The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-11
SlLER WRITES THE SLUGGERS.
RULES FOR THE FIGHT SUBMITTED
FOR THEIR INSPECTION.


Playing POssum and waiting For
the Other to Commit Himself ON
the RuIes--A Conference Likely TO
Prove Necessary Before the cues
tiOn of Rules Is settled.
Carson, New, March 10.-The must deli
cate subject in connection with the big
| fight was broached to-day, when Referee
George Siler submitted to Corbett and
Fitzsimmons his Interpretation of the
| Queensberry rules. silers communica-
| ton, which was in the nature Of formal
letter, was not received with manifesto
tions of Joy at either camp. The big fell
lows read their letters thoughtfully and
reserved judgment If Siler had any
doubts as to the propriety of his action
in outlining his views at this time, they
| must be dissipated now.
The fighters could never have agreed
upon the rules after entering the ring.
| Each man appears to be playing 'possum
| just now. and waiting for the other to
| commit himself. 1t is not unwise, how
ever, to predict that a conference between
| Siler. Stuart and the representatives OF
the pugilists will be necessary before the
matter Of rules is firmly settled. Mr..
| Siler's letter. which was handed to the
pugilists shortly before noon, read as fol-
| lows;
Carson City, New, March 10.-To James
]. Corbett, Esq. and Robert Fitzsimmons,
Esq, Carson City, New: Gentlemen
| Herewith / hand you each the rules of
| the Marquis of Queepsberry, under the
| provisions of which you are to contest for
| the heavyweight championship of the
| world in this city on March II, 1897. Ac-
| companying the rules, hand you some
| suggestions and instructions. These are
/ based upon careful study, research, equity
| and fairness. You are principals to what
| will be the greatest contest of modern
/ times. You have both trained carefully
! and assiduously. The principals and the
| public are alike engrossed to an extent
| never before made manifest in a like en-
| counter While it is a departure to give
| instructions to contestants in battle like
| this week in advance of the meeting,
| think that the Importance of the affair
| fully warrants this move 1 am confident
| that you both want to win solely and
| wholly upon your merits. Neither of you
can afford to have the slightest suspi-
| cion of doubt cloud the title which will
belong to the victor. To that end here
with hand you the, rules and certain in
terpretations under which you are to bat
| tie:
Rule l. To be a fair stand up boxing
match in a twenty-four foot ring, or as
near that as practicable.
Rule 2. No wrestling or hugging al
lowed.
Rule 3. The rounds to be of three min
utes duration, and one minute time be-
| tween rounds.
Rule 4. If either man fall, through
weakness or otherwise. he must get up
unassisted, ten seconds to be allowed him
| to do so, the other man meanwhile to re-
turn to his corner. and when the fallen
| man is on his legs, the round is to be rel
| sumed and continued until the three MIN
| utes have expired. If one man fails to
come to the scratch in the ten seconds
allowed, it shall be in the power of the
! referee to give his award to the other
| man.
Rule s. Hanging on the ropes in a help
| less state with his toes off the ground,
| shall be considered down.
Rule G. No seconds or any other person
to be allowed in the ring during the
| rounds.
Rule 7. Should the contest be stopped by
any unavoidable interference the referee
| to name the time and place, as soon as pos
| sible, for finishing the contest, so that the
match must be wen or lost unless the
hackers of both men agree to draw the
stakes.
/ 3.
| gloves of the best quality and new.
| Rule g. Should a glove burst or come
off, It must be repaired to the referees
| satisfaction.
Rule 10. One man on one knee is con-
sidered down. and If struck the man is
| entitled to the stakes
| RUE 11.-No shoes or boots with springs
| allowed.
| Rule 12.-The contest in all other respects
| to be governed by the revised rules of the
| London prize ring.
| The first three rules need no comment,
as they are plain, simple and understood
| by almost everybody.
Rule 4, however, requires some analy-
sis. as some of the points are often miscon-
strued. The rule says: If either man
! fall through weakness or otherwise, he
must get up unassited, ten seconds TO be
| allowed him to do So the other man mean
| while TO return to his corner This of
course was intended to prevent a man
from standing over his fallen opponent.
! 1t probably never occurred to the framer
| of the rules that at times a man either
| falls or is knocked down in his opponents
corner. If then, the man on his feet re-
! tires 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 / will
| simply instruct you in case of a knock
| down TO retire at least ten feet from your
/ fallen opponent, to give him an opportuni-
| ty TO rise.
Rule 12 which says: THE contest In
| all other respects to be governed by the
revised rules Of the London prize ring"
| IS. / consider, one OF the most important
| OF the twelve rules, and appears 70 be
the bone OF contention In almost every
contest. II has been thrust on all ref
erees, myself among them, 70 inquire OF
| the principals whether they choose TO hit
| In cllnches with one arm free and also
| on breakaways. Invariably the princi-
| pals agree not to- hit In clinches. or on
| breakaways. but they generally forget ali
about their agreement and frequently vi
olate g. This. then, causes not only
/ their seconds, but the spectators 10 cry
foul" every time blow is delivered IN a
| clinch or on a breakaway, and causes
much trouble and argument. II also
makes the duties of referee arduous and
| disagreeable and keeps him constantly IN
/ hot water Furthermore, Il gives he
referee an opportunity to decide a contest
on a technical foul, which Is generally
unsatisfactory to everybody concerned.
/ Ntotther Of YOU. i am sure desire IN xyfn