Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27

.. O., Notwithstanding it has 30 many op-
ponents. 1t may not have always been in
the right, but not one of us can deny the I'M
mense amount of good there has been done
to amateur sports by the Amateur Athletic
Union. Wise and fe guides like W. B.
Curtis and James E Sullivan are sure to
do good to the union.
True, there are internal dissensions
among the amateur moguls, but that is
simply because few youngsters" are, by
audacity mostly, forcing themselves into
prominence and disputing the authority,
the wisdom and the methods of the veter-
ans who made all tine progress there has
been made. Youthful ambition is often
laudabie, but there are times when 1t is
fraught with too much personal vanity and
backed up BY too little ability and e1-
perience.
There is very great difference between
amateur athletics to-day and the time when
: the A. A. q. was organized. Certainly l
do not claim that the remarkable progress
made in amateur sports has been all the
work of the A. A. O., but as an ''outsider,
do claim that the A. A. q. has, moro
than any other agency, kept amateur sports
within limits that have made them as sue
cessful as they have BEEN. There are gen.
tlemen at the head of the A. A. q. who
know exactly what an amateur athlete
should be, and men of this class are rare.
We can, therefore. rest assured that as Ions,
as the A. A. U. receives the support of the
public We will always have standard OF
amateurism that will not discredit the
country.
The Death of william O'Connor.
Quite a surprise was given the sporting
world Thursday morning by the announce
ment of the death OF William O'Connor, the
champion sculler of the United States. He
was cut down while in his prime and while
he was almost in the act of going forth
in search of young bone and sinew to per-
petuate the sport and art of which he him
self was champion. O'Connor died with
laurels on his brow.
The career OF William O'Connor has not
been busy one, simply because he landed
on the scene when the palmy days OF profes-
England, were over. He has almost only
one great victory to his name, viz, his de-
feat OF Teemer for the American champion
ship four years ago, which lie won. Had
OConnor been before the public eight or ten
years earlier am inclined to think that he
would have had an extremely brilliant
career, because he would have had oppor-
tunities to distinguish himself which ho mas
not had III his time. True, he was beaten in
Australia two years ago by Stansbury. That
defeat did not conclusively prove that the
Australian was the absolute superior OF the
American champion: The latter was in
Matters might have been differen: had the
came here anu contested against
o. 'Connor on one of our streams.
Doubtless there will be much discussion
as to the standing of O'Connor as a sculler
in comparison to others of the first rank.
Was he a better sculler than Hanlan? is a
question that heard not later than ye>ter-
day several times. An answer can only be
more or less conjecture. In nv humble
Judgment have seen Hanlan when he may
nave beaten O'Connor, the latter being at
his best. 1 say ne may at least had they
been matched, and both men at their best.
feel sure that the odds would have favored
Hanlan. Excellent judges have told me
tnat Hanlan never saw the day when ne
could defeat O'Connor. At any rate, the de-
ceased champion must be rated as one of
the best sculIers we have ever had.
AS a result of the death OF the champion
we have no champion sculler now, and we
may, there ore, reIy on a race Ior the title
sooner or later. The number of aspirants Is
very, very small Reasonably we can only
have Hanlan, Teemer and Gaudaur trying
for the tile, except there is some young
nan in the background. There is an unfor-
5unate feature about our professional scull-
ng that will detract from any contest that
may take place between the above mem
Toned rowers. The p bile has no faith in
my one of them. 1 am not saying whether
,he public is right or wrong in this, am
Dnly stating a TACT that is too well known.
The Battle Tomorrow Night.
There is more interest in the glove con-
Jest tomorrow evening between Greggains
md Costello than l had expected to find.
More than ordinary pre- stige is given to 1T
because of the announc ment that the win
ler is to fight Hail or Fitzsimmons. This
part l hardly credit. At least If either
Ireggains or Costello were to fight either
Hall or Fitzsimmons 1 should think 1t a real
good thing to back either Hall or Fitz.
Tomorrow nights battle is almost sure to
be a desperate one. Latest reports state
5nat both men are in eXcellent condition.
Greggains as an amateur won 40 contests,
and during his professional career has de-
feated La Blanche and Turner. lie has only
aIled once TO score a win and that WAS when
he made a draw with Costello alter fighting
10 rounds.
against him and that was when f. P. Slavin
lefeated him on the turf under the prlZe
ing rules Costello has mostly fought
against heavy weights. He will meet good
man tomorrow night, and while have not
much to say about the result, have notion
hat Greagain will win it. l do not think
hat Costello is in as good form as he was
when he fought Greggains before.
The Boxers Are Very Quiet.
The leading boxers and latter-day pugfli.ts
ave been very quiet during the week. Cor
,ett, to be sure, has made his usual number
# speeches and made his usual humber of
hreats to Mitchell. James j. almost daily
els US nDdG lie IL OO WIN nulbCHSll uc
eUs hold OF him. All this may sound well
O Corpett's friends, but wonder Why the
champion did not punch tie British blow
lard" when the latter was il tho act of in.
ulting Corbett. James J. every day keeps
epeatlng how Mitchell insulteu him and
le'll whip him on sight Tor it. Why didn't
Jorbett do his whipping at the time. A
game man would have tried at
my rate. just take my wold or it, Iorbett
will not do half of what he says he'll do
vnen he meets Mitchell, either in or out OF
he ring.
AS matters now look, it seems as if the
Hall and Fitzsmmuns battle will not take
)lace for that S4U 900 as arranged. There are |
Tarious rumors flying round relative to the |
flair, and all of them point to the sus-
Gmor has it that the Crescent Club has |
made an al lRngement with FitZsimmons to |
ave the fight there. Fitz, accordin: to re- |
port, is to get $1,000 if he wins. The club |
kinks IL is Gel tainty for FitZsimmons. Ii |
Hall wins. OF course he'll have to get the big |
hare OF 1000. But there is still considera-
lie uncertainty about the contest, and il |
Gems TO me that contest for even $50 900 |
,urse between Hall and Fitzsim:nons will |
lot pay, because the sporting public are |
'ery suspicious about these two Australian |
+ orthies.
An Eastern authority states that Goddard |
md his manager, William Maiden, lave |
issolved partnership. Goddard, so the story |
oes. does not believe in Madden gong |
ound as gentleman OF leisure, doing no |
YORK and sharing the money maze by God |
lard. confess THAT this difference, real OF |
Ileged, looks queer to me- 1t may and it |
nay not have something 10 do with the bat
lie between Maher ana Goddard.
There is little or no prospect of a battle |
Or Peter jackson. 1t looAs as if Coruett |
Ill never lace the colOred wonder again, |
nd this may be a wise thing Tor Corbett to |
o, or rather not to 10. 1t may be that il |
GODDARD defeats Maner anyway handily, he, /
-oddard,Swill be matched against jackson. |
will not be surprised if this is the case as
GODDARD, in the event of his defeating the |
will be willing to fgntanyDody. |
PRINGLE.
Facts to Be Considered.