The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-04
A Long and FierceIy Fought
Battle of Giants.
The Sailor Had Much the Best of Ii Until
the Very Last.

Ringside, Coney Island Sporting Club.
New York, November 3.-James j .Jeffries
retains the championship of the world.
Referee George Siler gave him the de-
cision at the end of the s5th round over
sailor Sharkey at the Coney Island sport
ing club tonight 1t was one OF tle most
marvellous battles that has taken place
and the greatest crowd that ever gathereh
In the Coney Island house witnessed the
despsrats struggle for supremacy. In five
rounds Jeffriss had the batt1r OF the light
in the 1rst two and in the last three.
During the other twenty Sharkey forced
the issue, and like bali terrier was at
his man with both hands INCREASINGLY.
In these twenty rounds Jeffries 5 great
weight and Drawn helped him to hold OF
the sailor and In the 22nd round hs
swung q couple Of vicious uppercuts that
made Sharkey groggy. Tom came back
again In the 24th and 2sth rounds but
was weakened greatly by Jeffries's vicious
blows One minute before the gong
sounded to sra the tight, Jsffries's lef.
glove came of and practically the contest
was over.
The referee motioned to Jeffries's cor
ner so an American flag was flung around
the champions shoulders. the crowd on
that side and end of the arena cheered
wildly. The crowd on the opposite aide
and end near Sbarkey's corner yelled for
Srarkey ami the men were sent tack to
their dressing rooms. The thousands OF
spectators were banked forty feIt high
arounu the building and the place was
packed from ringside to rafters. The
aisles around the ring were lined; the
tremendous crowd sTeet3d under the
glare OF 800 arc lights. Is feet or less from
the canvas of the squared circle. The
heat was intense. The fighters were al
most exhausted and tde spectators
shrieked theDs selves hoaFse.
1t seemed at first as tough 1t would be
a short fight In the second round Jeffries
put the sailor to the ropes with lett on
the jaw and the referee began to call off
the seconds as Snarksy kneeled on the
ilcor. But from the third round on,
Sharkey with his vicious swings to the
ribs and the jaw, kept the crowd on It's
fest waiting for IA knockout Jetfrios
stood the terrific punishment and with
his eye, nose AID ear split, came back
just as viciously in tls last three rounds
and almost retrieved himself. Then came
the unfortunate aud unsatisfactory end
ing, Jeffries glove flying off, bringing
the fight to an end, although the crowd
urged Sharkey to rush in and end 1t. This
he tried to do, but Jeifries fought him
back and Raferee Siler rushed to the
rescue. 1t was noticeable that Jeffrles
used his weight to its hest advantage,
throwing himself all over the sailor, but
the latter did his shnre Of the huggipg
too, and bota were warned repeatedly.
Ten thousand spectators gathered
around the rlngside. Though Coney
Island was swept by gale, the cars came
down crowded TO the guards, In swiftly
moving lins and the sports waded knee
deep to this narrow entrances leading to
the arena. All manner OF men were
there preliminary event Of tsn round $
at I2S pounds preceded tho big event
Kid Gouletts OF Rochester, who
looked great deal like Jfffries on u
hinHlt 6CdRcg Ocat7A ~
of Brooklyn.
Then aftsr half an hours delay, Tom
Shsfkey could be sesn making his way
through the crowd. He was well received
bat Jeffrles was chsered to the echo
Snarkey had on green trunks with an
American flag for bait, while the cham
pion wore black. Jeffrlss had behind him
Billy Delaney, Ernest Roeber, Tommy
I.yan and brother Jack Jeffries. Shsrkey
was led to the southwsst corner by Tom
D 'Rourke, and was attended by George
Dixon, Morrts Kelley and Tim McGrath,
o. Rourke superintending the entire pro.
cedure.
George Siier refereed. Jeffrles weighed
sI2 pounds .and Sharkey 20 pounds less.
but the Ii ttsr lcokei to be In better cln-
dition, the Cali ornian being callow. with
star ing eyes and other evidences Of not
t1e best condition.
TIE betting at the start was 100 to 70
Oh Jeffsies.
They shook hands and shaped up well