The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-15
JEFF STILL THE CHAMPION.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)

NCLODE ftOh1 FA0E.J
tempt to gain admittance. a hundred
police kept perfect order once the doors
were opened. The pavilion ticket holders
their seats. Not until quite 3 O'clock were
the chairs and boxes full. About the ring
were several celebrities that have graced
every pugilistic encounter during the last
decade. The features of "Parson' Davis
were prominent along with the veteran
referee: George siler; Harry Hoqght9n,
Naughton, authority on boxing matters;
Harry Thaw, the Pittsburg millionaire. and
scores OF lesser lights, over on the south
Jeffries admirers from Los Angeles, the
home of Jeffries. sat in a group.
Bench and bar, Council and supervisors,
in fact, every branch of the executive ad-
ministration was at the ringside. There
| was less trouble in handling the big crowd
than has been experienced on similar occa-
sions. An unusually large force of police
| was on hand, distributed on the outside, at
the doors and throughout the pavilion. A
force of efficient ushers promptly conducted
the ticket holders to their seats.
At 9 o'clock Captain of Police Mooney en-
| tered the ring and had Billy Jordan an
nounce that not until every man holding a
| ticket was seated would the big contest go
on. This announcement was greeted with
cheers, and the few who had not already
found their places were quickly seated.
Two preliminaries. the first a six-round
| draw between Frank Smith, of LIS Angeles.
and Jack Sheridan, of San Rafael, and an
other of like length between Jack Evans
and Jerry Fairbanks kept the big crowd
| interested until the hour of OILS, the time
for the big men TO enter on the scene had
arrived.
FIGHT IN LARGE RING.
The ring looked large compared with the
Enclosures used heretofore in this city. In
pursuance with an understanding with the
big fighters it was made the regulation
twenty-four-foot ring. Heretofore twenty
foot rings have been the rule. 1t was a
--IA.H;alxr O0netaI oFaf. TAa arno
were stretched inside the posts. making it
impossible for injury to result to the con-
t~estants from contact with the uprights.
The floor was solidly constructed and heav-
lily padded. While it was not an ideal ring
for fast footwork it did not seriously i'm
pede the speed of either man. Above the
ring at a height of twelve feet were sus-
pended eight large arc lights, shaded in
such a manner as to throw the greatest
light straight down on the men.
At s o'clock the betting at Harry Corbett's
resort was 2 to i, with considerable Cor
bett money in sight. There was no big
betting on the result, but some good wagers
were placed on rounds. The favorite seemed
to be even money that Corbett would stay
twelve rounds.
that ever gathered in the big pavilion.
| This may be accounted for from the fact
that 1t was a ''high-priced" crowd, the
| seats ranging from IS to $40. There were
many complaints that scaipers had got
hold Of large blocks Of tickets and were
selling them at from Is to 80 per cent. adj
vance. Many people were forced to pay
this advance In order to see the fight, not
withstanding the management of the YCse-
mite Club made strenuous efforts to prevent
just such occurrences. When the first pre-
liminary was ended all eyes were turned
toward the entrance to the dressing rooms
OF the principals TO the big battle. The
crowd became FESTIVE and amused itself
with calls for the two men, for the referee
and other ring celebrities.
THEY ENTER THE RING.
At 9.15 o'clock the crowd rose en- masse
as Champion Jeffries walked down the lone
aisle and vaulted through the ropes. He |
was greeted with great cheers, which were
made to seem insignificant a half minute |
later as Jim Corbett stepped through the
ropes.
Jefries wore black half-length tights.
with a 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 walked |
across to JEFF and shook him cordially by
the hand. Bob wearing pat
ent leather shoes, dark trousers and a neg |
ligee shirt stfoled about the ring without
causing a ripple. Corbett was introduced
first and receI ed a great ovation. Jen
was equally well received a moment later
when he was intro tnced as the champion OF
the world. The s. conds for Jeffries were |
Bob Fitzsimmons, lack Jeffries. Joe Ken |
nedy and Billy Del. ney; for Corbett, Tom |
my Ryan, Sam Betger. Yank Kenny and
: MIesssses were Rid from Jack Monroe |
and Jack johnson challenging the winner.
Corbett then proceeded TO have his hands
wrapped with soft bsallag ses f SIt II s was re-
Jeffries walked over tfnd xamin Cor |
belts bandages at the vussestlon or F1tz- 1
simmons. The two INNS argued good