The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-08
IN SPORTING CIRCLES.
Two Big Events in the Athletic
Line on This Weeks Program.
MANAGER SMITHS BENEFIT.
The New York Clubs Water Polo Men
VIII be Here Saturday Night-Msr-
cellus Baker and Bobby Burns May

What have we for this week on the slate
of sport? First on the list comes the tes-
timonial to Manager John ii. Smith of the
Metropole Club and Sanitary Gymnas-
ium, and it will be grand affair. For
nine years John has trained the young
men of the city i'm athletics and gymnas-
tics, and on Wednesday night several of
his erstwhile pupils will participate in the
testimonial of which he will be the bene-
ficiary. 1t will be one of the greatest
gatherings of athletes ever held in Provi-
dence, and those who go to witness the
events will be we'll paid for their trouble.
Among those who will appear are Bobby
tigan, Billy Reardon, Fred Scott, George
Herrick, Arthur Fleming, Tom Cooney,
Mike Cooney, Octave Bouchy, Joe Hen
ricques, Youcas and McManus. Prof. Le-
maire and pupils and many Others.
Jack McGee and Maffett Flaherty,
both OF Boston, have volunteered TO APP
pear and wind up the exhibition. The pro-
gram will include wrestling, sparring,
foils, broad-sword and single-stick bouts,
and the men who will appear in each are
all artists in their line and will make
things interesting.
On Saturday night comes the great game
of water polo between the Metropolis and
the New York Athletic club, in the Metro
poles tank. The championship of the
country lies between these two teams and
the game on Saturday night will virtually
settle the question OF supremacy In the
water. In the game with this team at
New York fortnight ago the Metropolis
were defeated 4 games to in tank as
different from their own as night is from
day, and they are confident that in the
home tank they can make IL very inter
esting for the New Workers. 1t will un-
doubtedly be the greatest game of water
polo ever played in America, aud present
indications say that the accommodations
of the tank will not be half big enough TO
accommodate the crowd.
The Boston NelDs to-day says
"Marcellus Baker in the old days was
one of Boston's best known boxers. He
could put up his hands as well as the best
of them, aud seldom, indeed, did he find
it necessary to drop them. 1t has been a
good many years since Baker put up the
bunch of fives How many do not care
to say, tor, be il known, that even if Mar
cellus does feel like young colt, he is not
far from the fifties. He is such young,
active man that one would say he is
about 30.
"Now Marcellus wants a go at one of
the Young fellows He thinks that Bobby
Burns who is backed by Larry killian, is
just about his speed. Burns is in the
early twenties, a young active man, but
Baker thinks that he is young enough to
get the best end of the purse. He has had
several conversations, and it would not be
at all surprising IL the men came to-
gether"
One of the Providence sporting clubs
has been asked to put up trophy for a
limited round contest between Bobby and
Marcellus and it would not be at all sur
prising if they would be given an oppor.
tunity to settle the dispute on these plan
tations.
The Boston Globe says: One of the
most surprised men in this city was John
j Murphy, when told on Saturday last
that Frank Holmes of Pawtucket, X. l..
and been reinstated by the n. A. A. q.
There are few oarsmen who know Holmes
strength, skill and pluck better than Mr..
Murphy, for just before they were disqual-
flied they were arranging to double up
and row O'Connor and Enwright. Mr..
Murphy says that Holmes will make
the boys hustle, for he takes the best of
care of himself lie is for all the world a
second Jim Ten Eyck, full of sinews and
muscle, and with fair amount of training
he will make good showing.
Secretary f. Il. Cavanaugh, Of the New
Bedford Athletic Club, writes me that the
Spider" Weir-Frank Steele contest on
the 18th inst. is creating great deal of
interest in that city, as well as in Boston,
and the club expects crowded house on
the night Of their meeting. On the same
night he writes there will be a ten-round
go between Downey and Cleary,. two local
aspirants, the winner OF which will be
pitted against Jimmy Boutelle's unknown
nh, sa
other than young Broderick, and whether
it be Downey or Cleary who goes against
him, the New Bedford lad will have to
keep hustling to be In the game at all.
1t is stated that George Dixon and Tom
O'Rourke have settled their differences
and are good friends again. 1t is the wish
of every sporting man, unless he has some
selfish motive, that the report of their re-
union is true 1t is always source of re-
gret to see old friends fall out. IL was
O'Rourke who brought Dixon out oi OBJ
scurity and placed him before the public
champion. OF course he could not have
done this If Dixon had not the material
for champion in him. but having those
qualities 0'Rourke developed them and
placed him where he is to-day. Anent of
Dixon's prosperity | remember the time,
and il was only about three years ago
when Dixon, who was then just blossom
ing out as a boxer, came down from Bos-
dence Athletic Club For his services he
was to receive s. and his supper. George
asked if they would allow him to eat a
dollars worth and being assured that the
club would not stint him as To the amount
of his supper. he struck bargain with
them whereby he was to receive the extra
dollar in money instead of supper, and
bring his own lunch. Dixon munched
his crackers and cheese in side room OF
the Providence Athletic Club that night,
then went on and spared and received his
IS, which was great deal of money 70
him in those days. Since then George has
prospered he has few thousand to his
credit i'm the bank and il requires n good
many times So to get him TO put on the
gloves as he did on that occasion at the
| Providence Athletic Club.
The Herreshoffs have contracted TO build
n 2l-foot pacht for a Boston man who
wishes TO keep his name secret. The boat
will he on the Dilemma model. and will
carry jibsail aud mainsail and have a fin
lael I'm tho same model the Herres N offs