The age-herald., 1900-06-27

Seaside Athletic Club, Coney Island, June 26.-For the first time in his pugilistic career Tom Sharkey went down to deci- siye defeat tonight in the historic arena of the Seaside Athletic Club, and big Gus Ruhlin, the Ohio pugilist, was his con queror It was clean knockout after tif- teen rounds of fighting that made mem- orable ring battle. Save in the matter of aggressiveness, Ruhln led from the start, in every feature of the game and at all times had the fight well in hand Sharkey did not give up his place in the line of first class heavyweights without desper- ate struggle. No soldier ever gave more desperate battle, no man sinking to un- consciousness ever clung more determinedly to his vitality. Even at the end, when blinded by the blows of his powerful op- ponent and duled mentally by the batter ing of his foe, he clung instinctively to the massive frame of the man who was his master.
 The decisive battle and unexpected result were truly surprise for the sporting pub lie. No line of form that could be figured gave the Ohioan more than one to two chance Sharkey had met and at least stood off all the leading heavyweights now in the ring. He was known to be giant in strength, courageous to a point beyond dis cretion in aggresSiveneSS. Ruhlin, on the other hand, had never made a particularly good showing after any man of reputation, and was regarded as a second-rater of pronounced type. Hence, there was apa- thy as to the fight, and while there was some spirited betting, Ruhlin never showed better than 10 to ', and it was even money that he could not last ten rounds The management, in fact, decided to put the general admission down to $1. There was a big crowd on hand, however, and they were treated to a rattling good fight with surprising results.
 Sharkey First to Come
 Sharkey was first to come, and it was 10:O6 p. m., when he appeared. The impa- tient crowd gave him fair volley of applause and was not specially enthusias- tic when Ruhlin came in a minute later. Ruhlin showed to great advantage from a spectators view point, when the men stood up together. He had height and weight and reach and looked big and mus cular. His condition seemed powerful and his work as the battle progressed showed that it was. Sharkey was not lacking in the matter of condition, eitkex, and that cannot be urged in explanation or extenua- tion. At 1015 when the men, answering the gong, came to the center, spectators went through the crowd, offering to l on Shakey. At these figures tnere vas heavy play and the talent did the paying.
 As the men spared to opening 1t could be seen that Ruhlin showed ifh- proved foot work and greater cleverness in avoiding punishment. Ability in that respect coupled with his natural advan- tages, gave him a superiority which he never waived.
 He also showed fierce punishing power and it was only Sharkey's superb vitality that kept him from defeat earlier in the battle. He used his right and left with equal facility and made them both count. He rather lacked in aggressiveness and if he had gone in could have finished the bat tie much earlier than he should. He al- lowed Sharkey to make the pace and al though he met him determinedly enough when he came in he did not press all of his advantage He used his reach to an excellent advantage and time and time again stepped in after the chunky Irish man had swung at him and made his blow count
 Sharkey Set the Pace
 Sharkey, with that marvellous aggres- aiusnass which has made and marked his