The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-10

hard TO have the money awarded so
they could get part of it.
Not since Corbett and Fitz fought in
Carson City has there been so much in
terest in a heavyweight contest. BY
9 o'clock half of the restless thousands
who surrounded the ring were standing
up and discussing one or another ex-
pected phase of the coming battle. The
old and wise of the sporting fraternity
were surrounded by groups who list
ened intently to every word they let
fall, as, for instance, when Billy Ed
wards gave his view of prospects:
"Fitzsimmons ought to win" he said.
"and l think he WILL If he is as good
as he was two years ago. He is big
enough to fight anybody in the world.
Jeffries has youth as his strongest
point for youth means greater powers
of recuperation The betting, l should
say, is about $1,000 to $500 That means
that most men have strong belief IN
the powers of FitZsimmons, backed up
as they are, by his great ability as
hitter and ring general ana ms long
experience in the business
1t was announced at 9:19 that the
prinoipals were in readiness and would
enter the ring at $3.50, according to the
programme The picture machine It's
manager said was in fine working
order and would prove a success.
ter past 8. was filed with the eXcep-
tion of some vacancies in the $40 seats,
and the hum of fighting talk was be-
coming a roar Men talked louder than
usual in order to be heard. and bab-
BILE of sound was the result.
Half past o'clock came but did not
bring the fighters. The crowd was on
edge. Then Jeffries moved slowly
through the crowd from the north of
the clubhouse, and roar greeted his
appearance. But, instead of climbing
into the ring he moved on to his dress
ing room and the disappointed crowd
became Quieter
The stage waited for the actors. The
great crowd became impatient. The
smoke cloud which hid the Tafters be
came thicker and bluer. Twenty min
utes to 10 o'clock and, in the language
of many, there was still nothing do
ing" There was not even sponge or
a towel to whet the fighting appetite
of waiting thousands. They began to
whistle and stamp and applaud.
But the coy fighters still kept under
cover. Chief Devery had taken up his
station near Fits corner, where the
LIGHT fell full upon his face and hun
dreds tried to read from his counte-
nance whether the men would be
stopped when hard blows began to fly
or whether, as was the general eX-
pectatiOn. they would go on TO HnlSfl.
Jim Corbett arrived near the ringside
at 12 minutes to 10, and little of the
pent-up enthusiasm was lavished upon
him> as he moved to Jeffries corner
and took his seat where he could watch
and coach his former sparring partner.
This was the northeast corner. Cor
bett was Immediately surrounded with
men who urged him to tell them the
last news bearing on the battle and
who wanted a stable tip.
The absence of a preliminary bout
tried the crowds patience extremely.
Most Of those present had been waiting
for three hours as they would have
waited for few things on earth. They
wanted to see one or the other of the
big men pound his opponent into insen-
stbility. and they would wait until mid
night if necessary. False cries of
.'Here they come moved the great
throng as minute by minute passed
and the ring was still empty. Rumors
gained ground that the fighters had
failed to agree on an Interpretation of
the rules at the last moment and that
they were wrangling over the matter
with the referee Color was lent to this
bv Siler's absence from the ringside.
Chief Devery leaned far back in his
chair. his eve on q level with the floor
of the ring, and waited, the most
patient man in sight, and yet man on
whose shoulders.there was more weight
than on any one except, perhaps, the
principals.
Fitz won the toss for choice of