The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-18

Over on the south side of the arena
more thar 400 JeffrieS admirers from
Los Angeles, the home of Jeffries. sat
in a group. Official San Francisco was
largely represented. Bench, bar,
ell. in fact. every branch Of the city
administration were at the ring side.
At 9 O'Clock Captain of Police
Mooney entered the ring n had Billy
Jordan announce that not until every
7 man holding q ticket was seated would
| the contest go on. This announcement
was greeted with cheers II the few
who had not already found their places
We're quickly seated.
Two preliminaries, the first a six
round draw between Frank Smith, OF
Los Angeles. and Jack Sheridan. of
San Rafael. and another of like length
between Jack Evans and Jerry Fair
banks kept the crowd interested until
the hour of 9:15 p. m. The time for
the big men to enter on the scene had
/ arrived.
| The ring oke large, compared with
the enclosures used heretofore in this
city. In of an understand
ing with the big fighters it was made
the regulation "a feet ring. Hereto
fore 20 feet rings have been the rule.
1t was a splendidly constructed affair.
The ropes were stretched inside the
posts making it impossible for injury
to result to the contestants from ON
tact with the uprights.
At s o'clock the betting at Harry
COrbett's resort was , to 1 with con-
siderable Corbett money in sight.
There was no big betting on the re-
suit, but some good wagers were plac-
ed on rounds.
The favorite seemed to be even mon
ey that Corbert would stay twelve
rounds.
When the first preliminary was ended
all eyes We're turned toward the en-
frances to the dressing rooms of the
principals to the big battle. The crowa
became FESTIVE and amused itself with
: calls for the two men for the referee.
and other ring favorites.
At 9:15 o'clock the crowd rose en-
masse as Champion Jeffries walked
down the long aisle n vaulted
through the ropes.
THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
! Round One-They came to the CEN
ter. Jeffries feinting and COrbett step
ping lively. Jeffries swung left over
Jim's head. Jim came in quickly to
a clinch and they were -ery slow about
breaking. Jeffries put light left to
Jim's ribs n they refused to break.
Jim put right over the heart ana
~clinched. COrbett stayed close in and
! put hard shOr arm right on the bocv.
They were exceedingly careful in the
break. Jeffries forced his man across
! the ring and put left light on the body.
It was noticed that COrbett did very
fast work. but stayed close and put
two rights sOlidlv over the heart. JEFF
fries missed right for the body. but put
ii on the chest lightly. AS they broke
COrbett quickly stepped up and put
right to the heart. Jeffries ~laughingly
remarked. All" the first round indi-
Gated that Jeffries is very fast and
that Corbett did not do any fancy
| work.
Round Two-Jeffries came up quick.
missed left for the head and they came
to a Inch. They would not break.
jim claiming Jeffries was holding. In
the break Jeffries swung left on the
back of the head slightly. COrbett had
failed thus far to land a single left
hand blow. He attempted it at this
stage. but was too close in. Jeffries
forced him to the ropes. coming dan
g~erOusly near the Jaw with a left hook.
They Immediately came into a clinch
in the break OF which Corbett hooked
r. smashing left to the jaw. Corbett
sent in left and right to the body. but
got left hook on the head. Jeffries
came On quickly but COrbett clinched.
| VI bttI sent III d peculiar IISII lltIlu
half uppercut for the jaw. but VS. a
trif1e low. They fought carefully to
the end. COrbett had shown very lit
| tie speed so far while Jeffries showed
Improvement in speed n cleverness.
Round Three-Both came to the CEN
ter. Jeffries missing a left. and COrbett
clinching. Jeffries hooked left to the
neck and Corbett jolted him over the
ribs with short right. COrbett increas-
"a in Spaai Snro1ay-h0+ n nI ha1 +o r,,p
to avoid a rush. He turned quickly
and put right over the heart hard.
There was a lot of clinChing. neither
man taking a chance in the break.
Jeffries barely missed right for Cor
belts jaw. and rOughed him in the
! clinch. There was much hOOting from
the galleries.. Jeffries forced him.
left hook on the jaw. landing three
times. and a left to the stomach. The
blow did not hurt Jeffries and he only
smiled and forced his man about the
ring. 1t was a rough round in which
honOrs We're even.
Round Four-Jeffries vent after Cor
bett, but clever clinching and blocking
prevented damage. Jeffrfes fought haro
in clinches, but Corbett got in too close
TO get any damage. Jeffries swung
hard left TO the chest and got left on
the mouth and right over the heart.
Corbett got in close. jabbing JeffrieS
with left several times. but the blows
were so light that Jeffries laughed and
came back. Corbett slipped to his
knees from a left in the stomach. JEFF
fries came back with another one. but
Corbett blocked ii. Corbett was strong
and ran to his corner at the close.
Round Five-Police Captain Mooney
entered the ring to look at Jeffries
glove. Fitzsirmons and Ryan went TO
Jeffries' corner and cut the gloves off.
Another was Immediately substituted.
but not until thirty seconds of the fifth
$500 u -AzHs.nI InHf.so- EArrrA L.