The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-15
10 Jeff stood straight UP and came after l
BEFORE THE ZIG FIGHT.
Largest Crowd Ever Assembled at a
Rinpside in This Country.

San Francisco Aug 14.-Tcn thousand
men were seated around the arena at
Mechanics pavilion at O'Clock tonight,
representing an expenditure for seating
9ccOmmOdat toms OF $1,000 This IS the
largest crowd that ever assembled at
ringside in this country and the third
largest sum in dollars and cents ever con-
tested for. The two that exceeded II in
receipts were the Corbett-Jeffries fight at
COney Island. $4,000. and the Corbett-
Mccoy fight at Madison Square Garden.
New York $4,000.
The scene about the big pavilion from
p. m until the men stepped into the ring
was one Of confusion. The gallery ticket
holders formed in line on Hayes. Larl1in
and Grove streets in three long rows. and
although there was a lot of crowding and
many sCrimmages in the attempt to get
in first a hundred police kept perfect
order once the doors were opened. The
privileged ticket holders we're more lels-
urely taking their seats Not until quite
o'clock were the chairs, boxes ana
benches full.
About the ring were many celebrities
that have graccd every pugillsuc en-
counter during the last decade. The
asCetiC features OF "ParsOn' Davies were
prominent along with the veteran referee,
George Siler; Sandy GriswOld OF Omaha.
Harry HOuhtOn. the fistic promoter of St
Louis: w. w. Naughton. an authority on
boxing matters; Harry Thaw, the Pitts
burg millionaire, and scores of lesser
lights. over on the south side OF the
arena more than 400 JeffTies admirers
from Los. Angeles. the home of Jeffries.
d
cisco was largely represented. Bench and
bar and in fact. every branch of the
executive administration were at the ring
side.
Good Natured Crowd.
There was less trouble in handling the
big crowd than has been experienced on
similar occasions. An unusually large
force Of police was on hand. distributed
on the outside. at the doors, and through
out the house. A force Of efficient ushers
PROMPTLY conducted the ticket holders to
Al O'Clock Captain Of Police Mooney
entered the ring and had Billy Jordan
announce that not until every man hold
ing a ticket was seated would the Dig
contest go on Ihis announeenen mt VS.
had not already found their places were
Two preliminaries the first a six-round
draw between Frank Smith OF Los An
geles and Jack Sheridan Of san Rafael.
and another Of like length between Jack
Evans and Jerry Fairbanks kept the big
crowd interested until the hour Of S:l9.
tho tine for the big men TO enter on the
Sc"rr. had "a rived.
The ring looked large compared with
thu enclosures used heretofore in this
city. In PURSUANCE with an understand
in,s with tho big fighters il was made the
r. gull: ton twcnty-four-fOot ring. Here
trforc twentysfoot rings have been the
II was spIendidIv constructed affair
'Ehc ropes wee stretched inside the posts.
ftl1 KING II ilNNOrclNit lot INJURY 10 result
n thu CnutCstInts from contact with the
uprights The floor was a sOlidly con-
structed floor heavily and tightly padded.
While Il was not an ideal ring for fast
footwork II did not seriously impede the
speed Of either man. Above the ring at
the height Of twelve feet were suspended
eight large arc lights shaded in such a
manner as 20 throw the greatest light
straight down on the men,
At o'clock the betting at Harry Cor
belts resort was 2 90 ]. with considerable
CDrbett money In sight. There was no
big betting on the result but sCme good
wagers were placed on rounds. The
favorite seemed to he even money thar
Corbett would stay twelve rounds.
Seats Come High.
II was one OF the most orderly crowds
that ever gathered in the big pavilion.
This mey be accounted for from the fact
that 4 was a "high-priced" crowd the
price ranging from s. to so There We're
many complaints that scaipers had got
hold Of large blocks Of tickets and vert
selling them at from % TO 80 per cent al
vance. Many persons were forced to pay
these advances in order 70 see the fight.
Notwithstanding the management of the
Yosemite club claims II made strenuous
efforts TO prevent juSt such occurrences.
When the second preliminary ended in
a knockout. Fairbanks going down from
right on the Jaw. all eyes were turned
toward the Entrances 10 the dressing
rooms Of the principals OF the big battle.