The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-10
INSIDE HISTORY
! OF GREAT FIGHT
George SiIer Tells Some Inter-
eSting Facts on Famous
Corbett-Fit Bout.
BY GEORGE sILER.


which l officiated was that between Tom
my White and Eddie santry. The battle
took place at LemOnt, H., White winning
with 8 knockout in the seventh round.
There was but little interest manifested
= in the affair and I simply refer TO 1t be
cause Santry, a few years later, defeated
Ben Jordan, the champion featherweight
of England, for the worlds championship
in that class.
If there was any nook or corner in the
English-speaking world in which my
name had not reached during my connec-
ton with the pugilistic game prior to
1897. il was set before them in March,
1891 when I became 4 factor in the heavy
weight championship fight between jim
Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons, which took
place at Carson City New, on March Il
Of that year.
After Dan Stuart had pulled off the
championship fight at Mexico between
FitZsimmOnS and MaheT he dropped back
to his old fad. that of bringing Fitzsim-
mons and COrbett together He had en-
COuntered all sorts Of difficulties IN his
previous attempts in so doing in Texas
and in Arkansas. so to overcome all OBJ
stacles in the way Of interference by state
authorities he liked to Carson City, New,
where he interested a number of the state
officials with the result he had bill
passed in the legislature permitting glove
fights TO finish When the Dill became
law he set about arranging q match be
tween COrbett and Fitzsimmons' and as
Jim had taken a change OF heart regard
ing his TenOunCing of the game, which ne
nell to the cleaners in Jig time, ana Stlu
claimed he was the simon pure champion
Dan experienced but little difficulty In
securing COrbett's signature 10 a set Of
articles Titz like Rgrj<is. was willing
as he was positive he could defeat the
man who five years previously had de-
r feated John l. Sullivan.
Says Fitz Was Champ.
The odd thing about the match was the
- general impression that Fitzsimmons was
going to fight COrbett for the champion
for the honors. The fact that Corbett
had announced his retirement and had
presented the championship 10 Peter Ma
her when the latter knocked out Steve
O'DonnelI and that Fitzsimmons had de-
feated Maher was lost sight Of This was
e because the public did not take COrbeJTs
retirement nor his presentation TO Manner
seriously, especially after he had conClud-
ed to re-enter the ring so when the
match was arranged II was taken Tor
granted Corbett was going to battle to re-
tain his title.
The boot. however, was on the other
foot. all arguments TO the contrary not
.withstandfnE- II will be difficult 10 con-
vince nv readers regarding the champion
ship conditions which existed at the time
but the above statements regarding them
are true, nevertheless. The match was
cfinched and the articles signed on Dec:
IL 1898 with the writer mutually agreed
upon as referee
second week in February, over month
AbefOre the date set for the DaILe, ana
T1vith Billy Woods and Con McNey IN
SLlged IN training stunts az me opera
house Fitz, with his trainers Ernest
Roeber, the wrestler, and Dan Hickey
and his great Dane, Yarrum, arrived on
Feb. % and Immediately went 10 ms
<training quarters at Cooks ranch. On
.sthe same day Corbett betOOk himself TO
Shaw's Springs, where he prepared for
: the battle. reached larson l.-e On me
morning Of Feb is, as war correspond
cent for haif-dozen daily newspapers
. Matters went along smoothly Tor several
days then came the argument regarding
the rules. COrbett wanted what Is now
zcaIled straight rules. which permit Of hit
ting with the free arm and on the break
always. while FitZ was determined the
Marquis OF CueenSbeTry rules as ne knew
them. should prevail. This led 10 a WOrdy
argument, both claiming they were right
and finally concluded I should interpret
the rules.
On March 10 I handed each man 2 copy
of the Queensberry rules, with the fol-
lowing comments and interpretations:
The Rules Interpreted.
s The first three rules need no comment |
as they are plain. simple and understood
{ by almost everybody. Rule T. however |
requires some analysis, as some OF the
points are often miscOnstrued- The rule /
. says: IF either man fall through weak /
ness or otherwise, he must set up, unas-
sisted. ten seconds 10 be allowed him 10
do so, the other man meanwhile 70 re-
turn 10 his corner
This, Of course, was intended TO pre- /
5Vent g man from standing over his fallen /
opponent: il probably did not occur to /
rIhe Trainer OF the rules that at times a /
man either falls or IS knocked down IN his /
opponents corner. IT, then, the man on 4
his feet TetiTes to his corner, es the rules /
direct, he viii be standing over his fallen /
opponent, and doing just what the rules i
mean he shall not do To avoid all dis /
putes on the score. I will simply instruct 4
YOU. in case Of the knOckdOWn, to retire 4
at least ten feet from your fallen oppo- 1
nent, TO give him an opportunity 10 arise. /
Rule Il, which says The contests IN ali 4
other respects to be governed by the re- |
Nised rules TO be governed BY the revised {
rules Of the London prize ring is. ] con
slider, one OF the most important of the i
twelve rules and apps to be the bone /
of contention in almost every contest. 1t \
has been the custom Of referees, myself 4
among them TO inquire Of the principals 4
whether they choose 10 hit IN the clincheS
with the free arm and also on the break
always
Invariably the principals agree not to
hit in clinchess or on breakaWays, but
they generally forget all about their
agreement ana frequently violate II. This
then causes not only the seconds, but the
spectators TO cry foul every time a blow
IS delivered. Il also makes the duties Of
q referee ariuous and disag reea bic, and
keeps him continually in hot water. Fur
thermore. II gives the referee an Oppor-
funity TO decide a contest on g technical
foul, which generally is unsatisfactory to /
every one concerned
Hit in Clinches.
Neither Of you. I am sure, desires TO
win the coming contest on a technical
foul. and to avoid any such contingency /
through hitting in clinches with the free
rnl and la breakaways, ] will rule: That
you be permitted to hit in clinches with
one arn free, and always on the break /
sjways With this Interpretation of this
risle announced a week before the con
teEt you will both have ample time to
pA ctce these important points and Will
haFCe no cause for complaints should