The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-19
IN SPORTING CIRCLES.
Burnham Meeting With Great Sue
cess In the Base Ball Line.
IKE WEIR DEFEATS STEELE,
Something Secret Going at the Herr
eshoffs' works-The Doors Closed tn
Visitors for Few wightman's
Cruiser at Saunders Boat House.

With each succeeding day the prospects
for ball team brighten and there is now
very little doubt but that Providence will
be represented in the Eastern League this
year. Walter Burnham, whom every
reader of the NEWS knows by reputation
If not personally, has been in the city since
Tuesday and has been accomplishing Won
ders. On every side the outlook is most
encouraging and Burnham wears n smile
as broad as his hat The question OF
grounds, fence and grand stand is practi-
cally settled now, and it is pretty near q
certainty that the patrons of the game VIII
see the Providence Grays perform on the
Adelaide Park grounds again.
Burnham has also started the bail a-roll-
ing for the stock. and in few hours yes
terday received subscriptions for 81 200 at
the rate of sos a share. AS the total
amount required is only 5000, and OF this
one fourth has already been raised, III
ought not TO take long at the present rate
TO get the balance together Altogether,
the outlook is very favorable.
Have the Herreshoff's got something
new in the wind; il certainly looks so, for
their place of business is closed TO every
body for a few days and q newspaper man
can get no farther than the office. This is
the agreement which Nat and John made
early in the week and for the next few
days the rule will be enforced. Then the
scribes can get a "peek" inside again.
What is going on behind those closed
doors only those employed at the works
know and they smile Significantly when
asked what it Is, but mum" is the word.
There is to be big launching at this ia
nous boat yard on the 10Th, when the
Wasp better known as the new Gloriana,
will kiss the water for the first time.
Another flyer of the same type will also
he sent down the ways on that occasion
and altogether it will be big day for
those who take an interest in catching.
At George Saunders shop Byron Wigh-
mans new cruiser is fast getting into
shape. Although intended for a cruiser
she will also combine all the speed that
is practical in a boat which is built for
accommodation and safety. She is built
on the same lines as the famous Gloriana
with the exception of n drop keel. Her
water line is 23.3 feet and over all she
measures 35.3 feet. Her greatest beam is
nine feet, her draught six feet and she
will carry $500 pounds of lead. Her in
terror will he finished in mahogany and
when completed will be one of the hand
soonest pleasure yachts on Narragansett
Bay.
At the same shop Walter Potters
"Marsia" is being fitted with n $500
pound lead keel. Heretofore she has car
ried iron ballast inside and this new ar
rangement will give this extra room in the
cabin.
The boat owned by William Williams
of New York is also out of water at
Saunders and is to be fitted VITA n 6-foot
overhanging bow. Her water line is 35
feet and with this addition TO the bow will
make her more than 40 feet over all.
Last night was the date set by the New
Bedford Athletic club for the contest
between Spider" Ike Weir and Frank
Steele, both of Boston. 1t took Weir but
twelve rounds to demonstrate to Steele
that he still had lots of the old-time
ginger in him and settle the much mooted
question of supremacy. 1t was "grudge"
battle for a $500 purse.
Previous TO the event OF the evening
there was six-ronnd go between two
local bantams. named Daniel Ceary and
Patrick Downey. to decide who would
fight Patrick Broderick, JIMMY Boutelle's
bantam Of this city. next month.
Downey was the more clever and had he
been properly instructed would have won
in few rounds. He also proved TO be a
foul fighter
Downey forced the fighting from the
start. aud he had Cleary grogRy several
times, and secured knockdown in the
third round. Cleary made game fight
aud managed to stay till the end
Referee Moore declared the contest a
draw. but the club picked Downey to meet
the Providence lad.
Then came the main event and there
were about 800 people there to witness it,
although there was little betting done.
Weir was looked after by Billy Frazier
and Dave Ross of Boston. George God
frey. Jim Pyfren and Johnnie Griffin
seconded Steele. James L. Moore of New
Bedford was referee.
Weir led off at lively gait In the first
round. An upper cut with his left stag
gered Steele. In the second round Steele
kept away as much as possible. Just be-
fore the close another left-hander sent
Steele against the ropes Steele knocked
Weir againstthe ropes in the fourth round
with swinging blow with the right The
sixth and seventh rounds were fought
principally in Steele's corner, and Weir,
who was the fresher of the two, made a
target of Steele's jaw.
In the eighth the Spider sent Steele
down in his own corner twice. When the
round ended. Steele was practically
whipped. He had no heart for the fight
when he came up in the tenth round
Weir, on contrary, smiled as only he can
smile, and, finding an opening, Steele
went to the floor just as time was called.
Steele's eyes were almost closed when he
came up for the twelfth He tried hard
TO avoid the Spiders left, but Weir was
too quick for him, and, after getting in
swinger with his right knocked him out
on a cross blow with the left.
Fred johnson, the English bantam
weight appears to mean business for he
has accepted Dixons offer TO fight him at
1l6 pounds, weigh hours before the fight.
i'm the California club the last week i'm
May or the first week in June All that
now remains is for the California club to
offer the purse which must be at least
5000 to tempt the little champion.
The Yale boat Club has contracted with
Waters of Troy for n racing shell for this
years varsity race. The boat will be GO
feet long, "a inches wide and inches
deep amidships. II will be made upon n
new model, which, MIR. Waters thinks,
will increase its speed.
+. w. A.