Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-23

check and was accommodated. The
incident caused good deal of excite
ment, but the spectators soon settled
back in their seats and forgot the little
episode.
The second preliminary bout brought
kid Harris, of Chicago, and Charley
Roden, of Jersey City, together. They
boxed at 10S pounds. Harris had the
advantage in heighth and reach, but
Roden made up for this advantage with
a wonderful supply of pluck and ag-
gressiveness. Roden was overmatched
from the start. In the ninth round
Harris about knocked him off his feet
WITH a right cross on the jaw. Harris
then went after his man and had him
Keeling when the gong sounded, with
lefts and rights on both jaws. When
Roden went to his corner it was found
that his jaw was broken and Charley
White stopped the bout then and there
and awarded the fight to Harris.
During the interval between the Har-
ris-Roden bout and the
ARRIVAL OF THE BIG FELLOWS
betting of the liveliest kind took place.
Many big wagers were made,
amounting to thousands of dollars.
Some of the biggest bookmakers in the
country were among the most inter
ested bettors and they bet both ways
whenever an opportunity offered. Some
of them were simply gambling on the
event and trying to pick winner.
while others could not fOrego the
chance OF making a percentage book.
Joe Ullman was one OF the latter sort,
and his bets were as varied as they
were numerous. He always looked for
the shade
Corbett's hackers forced the price of
the Californian to 800 to $40 just as
it was learned that the ex-champion
had reached the club house and was in
his dressing room.
At 90 minutes after 10 o'clock, a
buzz of excitement ran through the
building and Tom Sharkey pushed his
way through the betting crowd.
He was attired in light blue dres-
sing gown, underneath which he had
an American flag wound around his
waist for a belt. He was accompanied
by his manager, Tom O'Rourke, John
T. Dougherty, George Dixon, Bob Arm
strong and Jack Reid, who acted as
seconds.
Prof. Jimmy DeForest held the watch
for the Irishman. Sharkey never look
ed better in mis- life and said he weigh
ed 17S pounds. He was very confident
and exhibited no sign of nervousness.
Announcer Charley Harvey called
the attention of the onlOokerS to the
fact that the principals wished them TO
refrain from smoking and Immediately
all the cigars which were being indus
triously pulled, were trodden unIer
foot most willingly.
The crowd was beginning to be IN
easy at Corbett'5 delay in making his
appearance, when some one in the gal
lery shouted: Three cheers for
Sharkey." These were given with q
will and repeated all over the house.
Corbett did not reach the ringside
until 1898 o'clock, just fifteen minutes
later than Sharkey.
There was a wild cheer as he was
seen making his way to the ringside.
When he reached the steps leading up
to the ring, Corbett stopped for a mo-
ment to shake hands with some
friends.
Then he climbed nimbly through the
ropes and rested his arms on them for
a few seconds, during which time he
smiled across the ring at ORourke,
who stood in front of Sharkey.
Corbett was enYeloped in a dark
olive green dressing gown. His hair
was parted in the middle and carefully
combed and brushed.
His seconds were Charley White,
George Considine and Jack McVey, and
John COnsidine, of Detroit, acted as his
time keeper. Both men had their
choice of the sets of gloves. Corbett
selected his pair, which We're made for
him in California. They were a pair
Of typical fighting gloves, being just
shaped to the clinched fist, whereas
Sharkeys were the long, tapering
gloves usually donned by boxers.
They were nearly an inch and a half
longer than his opponents, which
would give him an opportunity of fore
ing the hair in the gloves away from
the knuckles. The gloves were Of the
regulation weight of five ounces as pro-
yided by the Horton law. When the
men were introduced Sharkey's name
was mentioned first, and there were
prolonged cheers to which Sharkey
bowed repeatedly. Corbett received a
more demonstrative ovation, the cheer
ing lasting more than minute. Cor
bett wore white trunks and a red.
white and green sash, which his sec
onds took off as soon as he stood erect.
Sharkey wore green splits, held by a
belted American flag. There was a
long confab between the principals,
their seconds and the referee, after
which the men retired to their corners.
After having agreed not TO hit in
clinches or in breakaways, and that
they would step back when ordered to
break, everything was in order for the
bout to begin.