Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
Talk With Mitchell.

A Talk With Mitchell.
Charley Mitchell is Just the same loquscious
"Cbolleyn that he ever was, 1 looked in at his
music hall at Battersea last night and had a
long conversation with kim on matters pugil
istic, Charles music hall is not one of the frs'
rank; it is little badly lighted building and is
named the Washington. The most expensive
seat in the Washington costs a quarter, and
patrons can sit and smoke and drink as much
as they want and pay for. if too much noise Is
NOT made. The way matters looked to me
came to the conclusion that the business was
not very profitable as the house was pretty
light and the company rotten" There were
three bars connected with tne hali' t"o III ~ W @
hall proper and one outside the entrance
Charles Mitchell is, undoubtedly, looked upon
as great parsonage by the ordinary citizen OF
Rattersea Whenever he appears IN puDlc
many ewes are watching him fntently. and he
knows it. When l saw him he was looking
extremely well and only few ponnas
above his boxing weight he was quite Wiling
To taIk about ANYTHING; but he showed pref
erence to discuss questions relating to John l..
Sullivan The Englishman on TINS point SAID:
"ru have to tackle the big fellow again, put II
he is wise he will fight no more. am qulGe
ready to meet Sullivan again for big stake In
a 24foot ring. Ihaye every confidence OF belng
able to beat him, at any rate know that ne
cannot beat me- / often wonder If the Amerl-
can authorities would interfere with me II l
went hack there l will visit the country soon
if / find that will not be interfered with Tor
the part took in the Sullivan kilrain battle:
have written Kilraln three or four times and
received no answer Well, 1 am ready to meet
Sullivan or any man in the world. would,
however, prefer Sullivan to anybody else."
General Opinions.
Mitchell proceeded to give his opinion on
fighters in general. He rated Slavin as only
second-class man, and has nos very high esti-
mate of Joe McAuliffe. The latter with Billy
Madden will be in this country before this ap-
pears in THE DISPATCH. Already there is
some busy figuring for engagements for Nc
Auliffe. 1t is likely that he and slavin will
TO the finish. Mitchell says that if
McAuliffe can fight at all he will de-
feat Savin, and this seems to be the
prevailing opinion among English sporting men:
Mitchell declares that SlavIn is cur. and II
there is anv truth in that statement he is of lit
tie good as fighter. There are some author1-
ties, however, who have good opinion Of Sla-
win. But if match is made between Slavln
and McAuliffe l shall have more 10 say ABOUT
their respective chances.
There is one thing very prominent in London
spnrring circles, viz: bigotry: 1t is rare that
you find one professional saying good WORD
about another. 1t is, therefore, unsafe TO rely
on the statements made by many authorities.
Even the sporting papers work for factions.
One paper condemns Slavin and another praises
him to the skies. Inc laJleT paper Is Iue oue
which holds Slavin's forfeit. Well, what l want
to point cut is the fact that amid all this envy
and Digotry Mitchell or others may allow their
feelings to prompt them into saying many
nothing good to say about the Pelican Club be-
cause Abingdon was put out Of II, and Abing-
don is Mitchell's friend.
Burke and Mitchell.
Jack Burke and Mitchell met at Ascot yester-
day, and the latter talked very PLAIN, indeed. to
the Irish Lad" Last week 1 remarked that
Burke had issued challenge to fight anybody
in the world. with gloves, eight OF ten rounds.
Mitchell spoke to Burke yesterday about this,
and made the following definite state
prominent sporting men: "Jack, am ready
to fight yeu in any style, with gloves or bare
knuckles and from one round to q nnish. Now,
don't say another word about frh ing me with.
out you mean business and put up the money"
1t may be that Burke and Mitchell will Eight
in = glove contest but the former made no
definite reply to MItchelrs sweeping offer.
Burke stated that he would never light with
bare fists again. as he had a family to take care
ef now. He further claimed that a man can
fight Just effectively with two-ounce gloves
as with bare fists. feel confident that Mitch
ell is the superior OF Burke in any style, ana 1t
seems te me that Burke is also of this opinion.
At any rate there would NOT be much meney
for Burke were he to fight Mitchell. Speaking
of Burke to Mitchell, the latter remarked that
Burke wonld be good man for Jack Fogarty
to meet There would be plenty of money in a
contest between those two. Michel also
stated that Alf Mitchell, the middle-welght,
would be backeu against Fogarty for s., 600 a
side and the gate receipts. This would be a
good match for Fogarty, as he would certainly
defeat Mitchell.
Charley and the Poker.
Mitchell took pains to explain to me all
about his row with Bill Goode, in which the
poker was used. Mitche1rs explanation shows
that Goode was the man who used the poker
Mitchell Goode and a man named Coborn were
at Abngdons private residence when quarrel
took place between Mitchell and GoOde. The
latter and Coborn attacked Mitchell and he
knocked Coborn down and then seized Goode.
He soon downed GoOde and punished him ter
ribly. He dashed Goodies head on the floor
and jumped on him. When Goode got up he
ran and got the poker. Mitchell took it from
him and then Gsode got the tongs, which
were also takeIirOm him. This was the &C
count given at the trial and Mitchell was
acquitted. OF course this puts the matter in
different light to what we were told when the
affair happened. L have every reason to be-
lieve that the above account is the true one.
<st
Tho Pelican Club.
Of course everybody who reads sporting news
has read about the Pelican Club. That club
has lately jumped into prominence because of
the boxing contests promoted by it. A day or
two ago l visited the club, and was shown
through the entire building. 1t is a very ex-
elusive affair, but in appearance is somewhat
OF course its membership gives
it great prestige. as on its roll it numbers such
men as the Marquis of Queensberry, Sir John
ID. Ashley etc. but, as have just said, its in-
terror is very disappointing L was never more
surprised in my life than was when saw the
room in which the battles take place. 1t is an
kitchen, and there is not much
more room than is sufficient for a 24-foot ring.
This means that all the members of the club
cannot possibly see the fights. was informc
that the tghtlng room or cellar would hold 6UO
persons but it appeared to Inc to be much too
small for even that number of people
There is a recess in one corner OF the room
in which the contestants strip in presence of
each other and there is only one bathtub for the
NJ Chters when they are done with their nghting
There are three bed rooms and splendid re-
freshment room.
The club is managed by the proprietor, Ernest
Wells, and dare say he makes very well out
with Ii. They have no gate receipts, and it is,
indeed, very difficult to see any of the contests
tEat take place within Its doors. The purses
are made up by the members of the club. and
as there are ], 900 members and only room for
6OO where the hight takes place, it can easily be
how difficult 1t is for a stranger to
get in. But when u man nights before the club
il gives him prestige, and on that prestige he
can secure some good engagements. There are
plenty of methous OF exercise in the club and
and the striking bags and boxing gloves are
very much used. PRINGLE
ATLANTIC CITY.