The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-19
THE JEFFRlES- RUHLIN FIGHl.

The Fight Lasts for Only Five Rounds.
Ruhlin's Second Then Announces the
Withdrawal OF His Man-In Only One
hound Did JefrrIes Get the Worst OF
Tt-Ruhlin Claims He Was Injured In
the Second Round and n~capacftated
He Charges Jefries With Under
FIghtinG-The Immense Crowd Dis
eusted Receipts Forty Thousand
Dollars
San Francisco, November 15.-Before
an assemblage of 10000 people at the
Mechanics pavilion, which has been
the scene OF many bitter and important
struggles in the past, James j. Jeffries
Of Los Angeles, Cal, met Gus Rubin,
the Akron Giant tonight and fought
for the title Jeffries has held since his
memorable battle with F1tzsimmons.
Early in the afternoon a long line Of
anxious men assembled in front of the
pavilion n held a wearied vigil in a
drizzling rain until nightfaI, when the
sale Of gallery seats was open.
Never in the history Of San Francisco
has there been such a crush Of hui
manity at a pugilistic event. The great
pavilion began to fill at shutdown with
the enthusiastic crowds gathered to
witness the contest. Thousands poured
into the gallery when the doors were
opened and long before the first pre-
liminary was called the upper portion
OF h pavilion was black with specta-
tors People from all points between
Vancouver and Mexico and embracing
well known state officials. members of
men, took possession Of the high priced
seats early.
AT S:15 o'clock a stir at the east end
OF the pavilion indicated that one of the
principals had arrived and was proceed
ing to his dressing room. The word
was soon passed hat Rubin had
reached the scene or combat from
Blanken's Six Mile house and an up
roar nsued Rubin went at once to
his dressing room, accompanied by Billy
Madden, Denver Ed. Martin, Charlie
Golf and Young Gibbs, who later ap-
peared in his corner when the fight
was called.
A rumor emanating from Oakland
seized the crowd earIT in the evening
to the effect that Jeffries had suffered
an injury to one of mis- hands before
starting for San Francisco, but popular
sentiment condemned the story as a
canard and the betting at the ringside
was not affected by the incident. =
Mayor James D. Phelan, Mayor-elect
Schmitz and almost the entire bench
of the county of San Francisco were
early at the ringside. Billy Jordan, the
veteran was early on the
scene. When the preliminaries were
announced and the first fight brought
son those assembled betrayed in some
part the extent of their excitement and
,cheered v~ociferously although the cur
tain raisers were unimportant.
Jeffries, accompanied by Billy De-
laney, Bob Armstrong, Kid Eagan. his
brother Jack and Dewitt Vancourt. left
Oakland at 7:30 o'clock reaching San
Francisco shortly after s o'clock.
The champion entered the building
when the first preliminary was in prog
ress, n as Captain Whitman. in
charge of the police detail, cleared the
way, proceeded to his dressing room
while the throng that entered the build
ing made a demonstration.
In great impatience the crowd waited
for the appearance of the two gladfa-
tors, taking but a passive interest in
sthe eight-round bout between Billy
Condor and Mike Curtin. and in the
u between Joe Fields and
Spider" Joe Welcsa. The second pre-
liminary between Fields and WEIGH,
another Ground affair was announced.
The first preliminary was declared a
draw.
Fhe police put some of the spectators
out of the gallery, It being much over
crowded. At 9 o'clock people were
turned away from thesdoors and prob
ably the greatest assemblage of people
ever gathered to witness a prize fight
was packed within.
THE BETTING.
At.s:15 p. m.-The betting at the ring
side s1eadied down just before the bis
struggle, to odds of 2 to ]. although
there were bursts Of enthusiasm from
either side in which longer odds were
offered. Ed. Kelly, the Chicago book
maker, had $1,000 which he sought to
place at SO to $4k. Of this sum LOCO
was covesed by the Ruhlinf1es. Aside
from his the betting was common
place.
When the second preliminary had
been concluded. resulting in n victory
of Spider Joe Welch over Joe Fields III
four rounds, a corps Of workmen
bounced into the ring, climbing ladders
and taking other positions abosk the
myriad of electric lights ranged along
the border of a canopy above. Inc
operator az the kaleidoscope Machine
adjusted his instruments and a flash OF