Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27

the cash have discovered that the venture sc
| far is a losing one; in fact more SO than was an
ticipated. Since my last letter the leading
| sporting papers here have condescended to no.
tice the contest for the pennSht, but the no
tices are such that English readers will learn
| little about how matters stand. One thing Mr.
| Spalding must have discovered is the fact thai
to have the friendly support OF the newspapers
is great thing. At the time of writing the
club is ten, and Derby and Preston have each
reached that figure. Birmingham. managed
by Mr.. Barr, of Pittsburg. has played eight
games and won i've of them. Derby holds
first position in the race, with nine victories
and one defeat; Birmingham is second, with
five games won and three lost Preston comes
next with three won and seven lost. and Stoke
has one game won and seven lost. There have
been some interesting games considering the
circumstances. but the contest really lies be.
tween Derby and Birmingham. with the
chances greatly in the formers favor. Stoke
is like the man who fell out of the balloon-not
in it-and the team is SO wretchedly poor that
l fear it will be a struggle to keep it going. On
Monday evening that team and the Bruins
played srx-mning game, when the Stoke ag.
men made Il runs in one inning. This
will NOT boom baseball. because It means
ball playing. A few days ago the Derby team
fine contest Birmingham. 1t required IA in
nings to settle the argument. and then Mr.. Barrs
men administered to the Derbyites their first
defeat by 9 to 5. The pitching, of course. was
very lair and curves were freely used. This
bothered the batters. The fielding was good
and the little crowd was excited. The victory
of the home team was hailed with cheers and
Mr. Barr felt probably foot higher under the
circumstances. I may say that he is an ener-
getic young gentleman and deserves to be sue
cessful. A few close contests would 60 long
way toward popularizing the game, but they
are not forthcoming. The weather has also
been extremely wretched. The truth is that
such horrible weather could not possibly be
found in any other country. We have had rain
every day for three or four weeks and the
atmosphere is as cold as if it were October
This is great drawback to the endeavors to
establish baseball. However I may add that
amid all these difficulties Mr.. Hart Is confident
of ultimate success and still declares that every
scheduled game will be played
The Bantam ChampionshIp.
The opinion expressed last week regarding
the glove contest between Wallace and Dixon
has been shared by the leading writer's on box
ing in London. had grave doubts about the
genuineness of the affair, but of course, It is
difficult to prove a definite charge in this in
stance, and therefore won't make one. I can
express an opinion, however, and repeat that
a more miserable display of glove fighting was
never seen than the one in question. On this
point will give my readers the opinion of Mr.
b. Sampson, of the Referee, writer, by the
way who towers far above his somewhat blow.
ing rivals. He says:
"WelI, whether know anything or not about
the finer forms of boxing, 1 do know this that
have seen a dozen, if not 20 times as much
punishment received and administered in a
three-round contest between amateurs as was
received and administered during the whole of
the battle-save the mark !-between Wallace
and Dixon. And as for skill, never in my life
saw so little skill in contest said to be be.
tween real representative champions. 1t may
be that either or both of them could have done
better If he or they had wanted to do SO; with
huU a m hot harr
OF is what saw, and declare on my honor
that any pair of boys 10 years old could damage
one another ten times as much in ten minutes
as Wallace and Dixon did in an hour and a
quarter. Had such a show as Wallace and
DiXon's been given at any of the ordinary box
ing resorts for rs purse, the lookers-on would
have made the men take the cotton of or have
orummed them out of the ring as rogues
and impostors. And now we are told
Dixon doesn't intend 10 give us another show
in earnest-if the Pelican show was in earnestl
but is to tour the provinces with Wallace for
a time giving exhibitions, and is then to return
to the States to be csressed and feted as an
other OF the conquerors of poor, played-out old
England"
cause it is in harmony with what have already
stated on the matter. i have also had conyer.
sations on the subject with many prominent
boxing authorities, and the general opinion
seems to be that the affair was somewhat oues-
uonable. However, the victor and yapouished
are doing very well In various cities giving ex-
hibltiohs. But IL seems as If Dixon will be re-
CURED TO give an earnest show" before he re-
turns TO MS home. A challenge from Cal Nc
Carthy was published here yesterday, Nc
Carthy wants to fight Dixon at the Pelican
Club Tor a suitable purse and the champion
snip. Of course Mccarthy has as much claim
to the title as Dixon. The Pelican Club is will
ing to put up purse that will be satisfactory.
and this being so, Dixon cannot well refuse to
meet Mccarthy. have an idea that Dixon
would rather be without the engagement but
it will be very difficult for him to refuse to
fight. Dixon is puffed up by certain papers for
some reason or other, butshould Mccarthy como
thing feel confident of is that Dixon will have
to be in earnest IL he meets MCCARTHY still
hold the opinion that Cal is the superior of
Dixon and would have beaten the latter had no
accident occurred when they fought. Dixon's
show with Wallace strengthens my opinion be-
cause in that affair Dixon didn't even prove
that he was good boxer. Mccarthy is the
only really good man that Dixon has met-that
is, man able to make a fight-because what
ever Wallace may be, the fact remains he made |
a wretched show against Dixon. Mccarthy |
states that his injured hand is about all right |
again. and l anticipate that the two old on
poneuts will meet again before long There
are several little fellows here anxious to fight
Dixon for purse or a stake to a finish and |
have so declared themselves, but so far Dixon |
and his hackers have not responded. The truth |
s Dixon is anxious to get home as soon as DOS. |
'ible with the money he has made and will |
make before his engagements are fulfilled I
3ut whoever may challengs Dixon at present |
VIII have no show of getting a purse except |
Mccarthy. The Pelicans are anxious to have |
hese two together, and they are not disposed |
= present to give purse for anybody else |
ave international contests or contests between |
oreign champions. The two leading sporting.
lubs, the Ormonde and the Pelican. are bid |
ling against each other for these contests and |
he result will be that the fighters will get the
'est of it
Will Draw the Line.
Just after writing the above paragraph on
aseball in England, I am informed Of meet.
ng that was held in Birmingham a few days
go on the matter. The meeting was one of the
representatives. of all the clubs now organized
n Great Britain, and If reports are to be relied
n, 1t was very pleasant gathering. Mr.. New
on Crane, an American Consul, was Chairman.
lie is putting up some of the money in the
enture. He gave an interesting sketch of the
istory of baseball and read long list of names
f English cities wherein clubs have been or
anized. The important feature OF the meet
ng, however, was the passing of resolution
7hlch fnrbids professionals and amateurs play
1g together, and entirely prohibits profession
Is from taking any part IN the management of
be League. OF course, it is expected that
here will be many amateur clubs here. and the
bject of the resolution is undoubtedly to |
ater to the alleged high notions here
I amateurism-I might say hypocritical
otions. Spalding Bros. have offered o silver
up worth $50. to be played for by amateurs
My, and it may be that something like a con-
EST will take place. 1t may have been a wise
tep on the part of the English magnates to
raw an arbitrary line between amateurs and
and it may not have been a wise
ne. can well understand why the line has
cen drawn. AS rule amateur athletes in En-
land are watched very closely and they are not
lowed to play with or compete against pro-
.ssionals of any kind. This fact has led Mr..
rana. Mr.. Belts. Jim Hart and others to think