The New York herald., 1921-01-31

Tom Sharkey, on whose manly bosom
is tattooed the model OF full rugged
ship, had many rough voyages on the
sea OF pugilism. and was frequently
washed ashore on the desert island OF
defeat. Once. however. the gallant tar
sailed triumphantly into the champion
ship harbor. hut was not permitted to
land by the port authorities.
To digress from the language OF the
sea. Sharkey won the heavyweight cham
pionship title from Jim Jeffries. but
referee George Siler decided that the
Boilermaker had earned the decision.
much to the amazement Of the crowd
that watched the contest.
sharkey had cut wide swath In the
heavyweight class after settling in New
York. and was regarded as the logical
contender Of Jeffries In a championship
match. TIE Sailor had lost twenty
round decision on points to Jeffries on
the coast. but he had knocked out Gus
Ruhlin In the first round at Coney
Island. won from Jim Corbett in nine
rounds on n foul at the Lenox A. c..
knocked out Kid Mccoy In the tentn
round at the Lenox A. c.. knocked out
Jack Mccormick In two rounds at Phila-
delphia, and thus brought himself into
the limelight as rival of Jeffries. There
fore the match was made. and was set
for November 2. 1899. at the Coney
Island A. c., the contest being scheduled
for twenty-five rounds.
Jeffries had won tho title from Fitz
the preceding June. and naturally was
n warm favorite over the Sailor.
Sharkey trained at New Dorp, Staten
Island and when he entered the ring he
was In the best physical condition OF his
ring career. Jeffries did not show TO
good advantage IN the matter OF ply
steal condition, but his iron Jaw was un-
impaired. and he had not forgotten the
crouch that was taught him by Tom
my Ryan. The fight. which went the
limit OF twenty-five rounds, was one of
the mos. remarkable ever staged at n
club noted for sensational and peculiar
encounters.
sharkey was the aggrcssor from the
FIRST gong TO the last. He did % per
cent. OF the leading, he landed five clean
bblows to one by the champion. and was
on his feet full OF fight when the bell
ended the twenty-hfth round.
Yet George Siler. ono of the most ex-
perienced referees In the game, declared
Jeffries had won.
Siler. for some reason did not announce
his decision IN n manner to acquaint all
the spectators with the ruling. and hum
dreds went away from the club house
under the impression that sharkey had
been crowned.
When Siler's verdict became generally
known there was volume of protest
that was not pleasing 10 the third man
In the ring Sharkey was so obviously
the winner that many were forced 10
the conclusion that siler held to the view
that champion could not lose his title
except by knockout. That idea was
entertained by many of the oldtfmc ref
eroes. who were averse 20 deciding
against champion on points.
The battle itself was akin to one be-
tween bantam rooster and n Shanghai.
Ieffries. who never had an ounce of COM
bativeness In his 220 pounds of bone and
muscle. stood off waiting for his stumpy
yet aggressive opponent to attack.
Sharkey was compelled TO jump up In
the air In order TO reach the face OF the
fsoilermakor. who was head taller than
the Sailor Jeffries. with his left shoul-