The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-04
GIVEN The DECISION
OVER SAILOR SHARKEY
twenty-five Rounds of the FierceSt Fighting Ever
Witnessed in Prize Ring.
Defeated Man Clearly 0uponted His Opponent, But Lost
Because of His Foul Tactics

New York, Nov S-James ]. JEFF
fries 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 to-
night 1t was one OF the most marvel
GUS battles that has ever taken place,
and the greatest crowd that ever gath
cred in the Coney Island club house
witnessed the desperate struggle for
supremacy.
In Eve rounds Jeffries had the better
OF the fight--in the first TWO and the
last three During the other twenty
Sharkey forced the issue, and, like a
bun terrier, vas at his man with both
hands INCREASINGLY In those twenty
rounds Jefries' great W ht ami Drawn
helped him to hold off the sailor, and
in the twenty-second round he swung
in a couple of vicious upper cuts that
made Sharkey groggy. Tom came
back again in the twenty-fourth and
twenty-ifth, but he was weakened
greatly by Jeffries' vicious blows.
One minute before the gong sounded
TO end the fight Jeffriers' left glove
came off, and practically the contest
was over. The referee motioned TO JEFF
fries corner. an American flag was
flung over the champions shoulders,
and the crowd on that side and end of
the arena cheered wildly. The crowd
on the opposite side and end, in Shar-
keys corner, yelled for Sharkey, and
the men were led back TO their dressing
rooms.
Crowds See the Fight.
The thousands of spectators were
banked forty feet high in the building.
l. IL
To rsfters, and the aisleS around the
ring were lined. The tremendous crowd
sweafed under the glare of 400 arc
lights. Fifteen feet or less from the
canvas Of the squared circle the heat
Was intense The fighters were almost
exhausted. and the spectators shrieked
themselves hoarse.
1t seemed at first as though ii would
be a snort fight, for in the second
round Jeffries put the sailor so the
ropes with 2 left o8 the jaw. and the
referee began TO call off the seconds as
Sharkey kneeled on the floor. But from
the third round on Sharkey. with his
vicious swings TO the ribs and the jaw
kept the crowd on its feet waiting for
a knockout.
Jedries stood the terrific punishment
and. with his eye. nose and ear split,
came back just as X-iciously in the last
three rounds. and almost retrieved
himself Then came the unfortunate
and unsatisfactory ending Jeffries
glove flying OFF. bringing the fight TO an
end. although the crowd urged Sharkey
10 rush in and end il. This he tried To
do but Jeffries fought him back and
Referee Siler rushed to the rescue. 1t
was noticeable that JeffT1es used his
weight 20 it's best advantage. throwing
himself all over the sailor, but the
latter did his share Of the huggiug, too,
and both We're warned repeatedly.
Ten Thousand People.
Ten thousand spectators gathered
around the ringside. Though Coney
Island was swept by a gale. the cars
came down crowded to the guards in
a swiftly moving line. and the sports
waded TO the narrow entrances leading
to the arena.
At $50 there we're 5000 in the build
ing, and later the boxes filled to over
flowing. All manner of men We're
there. and among those we'll known
We're James J. COrbett and John e.. Sui
liVan. former champions; Kid Mccoy,
Peeer Maher Tim Kearns. George
Dixon, Senator Sullivan and Jacob
Schaefer and George SlossOn, Frank
Hutchinson and Parson Davies OF Chi
cago; Gus Ruhlin. Dave Gideon. Mike
Donovan. Chief of Police O Mara of /
Pittsburg. Police Com missioner Sexton,
I'd Delaney nf Salt Lake. Michael
Dwyer and Benny Jacobs of Detroit.
\ preliminary event of ten rounds at
f2S pounds preceded the big event. ana
Kid Guulette Of Rochester, who looked /
a deal like Jeffrias on a small scale, /
was beaten by Tommy Moran of Brook /
I'm.
Then. after half an hours dela-7. (
Tom Sharkev could he seen making his
way through the crowds. He was well I.
recetvec, but Jeffries was cheered to /
th,> 10. Sharlley had on green trunks. /
with az American flag for a belt. and .
the champion Wore black.
Fighters IL the Ring.
Jenries had behind him Billy De- !
lcney. Earnest Roeber, Tommy Ryan /
and his brother. Jack Jeffries. Sharkey !
was led TO the southwest corner by |
Tom G'R0urke and was attended by 1
George Dixon Morris Kell:T and Tim
Mcsrath, O'fourkS experimenting the
entire proceedings. George Siler ref
creed. Jefries weighed 2l2 pounds and |
Sharkey twenty-five pounds less. but /
the latter lcoked TO be in better con-
ditlon, the Californian being callow
ami having staring eyes. and giving
other evidences OF not the best eondi-
ton. The bettin" at the start was 100
to 20 on Jenries.
They shook hands and shaped up
we'll Jeffries led and then landed
,.sveral times. bGt was generally over
Or un.ier On the other hand. the
sailor .sas wild. going into the fight .
With both hands and swinging wildly.
bSt he did NOT land the first blow
Aeain in the second round Sharkey
was Topping around and he came in
'sr a nasty left that rolled him over
Il booked then as though Sharkey was
..safly outclassed. O'Rcurke. however
rave the sailor talking 10. and. to
he am snent OF all, Sharkey swung
N JesfIies' ribs and jaw almost al
viii. and there was wild applause
Sharkey Shows Up Well
AS the fight went along. round by
ound, the sailor fought his way into
he hearts of those who marveled at
Teffries' capacity for punishment. The
californian crouched down low. and
llough his eyes blazed. he smiled, and
generally over at O'Rourke. who was
,oachiny his man over the ropes.
Sharkey's vicious punches began to
ell, and at the close Of the seventh it i