The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-07-11

other dangerous portions of the coach.
Just before the train was finally made
up, Attorney General Rogers went
aboard with Adjutant General FAIRIES,
COlenel Glenn Walker, OF the governors
staff, and stated that the fight must
positively not take place on Louisiana
soil. at first no answer was made but
the officials were finally told that the
men would not fight in the state. It
was expected that the troops would
appear at the depot but of
the two companies in the
city one could muster but forty men
and the other only bakers dozen. In
reply to requisition made on them by
the governor for train Accommodations
for the troops the railaoad people re-
piled that the state could not be ac-
commodated since all their rolling
sto k had been chartered. The govern
or was however offered transportation
with his men on the regular train.
Donovan and bottle holder Johnny
Murphy were on the train when Kill
rain left the city yesterday. Ali this
baggage stronia water etc was left be-
hind and Kilrain had to use other wa
ter which it was feared might hurt his
condition. At 1880 the first train
and the conductor and engineer
were given religious instructions
to go straight through to the battle
ground without d stop. Aboard the
train the information was furnished
officially that both Sullivan and Kill
rain reached the battle ground at $50
o'clock. There was scarcely any bet
ting at all on the train. Passengers
simply talked over the merits of the
two men and slept. On the way over
many shots were fired to brighten off
stealers of rides, and the conductors
found many tough characters concealed
in closets and other out of the way
places. The discovery of one group of
these non ticket holders almost precip-
itated shooting affray on the way
over, but trouble was avoided by the
eJectment of the sneaks. On the train
coming over were the chief
the commissioner of public
buildings and in fact most of the prom
inent officials of the city. The attorney
general and his staff left the car at
Slidell and stood at the railway station
until morning waiting for a returning
train. The fight takes place at Rich
burg, which is 80 miles from Meridian
and 103 from New Orleans. So perfect
are the arrangements that there is
absolutely no fear of military inter
ference. Richburg is virtually owned
by Mr.. Rich and the place covers an
area of 10000 acres, extending over
three counties of Mississippi. MIR. Rich
is the owner of an extensive saw mill
and this place was picked out simply
because of the bars it offered to suspic-
ion. Last night after darkness body
of $50 men went to work by the aid of
bonfires to perfect the battle ground.
which is on the sawdust of the mill,
and seats for 500 people were hastily
constructed. The owner of the prop
erty had made splendid arrangements
for the pugilists, and room on the
property was provided for Kilrain.
Quarters were also fitted up for Sulli-
van and his party. In these apart
meDts the fighters spent the last night
before the fight. On the Mississippi
line there was a party of twenty five
armed men and the train was tagged.
but no attention was paid to the sig
nal and the special dashed by at a
speed of twenty-five miles an hour. 1t
was just before daybreak when the
train got into Mississippi. The ring
was pitched and everything in readi-
ness for the fight to take place.