The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-04
DISTURBED BY THE POLICE
Siddons and Miller Fail to Get Into a
Ring Because of Official Interference.
Hundreds of Sporting Fraternity aud Others
Who Like to See a Fight on the Sly
Have Their Trouble for Nothing.

1t had been known to q trusted few of the
arrangements were being made for a fight to the
finish, in or near the city, by Tom Miller. of
Omaha, Neb., and George Siddons. Of St. Paul.
Mion., both feather weights, and both asking
for the feather-weight championship Of
America. Five weeks ago the two
pugilists came to indianapolis, and have since
been in training. During the past two weeks
all the arrangements for the fight were COM
pleted, and those whom it was thought could be
trusted were informed that the contest would
take place in Hofman's grove, near Bsoad
Ripple, last night. The sports wefo
highly elated to think that such potable pugi-
lists were to be within easy reach, and the
hackers OF the men had no trouble in selling
about three hundred tickets. Although so many
were taken into the secret. it was
believed ali along that the police were in utter
ignorance of what was going on. The reputa-
ton of the fighters made it easy to sell tickets.
and the hackers say they could have sold 1000
if they had been 80 disposed.
Tom Miller, perhaps the most notable man of
the two, began fighting in 1855. Since then he
q - cOhu -latoucfs III q IEaASASSos IA
May, 1885; Prof. Scott. of St. Louis, at Du-
buque, Ia. in June. 1885, Sidney Draper. at
Shellburgb, Wis. in August, 1885, Jack Nc
Guern, in Detroit, in September, 1856; John
La Mountain, in Omaha, in March, 1887; Tom
Burk, in Omaha. February, 1888, and The Weir,
know as "a tho Belfast Spider on June %,
this year. He won all OF these fights but the
one with Weir. and came near knocking him
out. Miller is twenty-six years Of age, was
nine years a sailor, and fights at lis pounds.
George Siddons has not been in SO many fights
but has been equally as successful as Miller.
His first fight was with Ed Hurley. in st. Paul.
over u year ago, and since that time he has
fought Chas- Houks, Bart Shea, z. Murphy.
Robert Robinson, and tho ''Belfast Spider
His fight with the Spider occurred
at St Paul but a short time ago,
and resulted 10 his breaking Weir's Jaw. He,
too, fights ut lis pounds, and is but twenty
years OF age. Both mon were in excellent trim
for a fight, having by their training mere each
reduced their weight to 1lS pounds.
Darkness had hardly settled over the city last
night when nearly every livery stable in the
city began to turn ont its buRgies and carriages.
In order. as was thought. to keep the police in
Ignorance those holding tickets did not go out
together, bat started from various
parts of the city. From 7:30
o'clock until 0 o'clock there was a stream of
buggies and carriages along the road 10 the Zip
pie. The though" element was but little rep
resented in those who went out, many being
prominent pushes men and holding
positions Of trust and honor. AZ
the Ripple an emissary OK the hackers
met the Corners and piloted them to the grove. q
half mile up the river, where the fight was 10
occur. There a large dancing-hali had been en-
in the center a regulation ring was
arranged. The spot 10 q lonely oue, snd was Sc
lected by the managers mainly on account OF
the peculiar advantages it offered .or escape
in case the police should make
The Enclosure is situated on the bank of the
river, and near at hand was a fotilla of seven
teen row boats to be used if necessary to fee
from the officers.
BY $50 o'clock there were about 800 persons
present, and final preparations for the fight were
then made. The backers of the fighters
were congratulating themselves on how they
had fooled the police. and the rest
were chucklinc over what sport they were soon
to see. A few minutes before 10 o'clock the
men were told to prepare. and the referees be-
gan to sprinkle wax upon the floor or the
rine. just then, when the excitement was
at its pitch, those present almost had
their breath taken from them, bv Captain Col
bert and Sergeants Dawson and Quicley, and a
patrolman Of tho Metropolitan police, walk
ing in. They had followed some OF
the belated carriages all the way
from the city, and. by hiding their badges, had
been piloted right into the grove
and to the inclosure. The Captain
said nothing, while those who were back
ing the fight stood dumbfouuded for several
minutes. Both sides finally recovered sufficient
IL from the surprise to talk, and Captain Col
bert said he had orders to see that the fight did
not go on, and it did not.
Ali manner,of persuasion was used on the Off
Ger. but be was firm. Then those who had paid
their 81 to SEQ the fight began to assert that it
should come OF some place, and a dozen efforts
were made TO slip away from the officers and 60
to some country barn, or other secluded place.
and see it out, but all this was
of no avail Two hours were
spent in this way. and then,
at IL o'clock, most Of those present started for
home. The fighters and their tssners
escaped from the crowd, and it
10 believed that they with a half
dozen or so slipped away to some secludsd
spot and had their fight, but If they did about
all those who paid their e, and the officers,
missed the sport.