Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-11-11
JenrIes Is Chnmpion.


James J. Jeffries retains the cham.
pionship of the world. Referee George
Siler giving him the decision at the end
of the 25th round over sailor Tom
Sharkey, at the Coney Island Sporting
Club.
1t was one of the most marvellous bat
ties that has taken place. and the great
est crowd that ever gathered in the
Coney Island club house witnessed the
desperate struggle for supremacy. In
five rounds Jeffries had the better of the
tight-in the first two and the last
three; during the other 20 Sharkey
forced the issue and, like a bull ter
rier, was at his man with all his force
increasingly. In those 20 rounds JEFF
ries' great weight and Drawn helped
him hold off the sailor, and in the 22d
round he swung in a couple of vicious
uppercuts that made Sharkey groggy.
Tom came back again in the cath and
25th, but he was weakened greatly by
Jeffries' vicious blows. One minute be-
fore the gong sounded to end the fight
Jeffries' left glove came off and prac-
tically the contest was over. The ref
cree motioned to Jeffries' corner. an
American flag was flung over the cham.
pion's shoulders, and the crowd on that
side and end of the arena cheered Wild
ly. The crowd on the opposite side and
end in Sharkeys corner yelled for
Sharkey, and the men were led back
to their dressing rooms.
When seen in his dressing room after
the contest Jeffries said
"Sharkey is the hardest and best
man l have ever met and / hardly ex.
pect to meet better one in the future.
Within six months l have met and de-
feated the best two men in the world
and will now take long rest, probably
nine months or a year. Never again
will / fight under the same conditions.
The heat from the lights overhead tend.
ed to take away a great deal of my
steam and the glare from the floor
weakened my eyes. My left arm, the
one that was injured while training,
gave out in the fourth round and
could not use it properly for the rest
of the battle or the result would have
been different, for l think that | could
have knocked him out. Sharkey is
game man and hard to beat, but / had
no thought of any different result at
any time during the battle. After my
rest which think the public will agree
that l deserve l will again be ready to
meet any and all who aspire to my
title"
Sharkey was irconsolable and cried
like child when he went to his quar-
tiers and refused to talk, but Tom
! ORourke, has manager, expressed the
opinion that the sailor should have re-
ceived the decision. He said that two
of Sharkey's ribs were broken and that
during the last four rounds Toms left
hand was useless, having been broken
on Jeffries' hand. Although the decis-
ion was against him he said Sharkey
would not give up, but would seek an
other match and the next time the re
suit would be different.
But | don't think this fellow will
want to tackle Tom again." said
O'Rourke, his manager, expressed the
until he agrees to another meeting or
make him crawl"
Bob Fitzsimmons was greatly pleased
at the result of the fight, declaring that
his contract to fight the winner brought
! him once more the chance to fight JEFF
! fries, who wrested the championship
, from him.