The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-15
The End of it All.
TEN THOUSAND SEE FIGHT.
Largest Crowd That Ever Witnessed ' 6 Contest.

Largest Crowd That Ever Witnessed T Contest.
 San Francisco, Aug. H.-Ten thousand
 men were seated about the arena in Me- chanics' Pavilion at g o'clock tonight. representing an expenditure for seating accommodations aggregating $54,00o. Thmis Is the largest crowd that ever as- sembled at a ringside- in this country and the third largest sum in dollars and cents ever contested for. The two that exceeded it in receipts were the Corbett- Jeffrtes fight at Coney Island. $66,000, and the Corbett-McCoy fight at Madison Square Garden. New York. $6s,000.
 The scene about the big pavilion from 5 p. m. until the men stepped into the ring was one of confusion. The gallery ticket holders formed in line on Hays, Larkin and Grove streets in three large rows and although there was lot of crowding and scrimmages in the attempt to gain admittance. hundred policemen kept perfect order once the doors were opened. The pavilion ticket holders were more leisurelya about coming to claim their seats. Not until quite 9 o'clock were the chairs. boxes and benches full.
 About the ring were many celebrities that have graced every puglistic encoun- ter during the last decade. The ascetic Features of "Parson'' Davies were proini- nent along with the veteran referee, George Siler, Sandy Griswold of Omaha, Harry Hougnton, the fistic promoter of St. Louis; w. W. Naughton, an author :ty on boxing matters; Harry Thaw, the Pittsburg millionaire, and scores of lesser lights Over on the sout hside of the arena more than 400 Jeffries admirers from Los Angeles, the home of Jeffries. sat in a group. Oficial San Francisco was largely represented. Bench and bar, council and supervisors. in fact, every branch of the executive administration were at the ringside.
 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 tn pavilion. A force of efficient ush- CTS prmptly conducted the ticket holders to thei rseats. At g o'clock Captain of Police Mooney entered the ring and had Bill Jordan announce that not until every man holding 8 ticket was seated would the big contest go on.
 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 crowd interested until the hour of 9:l5, the time for the big men to enter on the scene had arrived.
 The ring looked large, compared with the enclosures used heretofore in this
 city. In pursuance with an understanding
 with the big fighters. 1t was made the regulation A foot ring. Heretofore 20 foot rings have been the rule. It was splen- didly constructed affair.". The ropes were stretched inside the posts, making 1t im- possible for injury to result to the con- testants from contact with the uprights. The floor was solidly constructed and
 heavily padded. While 1t was not an idea,
 ring for fast foot work, it did nOr seri-
 ously impede the speed of either man.
 Above the ring at height of F feet were | suspended eight large arc lights, shaded in such manner as to throw the greater | light straight down on the men.
 At o'clock the betting at Harry Co., l bett's resort was ? to 1, with considerable Corbett money in sight. There was no betting on the result, but some good wag- CTS were placed on rounds. The favorite ! seemed to be even money that Corbett | would stay F rounds.
 When the first preliminary was ended all eyes were turned toward the entrance | to the dressing rooms of the principals to the big battle.
 At 9:15 o'clock the crowd rose en masse
 as Champion Jeffries walked down the long aisles and vaulted through the ropes. | He was greeted with great cheers which
 were made to seem insignificant a half | minute later when Corhett stepped
 through the ropes.
 Jeffries wore black half-Iength tights with belt made of the American flag. | He wore no bandages. Corbett had on a
 long flannel dressing gown. He too. had | no bandages on his hands. Corbett walk ed across to Jeffries and shook him cor | dially by the hand. Bob Fitzsimmons 1 strolled about the ring without causing 6 l ripple. Corbett was introduced first and
 received a great ovation. JeffrieS waa | equally received a moment later. The seconds: For Jeffries, Bob FitzSl nmons,
 Jack Jeffries. JcA Kennedy and Billy De-
 laney. For Corbett. Tommy Ryan. Sam | Berger, Tank Kenney and Pop Dare. Corbett then proceeded to have his
 hands wrapped with soft banuages. Jee- | fries did not follow suit.
 Jeffries went over and examined Cor betts bandages at the suggestion of Fitzsimmons. The two Jims argued good l naturedly over the material used, Corbett taking a piece and showing it was soft
 and pliable. Jeffries nodded assent and | walked back to his corner. Jeffries took
 the southeast and Corbett the northwest corner. As they were donning the gloves
 they presented a striking contrast of form. Jeffries. big, muscular. stolid and dark as an Indian, was a striking contrast with the 1.-the, trim built Corbett, with
 flesh as soomth and firm as Parlan
 marble. Corbett seemed a trlfie pale,
 but entirely self-composed. The men
 lined up for a photograph in fighting atti- tude.
 The preliminary arrangements and cere-
 monies were soon over. Jeffries removed
 the American flag from his waist and
 Billy Delaney put 1t in his pocket. Jeff
 fries listened to Fitzsimmons's advice
 while Tommy Ryan filled a similar role