The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-15

the amphitheatre of the great Olympic
Club tonight 1000 people. including the
greatest gathering of sporting men ever
seen in New Orleans, witnessed the New
Zealander, Robert Fitzsimmons, the
biggest middle-weight on record,
knock out Jack Dempsey, the
world-renowned Nonpareil, in great
international match for the middle weight
championship of Australia and America
and purse of $4,000, $11 900 to the win
ner and 81 900 to the loser. The battle was
fought under Marquis of Queensberry
rules, with gloves weighing five ounces.
The men weighed in the presence of
the audience, Fitzsimmons marking 1907
and Dempsey 4715. Dempsey's seconds
were Jack McAuliffe, Gus Tuthill and
Mike Conley, while Jimmy Carroll and
Doc O'Connell looked after Fitzsimmons.
AT 6 o'clock this evening Fitzsimmons was
one pound overweight, and went out, in
company with Carroll, to work down.
Dempsey was reported at weight and in
fine form, though looking small alongside
his opponent. Time was called at OPS.
with Alex Brewster, one of the ablest and
most respected citizens of New Orleans, as
referee official time-keeper, Professor John
Duffy; master of ceremonies, ex-Mayor
Guillotte.
An unfortunate circumstance happened
on the eve of the great middle-weight fight
between Dempsey and Fitzsimmons. There
are no less than score of special cores
pondents on the ground, bent on getting
the first and earliest news of the fight for
their respective papers. 1t so happens
the Western Union Telegraph Company
and the Olympic Club people have had
falling out, and the former will not stretch
a wire between the club house and the
main Office in town, two miles away. This
will naturally be a big setback for news
gatherers, who are making the best of the
situation, however, by engaging the speed
lest horses and most Trustworthy carriers
they can get to take their copy from the
ringside and deliver it at main telegraph
Office. As the hour for the fight draws
near the interest is becoming more intense.
Even yet the trains are pouring in from all
quarters and are loaded down with human
sports.
The two latest celebrities to arrive are
Parson Davies and Doble. The parson
could not keep away. He was not to have
attended the night. on account of some inn
portant litigation he was engaged in at
Chicago, but the attraction was too great,
and he is here with the balance, shouting
for his favorite. 4 few large bets were
made this morning, running into the thou
sands, with the odds at 100 70 20 on Demp-
sey. Bat Masterson, of Denver Col, is
here. He is strong supporter of Fitzsim-
mons, and so are those who accompanied
him. Parson Davies has also joined the
Australians forces.
During the afternoon a conference was
held at the St. Charles hotel to decide the
referee question and other matters. Those
composing the conference were Dempsey,
Jimmy Carroll, Jack McAulitfe, Nose
Gunst, Jim Colville, Major Mclaughlin
and Bat Masterson. 1t was agreed to
accept Aleck Brewster, of New Orleans,
for referee.
The question of gloves next came up,
and there was some difference of opinion
as to how they should be laced and also
some talk as to their shape, Dempsey
wanting to be suited in this respect, as he
has very small hands. Finally all those
points were adjusted, and it was agreed to
box with five-ounce gloves.
The men then tossed for choice of cor
ners and Carroll won. Fitzsimmons was
not present at the conference. After the
referee had been chosen betting became
very lively. At first it was lotto 50, with
Dempsey at the long end, but Fitzsim-
mons money came so fast that it finally
got to be even money. Then after a while
there was no Dempsey money TO be had
1t looked as if the Nonpareil's supporters
had been bet to standstill but the prob
abilities are that they were only holding
aloof and fancying that Fitzsimmons'
eager supporters would reverse the order
of things and be givers instead of takers of
odds.
This afternoon Jimmie Wakeley, of
BROOKLYN, received a letter from John L..
Sullivan, and it read as follows:
CHICAGO. Jan. II, Is9i.-Jim Wakely, St.
Charles hotel, New Orleans: success to Demp-
sey. Give him my best wishes.
john L. SULLIVAN.
The crowds around the different resorts
where the sporting element love TO congre-
gate are simply enormous, and they are as
motley as they are dense. There are we'll
dressed men jostling with longshoremen,
swarthy creoles mingling With Germans,
French and Irish, while the sporting char
acters can be easily seen by their dress and
manner. There are shrewd men of a
gambling turn, who have amassed fortunes
by their nerve and knowledge of human
nature, talking with riat-nosed and crump-
cared pugs, and there are planters. with
wide-brimmed hats, mingling in profusion
with thoroughbreds. Caucusses are of fire.
auent occurrence, according as some CO.
terie of Fitzsimmons' or Dempsey's back