The Washington herald., 1908-03-15

eould..t say word for several minutes.
Then he walked to the footlights and ex-
claimed:
'Lsdies and gentlemen: call this a
grand draw Cusack burst into more
merriment as he made this announce
ment, and in so doing he Quilted the
panic stricken musicians. women and
children
Fftzpatrick's Hard Task.
John Fitzpatrick. who afterward be-
came the mayor of New Orleans. acted
as referee of the seventy-six-round bat
tie between John L. Sullivan and Jake
KilraiE at Richburg. Miss in 1885. This
was the last bare-knuckle championship
tight held under the old London rules
on turf. and Fitzpatrick said his task
was the hardest he ever tackled, as he
was forced TO stand In the broiling sun
with the thermometer registering 115 in
the shade.
Prof. John Duffy. an old New Or
leans boxer. was another notable referee
who. in his career, decided many of the
most important championship battles.
During the memorable fstic carnival at
the Olympic Athletic Club at the Crescent
City. in 1892. Duffy refereed the Sullivan
COrbett, McAulifTe-Myer. and DiNOn-Skel-
~ championship mills, DUFFY also pre-
sided over the first fight between Peter
Maher and Bob FitZsimmons. held at New
Orleans in 1892.
He handled Hall and Fitzsimmons in
the ring when they met the following
year. together with the Fitz-Dan Creedon
contest in 1894.
Under the old Horton boxing law. New
York was a magnet for referees, who
We're paid well for their services. Among
them were Charley White. Johnny White
Roche. Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll. Honest
John Kelly. p. J. Donahue, George Siler,
Billy Madden, and others
Among the old-time referees who have
passed away We're Frank Stevenson,
Charley Johnston. Ned James. Joe Elliott,
Frank Quenn, Harry Hill Jere Dunn.
Billy Tracey. Ed Price. James COlville.
Jimmy Paterson. Tom Gould. and Mike
Mcdonald. of Chicago.
JeTrIeS as Referee.
James J. Jeffries. though at present in
retirement as a pugiiist. is stin willing 10
hire out his services as referee. and ne
demands a fee of $1,000 for officiating. He
is competent. fearless. and honest and
has given entire satisfaction in each in
stance.
a London sporting paper recently criu-
cised some moving pictures OF a fight be-
tween two little feather-weights. with the
gigantic Jeffries. as referee. continually
pulling the boys apart when clinched.
The paper went on to state that the
ponderous referee spoiled the photographs
by overshadowing the boxers and also
keeping them out Of view. And this seems
to be true, for a big man like Jeff should
not be selected to judge a fight between
such small fellows as Nelson and Britt.
For that matter. ring experts contend
that il would be better If the referee KEEP
out OF the ring altogether as is the Gus
tom in England and Australia, and was
also the arrangement in this country il
the good old days.
Aside from Jeffries, the best-known ref
erees OF the present time are Jack Welcl
and Billy Roche, OF California: MALACHI
Hogan. OF Chicago; Tim Hurst. OF Ash.
land. Pa; Jack MeGuigan. Billy Recap
Tommy keenan,, Lou Durlacher. Lev
Bailey. and Bert Crowhurst. Of Philadel
phia Jack Sheehan. OF Boston, and Char
/ ley White. OF New York.
! George Siler, of Chicago, now retired
was considered one OF the best ring Judge
/ In the world when he refereed the Cor
/ bett-Fitzsimmons fight AT Carson City, tn
/ Jeffries-Sharkey fight at COney Island
and other important battles. Siler in hi
! time acted as referee in probably 500 rinl
contests and was never charged with dis
honest methods.