The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19
ABINGDON Is DEAD.
An English Patron of Sports
and Mitchell's Backer.
THE FAST LIFE KILLED HIM.
Pug1l1st0 Mourn His Untfmely Baldwin
Not I.terfsrs with the Big Fight
Gsadsur Challenges SALISBURY.

NV ORLEANS, March M-Gsorge A. Baird.
better kuowa - esquire" Abingdon, the friend
and companion Of the English pugilist, Charlie
Mitchell, died here this morning Baird's death
created something of . sensation here, Is il had
not leaked ous that hs was 20 seriously i'll
when the squire came here from New YORK
With the Hall and Mitchell party he was in the
best spirtS and splendid health. with:a quick,
elastic step aud . rudy face. He came
In excellent condition for . long stay, engaged
the bsst rooms in the hotel and began to open
wine Immediately for all to whom he took
liking. He spent money right and left for men
and women He found New Orleans fast In .
sporting sense, and cut out tho pace that all
who were with him had to follow, except Hall
On the night of the fight he was selected to 60
into the corner with Hall, not because he was
thought to know much handling the man, but
simply for the honor Of having been
in the corner. He wore nothing but .
iooss undershirt. - did the other sec
onda. It was rather warm during the
early part of the evening but before the fight
began 1t had changed considerably and there
were many dangerous draughts whizzing
through the big pine building. The squire
handled the ice aud bottles in the corner ana
me0e himself generally useful until the fight
wss over and Hall had been taken back to his
room. After the defeated pugilist had been es-
cofted back to his hotel, the entire party went
out Tor lark and general round of dissipa-
ton was begun, in which Jim Hall and the
squire played leading parts aud which did not
END until the squire broke down and had to 60 to
oed. HIS illness was at drst not considered
serious and was regarded merely ~ . cold, re-
sVltine from dissipation. However. . physician
vas called In and the sick man given every pos
sible attention. He himself did not believe ho
was badly OF, and was so confident he would b
up In day or two and able to 90 East that he
insisted that Mitchell should start ON ahead Of
him for New YORK, the Western trip with Bat
Mssterson having been abandoned. Mitchell left
with Hall and the squire expected to meet him
IN time to sail on the Majestic on Wednesday.
The Majestic will carry back to England on
"wednesday the dead body of the squire, aud his
borrowing friendA It was not until dispatch
came here from Buffalo to the effect that
Mitchell had received word that the squire was
dying that any faith was placed In rumors cur
rent on the street yesterday evening that the
squire was 1t the point of death.
Dr. Fitch had originally been callsd In to ct.
tend the sufferer, but when he continued to
grow worse, DR.. Miles, distinguished surgeon
and physician Of the Charity hospital, was sum.
moned for consultation. At that time the
squire was delIrious aud violent, and had to
have with him constantly some one TO prevent
him from doing himself violence After . con.
sultatiOn between d.. Miles and DR.. Fitch, . tel
sgram was sent East that the sick man was
suffering with pnuemonis and that his
recovery. despite his splendid con-
stitution. was regarded As improbable
He had dissipated % much in the past fort.
night that his physical vigor had been Inn
paired and the disease had made rapid tn,oads
upon him. During all his illness his secretary.
Teddy Bailey. and his valet, William Monk. re.
msined constantly with him, and he was given
every attention that money could procure in the
matter OF trained nurses and scientific
care During last night the condition Of the
patient grew worse. and despite the unremit-
ting attention OF the physicians and nurses he
was 90 far gone, when daylight broke, his death
became only question OF few hours Sinking
slowly. death finally occurred ct o'clock. He
had been i'll but week.
Last night Charlie Mitchell tslegraphed here
that he would come back 1t once to the side of
the squire. aud would reach here on Monday
morning. He was then at Buffalo This morn
ing he was In New York The squires body
was not yet cold when q wire was sent on to
Mitchell announcing the death Of his friend and
arresting his proposed journey south. Telegrams
were also Immediately sent to various points in
the East and to New York. and cablegrams'
to the family in England, consisting of
mother, sisters and cousnA Replies were re.
ceived from over the water placing all arrange
msnts in the hands of Secretary Bailey. who,
with DR.. Fitch ~ guide, started forth at once
to carry out the wishes of the family of the dead
man. An undertaken WAS sent for, and at $50
o'clock van drove up to the hotel and the body
was removed to the funeral directors, where it
10 now being enbalmed. Bailey secured trans
portation for himself and valet and the body
over the Piedmont Air line, and will leave with
the remains for New York this evening.
George A. Baird, known TO sportsmen 40
esquire Abingdon. was the most eXtfavagant
sporting man IN England. He had an income
OF S75o,Oo0 year from iron mills, and tried to
spend It al. He was gentleman jockey of
Great Britain. having ridden against the best
H ne of .E Eag. with % r. sSS sso,:na
dancer and wife OF the Msrqui. of
marquis $5oO.ooo to settle the matter. He was
at one time on friendly terms with the notori-
Gus Bessie Beiiwood. and was named a core
spondent in the divorce suit brought by Mr..
Lancaster. whose wife n.w wa. stage beauty
he Quarreled with his intimate friend
her cruelty, bl.ckenins both her eyes
Because OF reports OF some unsavory dealing at
the Smith-Slavin fight in Belgium, Abingdon
reflected on by the Pc lean Club, ana
promptly started club OF his own on King
street, ~. James. Abiugdon's training establish
ment for race horses at Moulton paddock,
Newmarket. was the finest thing OF its kind in
England His luck in racing was not always
good. but he had Liverpool cup winner four
times in Father Coniessor. took the
same cup three times with Lady
u s, x xsn Rs Rs,. great H.m Ds5S
IT ives only Of late years tina, Baird became in.
;erested in pr.z fighting. The Hall Prtchsrd
hght took place on his grounds at Brighton.
SIX weeks ago he came 10 America with Charley
Mitchell, whose hacker he was. He lost So, 0Jo
on Jim Hall on the evening of March s
MITCHELL MOUKNs BAIRD.s DEATH
says 1t Will Not Interfere With Fight
Corbett's View of the Case.
NEW YORK. March ls.--Charley Mitchell and
~ 4,
1875 and were met by Jerry Mahonsy. Mitchell
and Hall took cab and started for the Gedney
house. Mahoney and his friend took another
hotel A telegram awaited Mitchell which