Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-17

ness OF things is sure TO De learned IN the lohH
run. ana when once the public finds that it has
been duped depend upon it, victims must be
forthcoming
stranded Athletes and 'Cyclers.
1t is safe to say that every admirer of elevat-
ing sport read with regret the other day
the announcement that the Pittsburg Athletic
and Cycling Club had practically collapsed.
1t has broken down in way that is exceedingly
unpleasant and disagreeable, viz: by being
sued for an alleged debt There are many
prominent young citizens in the club and the
fact that the contractors who erected the
stands and fences of the club grounds are yet
unpaid does not augur well for the future sue
cess of amateur sports in this city. The club,
no doubt displayed great enterprise IN secur-
ing the grounds referred to; probably more en-
terprise than good business judgment. 1t
would certainly have been better dor the name
of the city and everybody else concerned had
the athletes and 'cyclers had little more ready
cash when they laid hands on the park in Allie
gheny. The debt incurred at the start was so
big that all interest in the club was soon al
most dead among its members The manage
ment was not of the best and the clubs down.
fall was a foregone conclusion long before 1t
fell. 1t might be wise step on the part Oh
other local clubs if they would secure the park
The cost of making 1t hrstclass place would
not be great, and under good management 1t
would be success.
Ben Hymns Big Offer.
1t has often been remarked that wonders
never cease. and this trite old saying applies to
sporting affairs as well as to mechanical. The
latest wonder is the extraordinary offer made
by Ben Hyams, of London, England, relative to
a soft glove contest in which Sullivan, Kilrain,
Mitchell, Smith and Jackson shall take part.
Mr.. Hyams states that If all five or any four of
the pugilists named shall each put up a stake
of 81, ,000 he will add $1,000, Every contest be-
tween the boxers shall be of four rounds, except
the final, which shall last five rounds. and
Queensberry rules shall govern. Great Scotti
Sl4,0O0 or $4,000 for a four-round boxing
contest. An offer of this kind certainly takes
the breath away from old-timers young g-timers
any other timers, for that matter. am con-
WINGED that the offer is genuine because Mr..
Hyamf is well able to put up SIC, 900 without
feeling his pocketbook any lighter He is
wealthy and honest man, and what he says he
means OF course, it is safe to say that
handsome profit would be realized by the pro-
noters of the affair were it to take place.
The spacious Agricultural Hall in London
would be crowded nightly at any prices of adj
mission. But this shows that there really is
more money behind legitimate boxing to-day
mate. because we have had pre-
cious little of that kind of boxing
for many years. If pugilism and boxing were
as honestly conducted to-day as they were 30,
40 or SO years ago We would find that there
would be considerably more money invested in
it now than at any time previous. II $4,000 had
been offered to four leading men in the days of
Belcher, Bendigo, Sayers, Yankee Sullivan or
even az late as Heenans day to box for. why the
man who offered it would probably have been
arrested as being insane. The old timers who
earned dozens of victories amid gore and
broken bones likely enough, put them all
together, did not handle as much money as is
now offered.