The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-04

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 tonight.
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 fight-in the first two and the
last three. During the other 20 Shar-
Key forced the issue and, like a bull
terrier, was at his man with both
hands. In these 20 rounds Jeffries'
great weight and Drawn helped him to
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 Oath and
25th, but he was weakened greatly by
Jeffries' vicious blows. One minute be-
fore the gong sounded to end the fight
Jeffres left glove came off and Arac-
tically the contest was over.
The referee motioned to Jeffries cor
ner. 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 Sharkey s
| corner, yelled for Sharkey, and the
men were led back to their dressing
rooms.
The thousands of spectators were
banked 40 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 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 it would be a short fight,
for in the second round Jeffries put the
sailor to the ropes with a left on the
jaw and the referee began to call off
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 knockout.
Terrific Punches.
Jeffries stood the terrific punches,
and with his eye, nose and ear split,
came back just as vicious in the last
three rounds and almost retrieved him
self. Then came the unfortunate and
unsatisfactory ending, Jeffries glove
flying off, bringing the fight to an end
although the crowd urged Sharkey to
rush in and end it. This he tried to
do, but Jeffries fought him back and
Referee Siler rushed to the rescue. It
was noticeable that Jeffries used his
weight to it's best advantage. throwing
himself all over the sailor but the lat
ter 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 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 $3.50 there were 5000 in the building
and later the boxes filled to overflow
ing. All manner of men were there,
and among those well known We're
James j. Corbett and John l.. Sullivan;
former champions; Kid Mccoy, Peter
Maher, Tim Kearns, George Dixon,
Senator Sullivan and Jacob schaeffer
and George Slosson, Frank Hutchinson
and Parson Davies of Chicago; Gus
Rubin, Dave Gideon, Mike Donovan,
chief of Police O'Mara of Pittsburg;
Police Commissioner Sexton, Ed Delan-
ey of Salt Lake, Mike Dwyer and Benny
Jacobs of Detroit
A preliminary event of 10 rounds at 1928
pounds preceded the big event, and Kid
Goulette Of Rochester, who looked a
deai IKE Jeffries on a small scale, was
beaten by Tommy Moran of Brooklyn.
Rivals Cheered.
Then, after half an hours delay, Tom
Sharkey could be seen making his way
through the crowds. He was well re-
ceiVed, but Jeffries was cheered to the
echo. Sharkey had on green trunks
with an American flag for a belt and
the champion wore black.
Jefries had behind him Billy Delaney
Pnahar
brother. Jack Jeffries. Sharkey was led
to the southwest corner by Tom
0'Rourke. and was attended by George
Dixon. Norris Kelley and Tim Nc
Grath, OF 2ourke experimenting the en-
tire proceedins. George Siler refereed
Jeffries weighed 212 pounds and Shar.
key 25 pounds less, but the latter look
ed to be in better condition, the Califor-
nian being sallow and having staring
eyes, and giving other evidence of not
being in the best condition. The bet
ting on at the start was 800 to $40 on
Jeffries They shook hands and shap-
ed up we'll. Jeffries led and then land
ed several times. but was generally
over confident. On the other hand the
sailor was wild. going into the fight
with both hands swinging wildly, but
he did not land the first blow.
Again in the second round Sharkey
was Hopping around and he came in for
nasty left that rolled him over. 1t
looked then as though Sharkey was
clearly outclassed. O'Rourke, however
gave the sailor talking to, and to the
amazement of all, Sharkey swung on
Jeffries' ribs and jaw almost at will and
there was wild applause. AS the fight
went along round by round the sailor
fought his way into the hearts of those
who marveled at Jeffries' capacity for
punishment. The Californian crouched
down low and though his eyes blaze6,
he smiled at O'Rourke, who was coach
ing his man over the ropes. Sharkey's
vicious punches began to tell, and ut
the close of the seventh it seemed as
though Jeffries could hardly walk to
MS corner and it seemed certain there
would be new champion. Sharkey's
ear was split in the eighth and it made
him like bull. He rushed, swinging