The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-23

1y in Calffornian's Favor,
New York, November 2s.-The Corbett-
Sharkey fight which was witnessed by the
largest and most representative gathering
of sporting men that ever congregated to
see ring contest, ended in most dis
graceful fasco tonight at the Lenox
Athletic club. Corbett had all the worst
of the encounter when one of his seconds,
Connie McVey, jumped into the ring ap-
pealing to the referee, thus violating the
rules, and the referee. Honest John
Kelley, had no alternative but to disquali-
fly Corbett and award the bout to
Sharkey. McVey's interference was abso-
lutely inexcusable. and the referee, be.
Iieving that there was sSjob" in Mo
Vey's action took upon himself to declare
all bets off. Before Kelley did SO, how
ever. many of those who had bet on Cor
bett, and they were legion, appealed to
the referee to take such action, while the
Sharkeyites shouted against such inter-
ference on Kelley's part and protested
that he had no authority to declare the
bets off. However, the referees word
went with the majority of the spectators
and consequently all money paid on
wa gers made will be refunded.
It was most unfortunate and abrupt
ending to what promised to be q most in
teresting fight For weeks both Corbett
and Sharkey had trained faithfully and
carefully for the contest and when they
stripped tonight each of them rhowed an
excellent condition. Sharkey was very
confident of success and the manner in
which he acquitted himself in the ring
while the fight lasted, showed very plain
" that his confidence was founded on
good grounds Those who believed that
Sharkey could not fight fairly changed
their opinion after the bout had gone one
round On the othsr hand, Corbett hit
the sailor in the body rather low and
Sharkey protested. Sharkey' s quicknes5
the very beginning, and from the very
first it was evident that he held Corbett
safely. In the second round there were
wild yells from the admirers OF the Irish
man when he fioored Corbett with a right
swing on the head which was preceded
by powerful blow on the body.
Sharkey's rushes were successful In
VarlaDly anu jim quiohnosS Hi.u log
work were tested to their utmost in try
ing to evade the aggressive sailor
pugiIist. That Sharkey has improved
wonderfully goes without saying, and, on
the other hand that Corbett is not the
Corbeut of New Orleans is beyond ques.
tion. At no time had the Californian the
upper hand of his younger and more
sturdy rival. Sharkey is fighter and 9
clever one at that, and his work tonight
stamps him beyond all doubt as being
second only to Fitzsimmons, who will
have to meet him in order to decide
which is the better man and when those
two meet they should put up a fight
which will be worth witnessing.
From the second TO the eighth round
Sharkey held a decided advantage. In
the ninth round which was SO productive
of disappointments and unlocked for in
oidents, Corhett seemed to be stronger
than at any time during the fight, but 1t
was evident that he was slowly hut sure
Iy fading under Sharkey's onslaughts. 1t
was two to one on Sharkey after the
second round and had not McVey acted as
he did, there is very little DOUBT that
Sharkey would have won hand1ly. some
of the most prominent bankers, brokers,
lawyers, doctors and business men in this
and other cities were present during the
mill, and not one of them could see any
reason for intsrferenoe by Mcvey.
The general belief is that ey ac5eu
from some .s.unexplsined motive and some
persons said that he jumped into the ring
to prevent Corbett going under. When
MoVey first put his leg through the ropes.
the referee evidently did not OF would not
look in that direction, but continued to
pay close attention to the fighters who
were mixing it up in the center Of the
ring. Inspector Mclaughlin caught hold
of Movey to pull him out again, but the
4Ixv ff,arN
that Kelley should see him. In rhis he
was more than successful, but not until
half the people had yelled repeatedly te
Kelley to disqualify Corbett. When the
big Californian realized what had oc-
Cured he was furious with passion and
rushed at McVey. Had he caught the
| latter, there is no telling what Corbett
would have done in his frenzy, but the
D. lice were on hand and rushed between
| the men thus avoiding scene which
would have added to the disgracefull ex'
hihition. That the untinely incident