The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-28

/ ever receive may the 1Ofu make me
truly thankful for.
What do you think Of jacksonville
and this section of the country as the
place for the fghtl' was asked.
Il suppose | will like it well enough. l
have not been in the south much, but
have been to New Orleans and found the
people there very nice. l would have pre-
ferred to have had the fight there as l
know the people there and they are all
yerynice. But ! suppose shall find them
the same way here, as l understand they
are all alike in the south. So far as that
is concerned, however, it is a matter OF
indifference to me where the fight comes
of Just so it comes off. That is what
want, " and he put some emphasis on the
last word of that sentence.
DOESN'T THINK IT WILL BE STOPPED.
"F'rom what you have heard do you
think any attempt will be made to put
stop to the contest by the state authori-
ities9''
ii can't, of course express any Opin-
ion on that point, as have no assurances
as to what the authorities will do, but 1
am informed by my manager and others
that everything has been arranged, and
that there will be no difficulty on that
score. / don't see why there should be
law against a contest of this kind. The
laws are far stricter in England than
they are in this country, and these con-
tests are permitted in London without in
reference. I should think that no at
tempt would be made to stop it here"
"What would you do in case it were
stoppedg'
THAT l don't know. Some other ar
rangements would be made, / suppose. l
don't think, however they would have
let US gone so far with expensive prepare
tions only to put stop TO it." He then
branched OFF on COrbett again.
~ would like to meet that man at any
hour, at any time and at any place that
he might name,'' he said, as he seemed to
be thinking of the charge of fear that
was preferred against him. Il would
like to meet him by myself. / would
jump with Joy to meet him without a
referee. Why, look how he fought that
poor invalid, Sullivan. The man had
been twice at deaths door, and yet he
stood up there and pounded him almost
insensible. He has been in the ring but
little more than five years, and l was
champion in England eleven years before
he was heard of in this country or any
where else.'
PETER JACKSON AS AN ISSUE.
"Wlll this fight decide the champion
ship or will other pugilists endeavor to
assert their rights after the contest2"
Mitchell had very little to say in reply
to this He wanted TO know what rights
other pugilists had. He thought some of
the lesser lights were always asserting
rights which they could never maintain.
"Will Peter jackson be a dead issue, or
will he have to be consideredl" was
asked.
"Of course he will have TO be consid-
cred, was the prompt reply. HE will
be factor, too, unless the color line is
drawn"
"Well, do you think it will be drawn}"
"Oh, can't express my opinion about
that" was the reply. ut may, or it may
not, that depends"
MITCHELL TO RETIRE AFTER THE FIGHT.
"Will you retire from or remain in the
pugilistic arena if you win this tightl"
Yes" was the reply, 81 shall retire
anyhow. / shall give up fighting, whether
l win or lose this contest. The fact is, /
retired in 49, but came out to fight Sulli-
van. I have had on the gloves very little
since 'SS. The last bout had was with
fellow named Upham, at New Orleans.
His name should have been Durham. l
have come over twice now to settle this
contest, and l want to have the meet and
settle it.
'If win this contest" Mitchell con-
tinued, 81 will probably settle in this
country, but if not, l will remain in
England. ! have a large music hall in
I-ODuOlls anu nave dlIGdLy lOSb 100 HUGH
time from that business. But | am al
most an American now, and Ithink, with
out doubt, if l win, shall settle in
America"
viii you go to your training quarters
at once2"
81 believe that is the programme l
understand that / am TO give an exhibit
tion sparring match at Jacksonville to-
night, and then go to my training quar-
tiers at once"
HIS WEIGHT TO BE SLIGHTLY REDUCED.
"What is your present weight?"
81 weigh now just 1S6 pounds, and |
have worked down to that from 221. I
expect to bring that weight down eight or
ten pounds. / am in good condition and,
in fact, have been in training for the fight
ever since it has been settled that it was
to take place which has been about a
year / have been dieting and taking the
regular training exercise. My intentions
were to come down here in time to get
about four weeks finishing off before
the fight, and l have done it, On
my trip down l have eaten little or moth
ing. If had kept my usual diet for
day or two without taking my exercise
would have put on from five to ten pounds
of blubber."
HOW HE LOOKS AT THE CONTEST.
Mitchell says he is not a stickler about
his food as Corbett is. He referred loosely
to the interview in which Corbett is
said to have complained because his eggs
were little too done. He says he is a
hearty but careful eater, and that while
he will pursue some system in training,
as usual thing he turns his attention to
the exercise which he most needs or
which best pleases his fancy.
| Mitchell is 30 years old, and he was
looking unusually well. While he was
very backward in saying anything that
smacks of the braggadocio, so far as re-
| CARDS his confidence in the result, it
could easily be gathered from his CONVEX
sation that he had good faith in himself,
and that he had an IDEA that Corbett was
| going to fight a better man than he had
ever fought before. Mitchelps wife and
children are in England, and will not
| come over for the fight.
| LIVELY WELCOME.
The train pulled into Jacksonville at
! 10 80 O'Clock, considerably behind sched-
ule time, and when it stopped at the
! Florida, Central and Peninsular depot
there began one of the hveliest ovations
that has ever been given a pugilst
or anybody else, except the Presi-
dent in the South The crowd
was immense aud all wanted to get
into the Pullman coach at once
Deere he is, OATS de man." shouted a
coon who got nearer than anyone else.
when Jack Eagerly appeared in the