The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-30
THE ASHLEY BELT.

THE ACTION OF THE TRUSTEES A SURPRISE TO
AMERICAN PEDEsTRIANs-wILL IT HOLD?-
oLEARY AND HARTMAN READY TO BEGIN.
The intelligence that the trustees of the Ashley belt
have decided that the coming competition for its pos
session must take place in the first week in March,
and in New York city. has taken by surprise the
friends of Mr.. OLeary and the other American pedes
TRANS who have intended to take part in the contest
The understanding Of the conditions on which the
belt be held seems this side OF the Atlantic,
to be different from that on the other. Mr.. OLeary
time ago said that he expected to walk for the
Ashley belt in May and until few days ago neither
he nor any of his friends had had the least ntima-
ton of any other views being entertained by the
trustees or by the challengcrs. II would seem now
that Sir j. d. Ashley is piqued against OLeary. and
having backed Rowell to walk with him proposes
time and place for the trial shall be such
may best suit himself.
HorISG roR AN ADVANTAGE.
The AGENT of O'Lcary said yesterday that he be-
lieved the English asprants for the belt thought
their best policy would DO to hurry up the match,
because they have gained impression that OLeasy
is out form and cannot walk to advantage short
notice. Ell this is the case, said he. "they arc much
mistaken OLeary is all right. Ho has all along
intended to mske this his best He has acted
from the first in spirit of the utmost fairness.
Springs. He docs not consider the course taken by
the trustees fair II in certainly arbitrary but u
they stick to itit will probably hold. He is not GO
ing lose the belt account oi any techncality.
Dy the rules. as they were understood by him. he
has unit the 2Jd of Juue to hold the belt but must
give notice one month before the time when IL may
be contested. He will have something to say about
this injustice. Public opinion will be strongly
against 1t.
NO TRACK IN NEW YORK.
.What right has this liowe to say that the
match shall take place in New York What does no
know about New York ! There only two places
here which suitable for pedestrian match. The
rink at sixtyhird street is already engaged and the
Harlem Railroad Company asks such an cxorbitznt
rent tor Gilmore Gar,lcn that do not think Lesry
will consent 10 90 there. In Chicago, where he
thought of going there IL the best building in the
country for such purpose, and IL can always bc had
tor fifteen per cent oi the gate money.
Elf the decision of the trustees il to be regarded, all
Americans who have not yet covered the stake have
now only Ave days in which TO forward their money
to London. Hartman sent his today through Bel
mont, the banker. tclcafaphcd to Hartman at
Boston; Ennis In Canada. where he is supposed to
DO attending skating match and TO Guyon ai Chi
cage. We want 70 give tEom all a chance To par
ticiatc. II Ennis IL found las is to put up his
stake. l think truyon will do 80. too. O'Lcary's
money. you know. has been deposited more than
three months. There is another sing uar point about
this news and that is the tact that Blower Brown
has been permitted to withdraw his deposit. VINO
ever heard of man receiving back forfeit without
the consent OF the opposing partyg People over
here can't understand this"
"OLeary will be at no disadvantage, then. if the
match takes place In March y asked the reporter.
.'No his last instructions TO :---1 am ready
to walk at two days notice. Touch the wires when
YOU want me, and / will come do not believe,
however, that this match will be walked in March,"