The herald., 1898-11-23

NEW YORK, Nov. 22.-The Sharkey
Corbett fight, which was witnessed by the
largest and most representative gathering
of sporting men that ever congregated to see
! ring contest, ended in most disgracefu
fiasco 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, appealing to the ref
cree, thus violating the rules and the ref
cree, Honest John" Kelly, had no alterna-
tive but to disquaify Corbett and award
the bout to Sharkey. McVey's interference
was absolutely inexcusable, and the referee,
believing that there was COB" in McVey's
action, took it upon himself to declare all
bets off. Before Kelly did so, however,
many of those who had bet on Corbett, and
they were legion, appealed to the referee to
take such action, while the Sharkeyites
shouted against such interference on Kelly's
part and protested that he had no authority
to declare the bets off. However, the ref.
eree's word went with the majority of the
spectators and consequently all money paid
on wagers made will be refunded.
1t was an unfortunate and abrupt ending
to what promised to be most interesting
fight. For weeks both Corbett and Sharkey
had trained faithfully and carefully for the
contest and when they stripped they both
showed to be in good condition. Sharkey
was very confident of success, and the man
ner in which he acquitted himself in the
ring showed very plainly that his confidence
was founded on good grounds Those who
believed that Sharkey could not fight fairly
changed their minds after the bout had
gone one round. On the other hand, Cor
bett hit the sailor in the body rather low
and Sharkey protested. Sharkeys quick
ness and aggressiveness was astonishing
from the very beginning, and from the first
it was evident that he had Corbett safe. In
the second round there were wild yells from
the admirers of the Irishman when he
fioored Corbett with a right swing on the
head, preceded with powerful blow on the
body. Sharkey's rushes were successful in
variably, and Jim's leg work was tested to
its utmost in trying to evade the aggressive
sailor pugilist. That Sharkey has improved
wonderfully goes without saying, and on the
other hand, that Corbett is not the Corbett
OF New Orleans is beyond question.
AT no time had the Californian the upper
hand of his younger and more sturdy rival
Sharkey is fighter and clever one at that,
and his work tonight stamps him beyond
all doubt as being second only to Fitzsim-
mons.
From the second to the eighth round
Sharkey held decided advantage.
In the ninth round, which was so product
i've OF disappointment and unlocked for in
cdents, Corbett seemed to be stronger than
at any time during the fight, but it was ap-
parent that he was slowly but surely fading
under Sharkey's onslaught. 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
handily. Some of the most prominent bank
ers, 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 interference by McVey.
The general belief is that McVey acted from
some unexplained motive, and some persons
said that he jumped into the ring to prevent
Corbett going under. When McVey first
put his leg through the ropes, the referee
evidently did not or would not look in that
direction, but continued to pay close atten-
ton to the fighters, who were mixing il nm
in the certer of the ring. Inspector Nc
Laughlin caught hold of McVey to pull him
out again, but the latter was evidently more
than anxious that Kelly should see him. In
this he was successful, but not untilhalf the
people in the house had yelled repeatedly
to nelly to disqualify Corbett.