Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-06

NEW YORK, August I'm my hum
bic opinion a lighter should condne all
his arguments 70 the "a foot limit ac-
corded him by the nsages OF the ring.
OF late, however, IL has become the
practice Of the champions 70 fight their
battles In print as we'll as In the roped
arena ! am n0t anxious 10 emulate
their example, but In the present In
stance I am constrained TO follow them,
first, because a legion OF friends have
requested me 70 make known my true
physical condition, and, second, because
q suspicion has arisen that l have be-
come afflicted with that dangerous dis
ease known IS "swelled head" This
Impression has become current In some
quarters from the fact that have agreed
TO meet Eddie Pierce at the Coney
Island Athletic club for purse OF So
500 on August 7th and TO fight Solly
Smith. the conQuerOr OF Johnny Grit
fen. &C the Columbian club at ROby,
India month later for q purse Of $4,000.
1t Is argued that hold both meR cheap
inasmuch as have agreed to meet such
q resOubtable twain within such short
space OF time. Some caustic critics have
zone so far as TO declare that l am imi-
Eating Champion Jim COrbett. That
ambitious gentleman, as the sporting
public Is we'll aware, challenged Peter
jackson to meet him within q month
before or after his battle with Charley
Mitchell, the best man ia all England.
lam not following In the champions
footsteps. Neither have i acquired, In
proportion 20 my size, the large era
Mum the big fellow Is credited with.
NV hat fits me as easily now as 10 ever
did. / do not underrate Pierce or Smith.
I know that they are both magnificent
little fighters aud realize that will
have no easy task % conquer either.
Yet. and speak with all due mOdesty
II am satisfied that I can whip both OF
them. else / should not have made the
matches did. What is more, l will be
in better condition 70 meet Solly smith
-presuming / have the good for
tune to defeat Eddie Pierce
within a month than l would three
or six months later. All l will need
Is a weeks rest, and then, resuming
training, will be as right as clock when
/ 20 up against Smith. or course IN
making this proposition bar the prob
ability of all serious accidents. Unless
1 break an arm or lex will be as right
as whistle. II / get q bruised hand or
4 swelled shoulder "a my contest with
Pierce, / will have ample time 70 recov-
er. Should dislOcate an arm, shoulder
or leg In that encounter the chances are
that ] cannot face Smith upon the date
agreed upon. In the event Of the for
tune OF war going wholly against me
IN the first fray she Columbian people
may prefer 70 take on Pierce as the
most suitable opponent for the dough
" little Californian and leave me out In
the cold.
The reason that preferred to meet
my two rivals within such a brief perl
cd Of time, outside OF the reasons l have
ALREADY assigned, Is this: If l am sue
cessful In both encounters, l can at
once 20 out on the road with my man
ager, Tom O'Rourke, and his vaudeville
covananv and not be battered BY -0ther
It's for dstiC fame for
ten months. The the
IN begins in Septem-
ends IN May or June.
be justified In declining
0tcak up my theatrical tour
10 accept the challenges Of all ambitious
featherweights until the expiration OF
that time. All fair minded spOrtsmen
would uphold me in so doing. When
that time has expired / will be only too
happy TO take on Johnny Van Heest,
Young Critic OF Australia or any recog-
nized champion IN my class who can
get down 70 weight. OF course l AN
always arguing on the hypothesis that
] will be a victor throughout. Should
either Pierce or Smith defeat me IL will
be in order for the mas who proves
himself the better Of the two TO outline
his future plan OF action.
think / have the right TO speak as l
do about my future course, tor should l
conouer both Pierce and /nith shall
have then defeated six OF the best feath-
erweights in, the world, for besides
Pierce and Smith j shall already have
added 70 my list Of conquered heroes OF
the magic circle Abe Willis, recognized
champion Of Australia; Nunc Wallace
and Fred Johnston, the two best little
men OF England, and last, but not least,
Cal Mccarthy, long regarded as the in
vincibe featherweight OF America.
With such a string OF victories TO my
credit no man could say that was
coward should refuse 20 meet him I'M
IN my theatrical season was ended.
Now a word as 20 the effect Of theat-
rical life upon a fighter. As rule, It
Is bad. Aside from the social disSipa-
tions a successful pugilist is likely to
Indulge In, the wear and tear Of travel,
loss Of sleep aud the constant strain on
the mind and body caused by rehearsals