The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-04
The Sailor Almost Out in the Second
Round, but After that He Was
.In 1t" All the Time.
TOM O'ROURKE NOT SATISFIED
SAYS SHARKEY OUGHT TO HAVE
BEEN GIVEN THE DECISION.
Latter Cries Like a ChiId-Two OF HIS
Ribs Broken-Too Much Light and
Heat-A Dig Crowd.

NEW YORK, Nov. s-James J. Jeffries
retains the championship Of the world.
Referee George Siler giving him the de-
cision at the end of the twenty-ffth round.
over Sailor Thomas Sharkey, at the Coney
Island Sporting Club tonight. 1t was one
of the most marvellous battles that has
taken place, and the greatest 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 fight-in the first two and In the last
three. During the other twenty Sharkey
forced the issue and, IKE a bull terrier,
was at his man with both hands unceas-
ingly. In those twenty rounds Jeffries's
great weight and Drawn helped him to hold
off the sailor and in the twenty-second
round he swung in a couple or vicious up
percuts that made Sharkey groggy- Tom
came back again i'm the twenty-fourth and
twenty-fifth. but was weakened greatly by
Jeffries's vicious blows. One minute before
the gong sounded 10 end the fight Jeffries's
left glove came off and practically the contest
was over. The referee motioned to Jeffries's
corner; an American flag was flung around
the champions shoulders and the crowd on
that side and end of the arena cheered Wild
v.
in Sharkey's corner, yelled for Sharkey,
and the men were led back to their dress
ing rooms.
The thousands OF spectators were banked
forty feet high in the building, the place
being packed from ringside to rafters and
the aisles around the ring were lined. The
tremendous crowd sweated under the glare
of four hundred arc lights fifteen feet or
less from the canvas OF the squared circle.
The heat was intense. The fighters were all
most exhausted and the spectators shrieked
themselves hoarse
1t seemed at first as though II would be
short fight, for In the second round Jeff-
ries put the sailor 20 the ropes with a left
on the jaw and the referee began 10 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
law kept the crowd on its feet waiting for
knock out.
UNSATISFACTORY ENDING.
Jeffries stood the terrific punishment. and
with his eye, nose and ear split, came back
just as viciously in the last three rounds
and almost retrieved himself. Then came
the unfortunate and unsatisfactory ending.
Jeffries's glove flying off. bringing the fight
to an end. although the crowd urged
to do, but Jeffries fought him back and
Referee Siler rushed to the rescue. IL was
noticeable that Jeffries used his weight to
its best advantage. throwing himself all
| over the sailor, but the latter did his share
OF the hugging too, and both were warned
repeatedly.
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
| lire and the sports waded TO the narrow
| entrances leading to the arena. At $50 there
were five thousand in the building and later
| the boxes filled 10 overflowing. All manner
| of men were there, and among those well
| known were James ]. Corbett and John l..
| Sullivan. former champions. Kid Mccoy,
| Peter Maher. Tim Kearns. George Dixon,
| Tim Sullivan and Assemblyman Tim p. Sui
livan, Jacob Schaefer and George Slosson,
Frank Hutchinson and "Parson'' Davies. OF
| Chicago. Gus Rubin, Dave Gideon. Mike
Donovan, Chief Of Police o'Mara. OF Pitts
burg Police Commissioner Sexton. Ed De-
| laney, Of Salt Lake City. Assemblyman
Hamburger. register from Maine. Michael
Dwyer and Benny Jacobs. of Detroit
A preliminary event OF ten rounds at rs
pounds preceded the big event and Kid
|
/ deal like Jeffries on a small scale was
beaten by Tommy Moran. OF Brooklyn.
Then, after half an hours delay Tom
| Sharkey could be seen making his way
| through the crowds. He was well received.
but Jeffries was cheered 10 the echo. Sharkey
had on green trunks with an American
| flag for belt, and the champion wore
black. Jeffries had behind him Billy De-
laney. Ernest Roeber Tommy Ryan and
his brother. Jack Jeffries. Sharkey was led
10 the southwest corner by Tom ORourke.
and was attended by George Dixon. Morris
Kelly and Tim McGrath. o'ROurke superin-
tending the entire proceedings. George siler
| refereed
| 100 TO 20 ON JEFFRIES.
| Jeffries weighed 2l2 pounds and Sharkey
/ twenty-five pounds less. but the latter
| looked TO be in better condition. the Cali
fornian being sallow and having staring
eyes. and giving other evidences OF not be-
ing in the best condition. The betting at the
start was 100 TO 20 on Jeffries
They shook hands and shaped up veu