The morning call., 1891-10-22
A SICKLY PUGILIST.
Billy Maber Was Not in Condition
to Fight Mahan.
Disappointment at the Occidental Club Last
Evening-Hawkins and MahOney VIII
Figh. Next Month.

The members Of the Occidental Athletic
Club were disappointed last evening. They
repaired in large numbers to the gymnasium
on Howard and New Montgomery streets.
to see finish fight between Billy Mahan
and Billy Maber. the Australian shadow.
Mahau was on hand in good condition to
do battle, but Maber looked sickly and unfit
to tackle job which demanded strength
and staying qualities.
The clubs physician, DR.. Stanton. ex-
amined the Australian pugilist and an
nounced TO the Directors that be was physi-
callY unprepared to fight, that If he should
be allowed to enter the ring repetition Of
the old Golden Gate Club episode, in which
q sickly pugilist lost his life, might happen.
The Directors concluded, after hasty
meeting, that the fight would not take place
aud a ten-rOund go between two local boxers
was substituted
VERY FISHY.
The members, on hearing the news Of the
fight having been declared off, became very
loud in their denunciati0ns Of the affair and
remarks such as " Why didn't YOU let US
know about it before now?' came from
several parts Of the hall. Mahan entered
the ring and announced that he was pre-
pared t0 fight and that it was the second
time that Maber had disappointed him. The
latter also made speech In which he re-
marked that he felt as II he could go to
work" but that the clubs doctor had ad-
vised the Directors not to allow him to en-
ter the ring.
Dr. Stanton said to a representative of
THE CALL that Maber was in such weak
and exhausted condition that it would be
very unwise thing for any club TO allow
him To fight even round.
When quetness was restored in the club
friend of the Australian offered to back the
latter in any sum from $1,000 to 5000
against Mahan. The Californian answered
that he had no desire to kill Maber, and
consequently would ignore any challenge
coming from him or his hackers.
NEGLIGENT CLUB OFFICERS.
Whatever might have been Maber's con-
dition last evening. there is one thing very
strange in connection with the affair, and
that is the peculiar system of betting that
was INDUCED IN during the last few DAYS.
On Tuesday Maber sold a favorite at $50
as against S13 on Mahan. Yester-
day a rapid change took place in
the wagering, and Maber, instead of being
placed a fayorite, was relegated TO the short
end, the pools closing at $50 on Mahan as
against So on Maber. The whole affair
had, to say the least, very ishy appear
ance, and it was common talk among club
men that the pugiliSts had had an under
standing prior to the day OF the battle which
was broken last evening owing to dis
agreement between the pGgs and their
hackers as to what constituted n fair dis
1t was also freely reported that the pugi-
lists, who have been training at Berkeley
had been indulging in free way Of living,
and that a closer watch should have been
instituted upon them by the officials Of the
club, whose duty 1t is TO see that pugilists
trained properly.
GIVEN A LITTLE GORE.
To satisfy the greed Of the members for
some gore ten-round go" was put on.
Tie contestants were Tom Breslin and Joe
King. King had the advantage of his OPP
ponent in weight and size, and knocked
Breslin out in the fifth round.
Flynn, the Seattle cyclone, was defeated
In six rounds by local pug named Failing.
This contest was most amusing and tickled
the fancy
The President Of the club announced that
on the I'd OF November a finish fight would
take place between the bantams Dan Ma
honey and Dal Hawkins, and that the
coupons good for last evening would entitle
the holders of the same to admission at the
next entertainment. This report pleased
the members, who retired better satisfied
With what they had seen.