie the big lad from
Galway displayed his tremendous hitting
powers.
Step 10y step and foot by foot he forced
the herculean Sharkey to the lopes, and
shot home straight Iight-liander which
caught the sailor flush on the chin. Sharkey's S
heels cleared the floor, and he would
have fallen on his back had the iores at
his back not stayed him. He gazed willy
about him for moment, grasped the
ropes, and slowly struggled to his feet.
Maher was upon him like a demon, anu
the men were striving for the mastery
when the gong rang. Both men were
deaf TO the sound of the bell, and they
purnrneled and smashed long after the
brazen echoes had died away. The po-
lice under Inspector Mclaughlin, swooped
down upon the ring, and before the par
ticipants realized Z, they were Under
arrest.
Fora Innmenta a greatfight waSimlninent
The friends OF both men claimed a foul be-
cause tie pucilists had not stopped II the
sound OF the gong. Sharkey struck vicious
ly at one of Maher's camp followers, and
the police hrandished their clubs threaten
ineay Thousands of excited spectators
rose in their seats and jeered at the po-
lice, who, undismayed, quickly put stop
to the warlike demonstrations. They drew
their clubs and were evidently in temper
to use them. All the participants in the
affair, incl uding the seconds and the
referee James Colville, of Boston, were
taken TO the East One Hundred and Fourth
street police station under guard, and the
disgusted spectators departed reluctantly
for their homes.
As for the fight itself, 1t is se1fevident
it was the most unsatisfactory that has
been held in New York under the ex-
listing law legalizing glove contests. Ihere
have been contests a hundred times more
brutal than that between Maher and Shar-
KEY, but the authorities have not moved
a finger. Not one drop of blood was
shed, save that which flowed from Maher
Zip and a scratch on his night thigh
where the rope tore his skin title when
Peter went halfway through the ropes.
III the police are consistent, and measure
all ring contests by that OF this evening,
the death-knell of boxing has been sounded
In New York.
Up to the concluding round Sharkey had
lasncy fugf
were the chief characteristics OF his
battles with Corbett and Fitzsimmons,
while Maher did not cut loose with his
terrible right until few minutes before
the fight was stopped. Inspector Nc
I.aughlin had warned the men before they
entered the ring and the battle was
wary one until the seventh round.
There was not much opportunity te meas
ure the men Sharkey is magnificent
sneeirnen of physical development. Helacks
the height TO be a greater fighter in bis
class and has an a awkw ard and unscientific
eight relying almost entirely on a straight
left He shows skin on his feet, bet has
whole lot TO learn about fighting. His
knock down was scarcely clean cut. He
caught Maher with his left on the chin,
staggering him, and as be was going
landed with the right on the side of the
head and half knocked, half pushed Peter
through the ropes
The sailor was half crazed by the posi-
bllity of victory and stood over hifE
when Choynski, his chief adviser and one
of his seconds, left his corner, ran along
on the ledge outside the ring, and besought
Sharkev to let Maher gain his feet and
renew the battle in the center Of the ring
Mahcr's knockdown blow was clean and
straight, right handler from the shoulder,
and the sailor plainly felt its effects The
referees decision was a draw, but the
sports will back Maher if they ever meet
again.
Regarding the inconsistency of the po-
Iice.tt is only necessary to recall the knock
out fight between Maher and Choynski last
December, when the Irishman put the Cali
fornian to sleep. Police Commissioner
Roosevelt had a front seat on that oc-
cason, and at the conclusion of the bout
said that he saw nothing brutal about it,
The followers OF Maher were chock full
of confidence and they were in the ma
1orisy. Reports from Peters training
quarters had con vinced them that he could
not lose.
Maher himself was sure Of success.
sharkey admitted that he was going
an surprise the crowd with my clever
ness and will win y
In the vast crowd were men promnentin
every walk Of life, save the church. Hun
dreds of Well street brokers, fiDanciers,
turfrnen, lawyers. and actors, known from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific, sat as quietly
and orderly as if in their pews at church.
Maher was the favorite at odds of 500
to $50. There were few Sharkey men at
those figures, the followers of the sailor
asking for to /. Riley Grammar, the
plunger, was reported as betting on
sharkey wherever he could get the odds he
wanted.
John l.. Sullivan came in a few minutes
after 10 o'clock. The big fellow looked well
and waved his hand to his friends Cor
bett peered up from the other side of the
ting asthecrowd cheered and clappcd hands
enthusiastically the ever popular Suni-
van took chair.
At 1910 p. m the men entered the
ring amid loud applause. sharkey was the
Naher was a few seconds later than his
rival, and as his good-looking face came
through the ropes, he smiled good-naturedly
and shook hands with both Sharkey and
Choynski. sharkey's deep-set blue eyes
twinkled as he shook hands with the stall
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