Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-23
THE SHERIFF WAS ON THE LIST
But He Preferred to Save His OfRcis
Head from the Block,

But He Preferred to Save His Oficial
Head from the Block.
When therefore Sheriff Bean, whose
name was actually on the list of invited
guests, put his foot down yesterday and
declared that he preferred to offend his
friends and disappoint the assembled
sports to losing his own official head,
there was CONSERVATION and dismay
Even then the club directorate might have
determined to take the chances had not
the governor fastened to the support of
the subordinate official by issuing instruc-
lions to the adjutant general to hold four
companies of National guards in readi-
ness to suppress the fight, and when the
"call to arms had been circulated the
fact was realized at last that Merriam and
Bean meant what they had said, and that
it would be worse than ridiculous for the
organization to fly in the face of organ
lied law and authority. Visions of riots
and bloody conflict were conjured up in
the meeting of the board and reluctantly
the word went out that so far as ST. Paul
was concerned the fight was off for good
and all.
What the Managers Expected.
President L. H. Cowles, of the Athletic
it was hoped that under a fair and reason
able execution of the law. which makes a
prize fight a misdemeanor, and not a
felony, as is the case in many other states,
the contest 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 bond,
for future appearance and that the law be
allowed to take its course after the event
The sheriff was disposed to adopt this
policy, but under a threat from the gov
ernor of inst mt 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 prepared to stop the fight.
Expectations Not Realized.
at was ais stated that the governor had
ordered the First regiment under arms for
the purpose of assisting the sheriff In
such state o things the club could not
think of pro- eeding with the contest, and
as the result conference, in which the
mayor, chief Of police, sheriff, county at
torney, and club officials took part at
noon to-day, the club threw up the sponge
and declared The fight off The club loses
its deposit 5000 as forfeit to protect
the contestants, and in addition about
50, 600 expen,- d in constructing the pavil-
ion and for ther necessary expenses. I'm
der the circumstances, the action of the
state author Ties was cruel and unjust, as
the fight co, and should have been pre-
vented thirt. to sixty days ago"
An Amphitheatre for Sale.
The amphdheatre of the Athletic club.
with its accommodations for &c, 600, could
have been lad for the asking yesterday.
Representatives of pretty well every rail!
road centering in the town offered special
trains for carrying the. crowd to
any outside point that might be chosen;
and exceptional facilities at Hudson,
Wis, outside of Governor Merriam's jur-
isdiction and only half hours ride from
the city, were proffered. The New Orleans
contingen which is headed by G. NJ.
Franks, of the Southern Athletic club,
was so chagrined at the results of the day
that one time they talked about having
special train, taking all WI no wanted togo to
the Crescent city and getting the men to-
gether on their arrival for SIC, 600 purse
49, -