The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-23
DISGUSTED SPORTS.
They Are Leaving st. Paul with
Depleted Pocketbooks.
"a GOVERNORS EFFECTIVE BLUFF.

1T Leads to the Indefinite Postpone.
ment OF the Fitzsimmons Hall
BIill-Thcre Are Those Who As.
sert That Hall and His Backera
Are Glad OF 1t.
ST PAUL, July 2a.-President T. 2.
Cowles, Of the Minnesota Athletic club,
yesterday afternoon gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
Cup to noon today 1t was hoped that
under fair and reasonable execution
of the law, which at most makes prize
fight misdemeanor and felony, as is
the case in many other states, the con.
test could proceed and the club have
the. opportunity Of, to some extent,
covering its loss. The club asked that
the sheriff be content with arresting the
principals and putting them under bonds
for future appearance, and that the law
De allowed to take its course after the
event. The sheriff was disposed to
adopt this policy, but under threat
from the governor of instant removal
from Office if he did not prevent the
fight by any means in the power of the
state the sheriff was obliged to notify
the club that he should be on hand pre-
pared to stop the fight 1t was also
stated that the governor had ordered
the First regiment under arms for the
purpose of assisting the sheriff.
In such state of things the club
could not think Of proceeding with the
contest, and as the result of confer
ence, in which the mayor, chief of
police, sheriff, county attorney and the
club officials took part, the club threw
mp the sponge and declared the fight off.
The club loses Its deposit of $4,000 as q
forfeit to protect the contestants, and
in addition about $1,000 expended in
constructing tho big pavilion and for
other necessary expenses.
'Under tho circumstances the action
of the state authorities was cruel and
unjust. as the fight could and should
have been prevented thirty to sixty
days ago, before dollar of expense had
been incurred. Mayor Smith earnestly
fight, but it was decided to drop it in
order to remove all possibility Of dis.
order or bloodshed."
Disguised Sports.
A more disappointed, disgusted lot OF
sports than st. Paul contained last night
has probably never been gathered to-
far and near, from Houston and from
San Francisco, from New Orleans, from
Winnipeg, from British Columbia and
from the sister city across the river, and
they are going home with depleted
Pocketbok5 and the knowledge that they
have spent their stuff and had their
travels for their pains. The action of
the authorities came upon the aggrega.
tion Of sports like thunder clap The
proclamation issued by Governor Mer-
riRin and the arraignment of FitZsiln.
mons and his trainers in the police court
aind been regarded, especially by the
principals OF fitzsimmons and Hall, as
much in tho nature OF bluff, and there
seemed to bo very general understand
ing that having thus offered a sop to the
protesting law reform element the
powers that bo would allow the influen-
tial citizens who make up the governing
BODY Of the Minnesota Athletic club tc
goahead with their programme.
Did Hall Wenken?
There is a very general impression
that there was a colored man and
Brother in the woods back of the action
of the authorities, and that something
Enore than tho determined attitude oi
khe law element was factor in the
premises on which the prohibition was
based. 1t is broadly hinted, and in
many PLACES boldly charged, that the
moye was in Halls interest, and that
nRsssurethad been brought to bear upon
she sheriff by certain friends of the
Australian who had come TO the con-
clusion that their man was not in it.
and who preferred there should be no
Eight at MI than to see him carried from
the ring defeated and disgraced.
i 1t was noticeable at least that the
men who had been backing up Hall the
aondest had tho least to say when the
affair was finally declared off, and
seemed on the whole to be just as well
satisfied as though the programme had
eaken its regular course.
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Think Eormad,a CharSe ETccssiTc..