The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-06
Sian \ RIDag.
The Two PugllIsts Talk About Each Other
10 N Reporter,

10 a Reporter.
Bart Shay, the light weight pugilist,
who has for some time made this city
his headquarters, and some friends here
who are backing him, called at this
office last evening, and took exceptions
to some Of the statements made by Joe
Ridge, the light weight champion Of
Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh Leader,
republished in yesterdays issue OF this
paper, relative to the desires and inten-
tons OF Shay and his friends, Shay
said: ~ see that the wind bag and
newspaper fighter, Joe Ridge, Is seeking
more Iotoriety, did not intend to
pay any more attention 10 anything he
might say, for | am thoroughly satisfied
that he dare not meet me in the ring and
box on his merits, He has shown the
white feather before as well as now, l
have told him plainly and distinctly,
that l would meet him at any
time for from $3.50 to $500 a
side. When | made him that prop
ositiop, why did he not accept it like a
man and not 80 behind the bushP The
public can, | think, readily see the fell
lows gall when he talks OF boxing q
limited number OF rounds, London prize
ring rules to govern, and that he does
not mean business, but it Is hippodrom.
ing, He says that before 1882 q limited
number Of rounds were fought under
London rules, | can safely say that there
never was u match made for q limited
number Of rounds under those rules, and
you can take for reference as to the truth
OF my assertion the matches and battles
Of Tom Sayers, Aaron Jones, John Hee-
nan, John Morrissy, Billy Edwards, Sam
Colyer, Arthur Chambers, John Clark,
Jem Mace and Tom King, and all the
pugilists that ever fought under those
rules. You can't find one that ever made
a match under those rules for a limited
number OF rounds, Every one called
for q finished fight and that on the turf.
Now, the Marquis Of Queensbury rules
call for a contest, and nothing but q con.
test, for II either contestant should fall
without being struck a blow 1t is deemed
4 foul, and then 1t becomes the duty oil
the referee TO decide the contest against
the one that does it. l have always
boxed on my merits, and have never en-
gagedin any contest but what was on it's
merits. Twill prove in my contest at the
Alhambra tomorrow evening that that
Is my style Of working and that no fake
Is being carried on, rs Ridge would have
people believe. My hackers have always
meant business, and wouldha nothing
10 do with q match that was not genu'
Inc. say to Ridge now, rs l always
have, that Iam ready to meet him In
twenty.iour hours notice, but II must
BIZ under rules that will compel him to
stand up"
Shortly after shay's visit 1t was learn
ed that Joe Ridge had arrived in town
from Pittsburgh and was making his
headquarters att popular sporting resort.
During the evening he was called on by
a reporter and inquired OF as TO the oh.
IeCt Of Ills visit. flo said
"I'm here to make q fight, II possible,
with Bart Shay, who Is o clever little
man, but who Is handicapped by
hackers who don't want TO put up
on him unless there is some sure
thing proviso in the arrangements,
such as 40 per cent OF the gate receipts,
so that they Can get q part or all OF their
money out In case their man Is whipped.
II Shay had money enough OF his own |
think we could fix the thing in 1hOrt
order. We may be able to make a fight
as 1t is, Shay and some OF his friends
called on me this evening, and are to
call again Monday. l offered to put up a
forfeit tonight, but they asked until
Monday night 10 talk the matter over"
Ridge was told what Shay had said
earlier in the evening, as printed above.
"Their bluff Is soon answered. he
said. "Why, ! let q forfeit OF $50 lie in
the Pittsburgh Leader office for nearly
three weeks, and not a dollar did they
show for a cover, He has referred you
to noted fighters, and II you look their
records. up you will sec that
they fought a limited number Of
rounds as well as to q finish
under the London rules. The Queens.
bury rules were introduced 10 accomno.
date John L. Sullivan and his bull
rushes, and since then have been a
handy eoyer for fake fights. A man has
10 handle himself and the other fellow
both as carefully as q baby, or else IN
unintentiOnal foul will give the fight to
the one who Is already half.whipped.
Under the London rules you fight"
Ridge is a clever looking little fellow
with a keen blue eye in his head. He
said he you'd probably take in the
Shay.Murray exhibition at the 4lham.
bra tonight. "Provided," he added,
murray gets here"