The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12
An Enormous Crowd Witnesses the
Bout and Admires the Clever
F0otwork of the yanquished.
coRBErr oUTpo1NTs JEFFRIEs
But Is OvERMATCHED IN STRENGTH
AND STAYING POWERS.
Interviews with the Princfpals-No In<
fraction of the Rules and a Fair
Contest rhroughout.


SEASIDE CLUB. Coney Island. May H.
In the fastest, prettiest and closest heavy
weight ring battle ever fought in New
York James j. Jeffries has reaffirmed his
right to the championship. In the arena
of the Seaside Sporting Club tonight he
decisively defeated Jim Corbett. once
champion Of the world himself. after twen-
ty-two and two-thirds rounds of scientific
fighting. II was a clean knockout that
came so quickly that IT dazed the thou
sands OF keen, alert, intent spectators and
left them in doubt as to just how the win
ming blow was delivered. 1t was avowed
that It was left-hand jolt TO the jaw. but
Jeffries himself and Referee Charley
White. who stood at his side. say 1t was q
right-hand swing.
There is credit for the victor and credit
for the vanquished in this cleyerest of ring
battles. Jeffries must be awarded the
laurels Of victory. yet his opponent is ems
titled to all honor for his most wonderful
fight. That feature OF the contest standa
out in relief as the most striking one of tho
battle.
Corbett emerged from years retirement
from the ring rejuvenated and fresh. He
was fast and clever as back in the daya
when people marveled at his skill. His
footwork was wonderful and his defense
perfect. He outboxed his man at both
long and short range. and II ne had the
strength necessary would have gained an
early victory. A hundred times he ducked
under left swings that would have ended
him just as did the punch that knocked
him out. At times he made the massive
Jim look like a beginner In the art of Of
fense and defense with the hands. His
strategy was TO jab and get away, and
when Jeffries stood over his quivering form
his face showed the marks OF the punish-
ment that he had Inflicted. Corbett went
down to defeat that was regretted by a
vast majority of the men who filled the
hall. The money was against him, but he
had wealth of sympathy. 1t was prob
ably his natural heritage as the short-end-
er. but before the battle had begun he won
more support by his display OF speed and
skill.
JEFFRIEs WON BY STRENGTH
Jeffries won with his strength both that
strength that lies in the power Of massive
muscle and that strength which is the es-
most of the distance and at the end was
still strong and effective. At first glance
the battle may seem to detract a triaa
from his reputation. fer it showed that q
fast man could reach him and get away
without a return. If that fighter OF the
future happens to be strong and rugged
in addition to fast he will take the honors
Of the man who tonight left the ring ex-
ultant in victory. 1t is improbable that
there was ever a more orderly affair under
the Horton law.
There was order in the assembling ana
handling of the great crowd and order in
the contest. The small army of polics
present was taskless, and the contestants
themselves neither wrangled nor quarrelef
throughout the evening. The crowd gath
cred slowly. Coney island was gloomy
and cheerless under an overhung gray sky.
The fighters. Corbett at Tappan's, sheeps<
head Bay, and Jeffries at vanderveer s.
kept within DOORS At o'clock in the
evening scarcely two thousand persons had
gathered at the arena. They were ali
curious and mostly ticketless. Il was late
before there was color or life in the crowd
The cafes and resorts were the first to fill
and then an aisle OF humanity formed
from Seaside avenue to the arena Th<
opening OF the doors thinned the crowd
bit until recruits came to take vacant
places.
LITTLE BETTING.
There was but little betting on the out.
come of the battle. There had been A
much delay and interference I'm the earlier
stages of the negotiations for the fight. ana
so much doubt credated by the form show.
ing Of the men. that the betting was killed
In the small sums placed Jcffrfes was
clear fayorite at odds of to l. These odd
veered at different times and Different
places during the evening, but TO 2 waf
probably the highest and 5 to the lowest
offered. A favorite bet was that corbctf
would last ten rounds. and the men who
had a true line on the former champion's
condition reaped well for their knowledge
There was decidedly more Jefrries thar
Corbett money offered. but there never wa
at any time any activity I'm the betting
The contestants were slow TO go TO fhs
ring, and fight promised at s:f5 was near
ly an hour late Jeffries came TO the build.
ing first. and there was cheer as. boy.
like. he went bounding down the north aisle
to his dressing room. The crowd was moi
very demonstrative. however. corbett got
in almost unobseryed. Despite the Ions
delay that intervened between the arrival
of the men and their entrance into the ring
the crowd was scarcely restless. IL was
made up OF representative elements OF the
business. professional. theatrical and sport
ing world. and seemed concretely 20 be Dig
nifed and critical IL was only when the
battle itself came that pulses qaickened
and hoarse yells came TO tell Of enthusiasm
for favorite or hope to money wagered.
The reception of the men at the ringside
was warm. but rot demonstrative. The en-
trance was conventional zhs men came