The Washington times., 1904-02-28

| PHILADELPHIA. Feb 27.-In six
hard, rough rounds. devoid of science
and characterized by sheer brutality
| and awkwardness. Jack Munroe to-
! night wrested from Sailor Tom Shar-
| key the latter's last claim TO heavy
weight championship form.
Under the police regulations here no
| decision can be given by referee in a
boxing contest. Had such been possible
the victory would have had to have
/ been awarded to Munroe. although
Sharkey was a 2-to-l favorite in the
/ betting.
The consensus of critical opinion is
that Munroe was not so extremely good
as Sharkey was superlatively bad. His
showing was almost pitiable provided,
Of course, that he was fighting on the
level. Munroe, while the winner is OBJ
viously not of the timber whereof
! worlds champions are made. He re-
vealed greater cleverness, however.
than even his stanchest admirers ever
had claimed for him.
Jefries on Hand
Big Jim" Jeffries. who was an in
terested spectator of the contest. stated
privately that he would take on Mum
roe. The latter said he would challenge
smearing his face. announced that he
would do so. too. His declaration might
have been a joke. No challenge in
volving either of them and Jeffries was
made publicly.
The fight created almost unprecedent-
ed enthusiasm. and was the biggest
money maker In Philadelphia's history.
with the possible exception OF the recent
Ryan-O' Brien go. The crowd was
frantic with excitement from beginning
to end. Sharkey was badly punished,
showing bad cuts and bruises, while
Munroe was virtually unmarked his
only injury consisting of a slight cut
over the left eye.
Scalpers Held Tickets.
The crowd filed rapidly into the club
house and It was impossible to buy tick
cts. except from scalpers. who got triple
value for them. 1t is estimated that the
receipts amounted TO 81. 900. OF which 80
per cent. or $500. was divided evenly
between Munroe and Sharkey. Shar-
keys manager placed two bets one OF
$500 to $1,000 that Sharkey would win,
and $500 even that he would win on a
knockout.
Harry Pollock. Munroe's manager.
took the short end OF all bets.
Sharkey was 2 to l favorite with the
crowd. the biggest that ever witnessed
a contest in this city. Gus Rubin was
at the ringside to challenge the winner
About the ring were noticed Congress
men from this and surrounding States. |
the mosT conspicuous being Tim" Sui
livan of New York. Prominent profess |
sional men were to be seen everywhere
Crowhurst Referee.
Munroe weighed in at Is6 pounds
The first preliminary was between |
Tom Kelly and Kid McCIaughlin. 1t !
was so tame that II was stopped in the \
second round and the boys were or
dered from the ring by me referee. An |
other bout was substituted.
Bert Crowhurst refereed the main
event
Tom DAILY. Of this city. beat Andy Col
Inns. of Boston. in the second preIimi-
nary. The main event followed.
Sharkey was first 10 enter the ring.
He climbed through the ropes at 10
o clock sharp. He was aJtired IN a gor-
geous bath robe and walked 20 the
southeast corner. His second carried
palm leaf fans. bound with green This
was accepted as token Of good luck"
The applause for the sailor was
1eafening, and ne was forced to bow his
acknowledgements for five minutes be-
fore the tumult subsided. The hall was
packed 90 the doors by this time. and
The big building re-echoed with the din
preceding the battle Photographers
with hashlight apparatus stood ready 70
snap the interesting scenes at the mo-
nent when Munroe climbed through the
ropes.
To prevent recurrence of the sponge
Incident of the Ryan-O Brien fight IL
was agreed that each man was to have
. chief second. Buckley for Sharkey and ,
Harry Pollock for Munroe.
q was agreed that any acknowledge ,
nent of defeat before the sixth round
lad been finished any throwing OF ,
sponge or towel into the ring. must be |
oliowed by the chief second climbing
Dver the ropes
munroe Enters Ring.
Munroe entera1 ,ho. II 49,. ,o-o1