The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-04
VICTORY TOR JETTlHIlS
Tho California fugilist Sill Re-
tains the Championship.
TWENTY-FIVE VICIOUS ROUNDS.


Arc Lights of the Moving Picture
People Was Intense.
Coney Island. Nov. flames J. JEFF
ries retains the championship of the
world. Referee George Siler giving him
the decision at the end of the twenty
fifth round over Sailor Tom Sharkey,
at the Coney Island Sporting club last
night. 1t was one OF the most mar
velous battles that has taken place, and
the greatest crowd that ever gathered
In the Coney Island club house wit
messed the desperate struggle for STU
premacy.
In five rounds Jeffries had the bet
ter Of the fight, in the first two and Ia
the last three. During the other 70
Sharkey forced the issue. and like
bull TERROR was at his man with both
hands increasingly. In those 70 rounds
Jerries great weight and Drawn hep
ed him to hold off the sailor, and In the
twenty-second round he swung in a
couple Of vicious uppercuts that made
Sharkey groggy. Tom came back
again in the twenty-fourth and twenty
fifth, but he was weakened greatly by
Jeilies' vicious blows. One minute
before the gong sounded to end the
fight Jeffries' left glove came off, AID
practically ended the contest.
The referee 1ot!oned to Jesfries' cor
ner, an American flag was flung around
the champions shoulders and the
crowd on that side and end of the
arena cheered wildly. The crowd on
the opposite end, in Sharkey's corner,
yelled for Sharkey, and the men were
led back to their dressing rooms.
The thousands of spectators were
banked 10 feet high in the building,
the place being packed from rings,ae
to rarters. and the aisles around The
ring were lined. The tremendous
crowd sweated under the glare CT 400
arc lights, erected by the moving pic
ture people, Is feet or less from the
canvas Of the squared circle. The
heat was intense. The fighters We're
almost exhausted. and the spectators
slriehed themselves hoarse.
1t seemed at first us though it would
be short fight, for in the second
round Jehries put the sailor to the
ropes with left on the jaw, and the
referee began 10 cali OF the SECONDS
as Shalkey kneeled on the floor
But from the third round on Shar-
key, with his vicious swings to the ribs
and the jaw, kept the crowd en- its feet
waiting for a knockout.
Jeffries stood the terrific punishment.
and with his eye, nose and ear split,
came back just as yicious.y in the last
three rounds and almost retrieved nin-
self. Then came the unfortunate and
unsatisfactory ending, Jeuries' glove
flying off, bringing the fight to an end,
although the crowd urged Sharkey to
rush In and end it. This he tried to do,
but Jeifrios fought him back, and
Referee Siler rushed to the rescue. 1t
was noticeable that Jeffries used his
Weight to it's best advantage, throwing
himself all over the sailor, but the lat
ter did his share OF the hugging, too,
and both were warned repeatedly.
The majority CT those at the ring
side hardly thought Sharkey would get
worse than draw, for the sailor fought
viciOusly, always after his man, with
good judgment, and outpointed the
champion On the other hand, Jeffries,
while he had the better, by long odds
Of the last three rounds, did very little
leading in the other 20, and when he
led he was either too high or too low.
getting in but few good punches.
Ten thousand spectators gathered
around the ringside. Though Coney
Island was swept by gale, the cars
came down crowded to the guards in
a swiftly moving line, and the sports
waded to the narrow entrances lead
ing to the arena. At $50 there were
5000 in the building, and later the
boxes filled to overiiowing.
All manner of men were there, and
among these we'll known were ex-
CHAMPIONS James J. Corbett and John
L. Sullivan, Kid Mccoy, Peter Maher.
George Dixon, Senator Tim Sullivan
and Assemblyman Timothy F. Sui
Ivan, Jacob Schaefer, George Sl0sson
and Parsou Davies.
The referee was George siler, OF Chi
cago. Je2ries had behind him Billy
Delany, Ernest Roeber, Tommy Ryan
and his brolher. Jack Jeffres. Sbar-
key was ed to the southwest corner
by Tom U'Rourke, and was attended
by George Dixon. Morris Kelly and
Tim McGrath, O'Rourke experimenting
the entire proceedings. Sharkey had
on green trunks, with an American
flag for belt and the champion wore
black. Jeffries weighed 2l2 pounds and
Sharkey % pounds less, but the latter
looked to be in better condition, the
Californian being callow and having
staring eyes, and giving ether evil
dences Of not the best condition. The
betting at the start was 500 to $40 on
Jeffries.
A preliminary bout of ten rounds at
l2S mounds preceded the big event, and
Kid Goulette. of Rochester, who ookel
a great deal like JeEries on small