Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12
Of The Eyenina Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star
New ORLEANS, March 8, 1892
kNhoM CLOSE POSITION WITNESSED
- the night between Fitzsimmons and Maher
last night Inssmuch as the customary news
paper reports Of such affairs are Of . conven-
nonai style, perhaps . statement from novice
OF the arena, the men, the battle and the results
may prove interesting. The amphithestsr is
Of wood, much like . circus. and il WAS bril-.
liantly lighted with electric lamps The ring
if square pen may be called a ring,
is 24x24 feet, with eight posts about
it, which are we'll padded to pre-
vent injury should one of the combatsnts be
thrown against them. Roven through these
posts are two ropes one about two feet from
the ground. the other about five feet Outside
of this pen is an Enclosure surrounded with
barbed wire, SO that excited spectators could
not enter the ring unless they clambered over
1t. There were present about 800 spectators,
but the roof over the building was partially
opened so that good ventilation was secured
and the air within was not oppressive. 1t WAS
indeed rather cool and all who had overcoats
sat in them.
WHO WERE THERE.
1t was q motley crowd, representing nearly
all classes and conditions--iswyers, bankers,
merchants, gamblers barkeepers and bar
owners, clerks, students, planters, horsemen,
physicians. artists, &C., &c. Two or three
Washingtonians were among the throng. The
STAR correspondent shook hands with q cele-
brsted novelist, who said that he was ashamed
to be there, but he was studying character.
Perhaps. from the days Of Sodcm and Gomor-
ran down to these Of New Orleans, there was
never gathered more downright horrible wick
edness than was there and il was enough to
make blood run cold to see three young, pretty
but abandoned women, dressed as men, belch-
ing obscenity and profanity and wagering
money over the brutal result
PRELIMINARY NONSENSE.
The preliminary nonsense was an address by
one of the club as to the exercises and a warn
ing to all to keep order; that applause was al
lowable, but the loud mention of the name of
either contestant would result in the offender 9
immediate ejectment. Then old Tom Allen
was introduced the eY-champion heavy
weight of the world. He bowed to the APP
plause that was showered upon him. Then
Mitchell and Upham doned the gloves for
bout of three rounds. This was utter nonsense.
as the merest novice could see that Mitchell
played with his man, tapping him lightly now
and then to illustrate his astonishing skill and
activity: He WIS SO light on his feet,
although heavy man, that he seemed
to dance on air. Then Siavin and Vaquelin,
a local celebrity, boxed three rounds; this, too,
was mere foolishness, but those who witnessed
it and who should know praised Vaquehn
highly and thought be did very WELL Then
Slavin and Mitchell, with gloves, boxed two
and activity.
THE STARS APPEAR.
Finally. at about 9 O'Clock, the fighters, Fitz-
simmons and Msher. appeared. But little
time was wasted in preliminaries then; the men
ay,,fl,, 4 Al
they were stripped and gloved- There was q
loud call for their weight and the master of
ceremonies said that FitzsImmons weighed leo
pounds and Maher l78.
As they sat in their corners for few minutes
ere the gong sounded it was noticed that they
eyed each other keenly and knew there was to
be heavy work before them. Neither of them
had ever been defeated, although each had
fought many times.
Among a multitude of people confined within
a small space. even though they be seemingly
quiet. there is Q subdued hum which strikes
the ear like the sound of breakers when you
are at distance from the shore, but when
the gong sounded for the men to toe the mark
there was silence which fell upon the speeta-
tors as though every one Of the onlookers had
been petrifed. As the men walked rapidly to-
ward each other all eyes turned upon them.
THE FIGHTERS COMPARED.
They were magnificent specimens Of physi-
cal humanity, but were you to look from east
to west you could not find two men more diff
erent in appearance. action or style. Fitzsim-
moEs is knock-kneed, long, lanky, q blonde
with high color and a red spot on each cheek,
which tells OF trouble to come some of these
days. He is built all swry. His color, his
shape. bis walk, his voice, his chest, lOins. back
and general appearance say consumption sooner
or later. He is q man who would be rejected
at once by an army surgeon and would be
y m cod nh
victim OF scroiuia or tuberculosis. His present
superb physical condition illustrates the skill
OF his trainers and shows what a monument can
be built Oh an insecure foundation.
Maher, in his build, looked as though he
might live century; spiendidly developed
about his chest, shoulders, hips and legs he
stood upon his feet like an athlete and balanced
himself in an easy position with his left arm
well advanced and his right drawn across his
chest. 1t was seen at once that he was slower
and that he lacked activity. There was a want
Of confidence in his bearing, said to be pro-
duced by his belief that he would be defeated,
Is he was lighting on ash Wednesday.
VIGOROUS OPENING.
They spared for q few seconds and then
they few together like thunderbolts, and rap,
rap, rap was heard as Fitzsimmons' heavy glove
struck Maher in the face and nearly Knocked
him down. but tremendous upper cut from
Maher made Fitzsimmons sicken and reel
against the ropes. He would have fallen had
he not caught them. He shook himself to-
gether and slid from further punishment Just
As the gong sounded to end the FIRST round
As the men walked to their seats thew were
both very groggy. and no wonder. as the fight
ing had been terrific and sickening. The upper
cut which Fitzsimmons had received would
have knocked him down had he not fallen
against the ropes, but the wonderfully clever
work ne did with both head and hands when
Maher tried to follow up his advantage proved
that his brain was clear. 1t may be said that
in this round both men narrowly escaped de-
feat
The gong again sounded and the men came
together for round two.
KAzKR vEAKENs FROM Loss OF BLOOD
They each showed the effects of the hard
fighting. Before blow was struck Maher was
seen to be bleeding copiously from the mouth
30 freely indeed that he was weakening every
moment. No matter how big and strong . man
is he must weaken when his life blood Is trick
ling away from him, and Makers seconds had
been unable to stop the how between the
rounds. They famed him, rubbed him down,
applied hArtshorn, &C.. but still . crimson
stream ran down his chin, neck and body nearly
10 his belt Fitzsimmons looked at this, backed
from the man, turned to his corner. smiled,
winked two or three times to his second Gar
TolD and knew the advantage was his. Then
he turned 70 Maher, who stood in the middle
Of the square waiting for him, and spared;
then . few light blows passed until Maher
aimed an awful blow at Fitzsimmops face