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Rare print of Wyatt Earp... much on his life...
Rare print of Wyatt Earp... much on his life...
Item # 597187
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December 05, 1896
THE EVENING NEWS, Detroit, Michigan, Dec. 5, 1896
* Wyatt Earp as a boxing referee
* Very rare print of him
Although the name Wyatt Earp is intimately associated with Tombstone & the Wild West, few are aware of his life after Arizona. In the 1890's he was a boxing referee, and one bout which he officiated is given due attention by Wikipedia: "On December 2, 1896, Earp refereed a heavyweight boxing match in San Francisco between Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey. He had refereed 30 or so matches in earlier days, though not under the Marquis of Queensbury rules. Fitzsimmons was favored to win, and bets flowed heavily his way. Wyatt entered the ring still armed with his Colt .45 and had to be disarmed. He later said he forgot he was wearing it. Fitzsimmons carried the fight until the eighth round when Wyatt stopped the bout on a foul, ruling that Fitzsimmons had hit Sharkey when he was down. His ruling was greeted with loud boos and catcalls. Earp based his decision on the Marquis of Queensbury rules, which state in part, "A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes." Very few witnessed the foul Earp ruled on. He awarded the decision to Sharkey, who attendants carried out as "...limp as a rag."
Fitzsimmons obtained an injunction against distributing the prize money until the courts could determine who the rightful winner was. The judge ruled that prize fighting was illegal in San Francisco and the courts would not determine who the real winner was. The decision provided no vindication for Earp and he soon left San Francisco for good. The San Francisco papers lampooned and scrutinized Wyatt for a full month, questioning his honesty. The San Francisco Call vilified him, calling him a crook and a cheat. Earp was accused of having a financial interest in the outcome. Earp was also accused of pulling a gun on Fitzsimmons when confronted."
This issue deals with that boxing match, but more significantly is includes a very rare print of him, being two columns wide and headed: "Referee Wyatt Earp". The article has heads: "BADMAN EARP" "History of the Fiz-Sharkey Referee" "Has Ten Murders Upon His Soul" "Thrilling Accounts of a Few of His Battles" "The Doings of His Brothers and Sister" which has much on his life in Tombstone (see).
Eight pages, mostly loose at the spine, some minor margin tears but generally in nice condition. Very fragile so it must be handled carefully.
Category: Post-Civil War
No Longer Available
