The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-09
|ITCHELL'S FROTHINGS.
20 PRIzB-FIGHTER EVER HAD AN
IWPENETRABLE LEFT GUARD.

OF him - me $4,000 side Bet
Stands
tCoDufohtJ
New York, Aprn 9-The death OF my
friend, George Alexander Baird, better
known to the world at large as Squire Alb.
ingdon, will in no way affect my match
with James J. Corbstt for the worlds cham
pionship. have spurned Corbett's offer to
let the side bet go and contend for purse
alone. Regarded it. in the light of his past
vocIferous demands for an ample side stake.
as a deliberate insult, "a malicious shaft
aimed at me at a time when was well nigh
overcome with grief at the unexpected loss
OF loyal friend, shrewd counselor and I'M
'hinching hacker.
Strange as it may appear to Mr.. Corbett
could have at any time obtained all the
backing desired, outside of my deceased
friend, Squire Abingdon although not en-
gagged in the show business, nor masquer-
aiding as an actor. nor travelling on my
shape in any way. My father-in-law,
George Washington, better known as
Pony" Moore, would have gladly backed
me against James J. Corbett for $4,000 as
any time. One or two other personal
friends offered TO do the same thing. and as
have little coin of my own there need
never have been any fear that a battle
would not occur by reason OF any lack OF
''yellow backs"
So much confidence had my deceased
friend Baird in my ability to best Corbett
that he wanted to back me for $4,000
aside against the Californian. When Will
lam h. Brady, Corbets's manager and rep
reseutative, at one of our many conferences
suggested that the side stakes be increased
from $4,000 TO $50 900 a side, Baird, al
nrrh 81 III
could barely be restrained from jumping up
and Selling the offer. / explained to HIM,
however, IN Il whispered aside, that too
large a side bet would be sure 10 attract the
attention OF the officers of the law. and
demonstrated, besides, that for his extra
$40, 900 be could win $50 900 instead Of $4O,-
600 at the ring side. as Corbett, being the
champion OF America and the conqueror OF
the renowned John L. Sullivan, would GER
tainly enter the ring TO l favorite. Mr..
Baird was a shrewd, keen business man, as
we'll as a thorough sportsman, and he at
once grasped my point and subsidized.
A TRIBUTE TO SULLIVAN.
Baird. be it known, was a warm admirer
of the undaunted gladiator and lion~
hearted man of men, John L. Sullivan.
When that king of fighters, broken down
IN health and wreck OF his former self,
went down before the youthful and the
4uthJ GOTDbll. DaiEO was deeply GQhKTAnHu.
Not that he cared a lot for the money he
had lost On Sullivan, which was in the
neighborhood Of $4,000, but he felt grieved
that SO grand man as Sullivan should be
caught 10 his pugilistic old age by a sbrewd
manager and no less cunning fighter, just
as the aged and indrm king Of the forest,
the Nunidian lion, is SHARED ard set upon
by the inferior beasts of the Jungle.
Even after the defeat of Sullivan Squire
Abingdon was continually after me to do
battle with his conqueror He believed
that l could whip him, and was never salts
fled until had made oyertures for match
When that match was finally contaminated
Baird was the happies. man alive.
The real, genuine friendship and respect
Squire Abingdon bad for John L. Sullivan
were shown at st. Louis few weeks ago
when "Sullyn aud patched up our differ
. enc, and made up. Baird was, as a rule,
und~moustrative and possessed of superb
seif-eontrol When. however, Sullivan
footlights, he gave way to the most joyous
applause and led the cheering which fol-
loved. When Sullivan spoke in terms Of
eulogy of your humble servant and wished
him success il the coming contest Baird
could hardly contain himself any longer,
and rushed to shake John L. by the hand
heartily, right then and there, even in the
midst Of the great Bostonian's speechmAk-
ing.
SIDE BET ALL RIGHT.
Now final word regarding my $40, 600
deposit already up to fight Corbett. Some
people, the facetous Mr. Corbett among
them, affect t. believe that she relatives of
my dead friend will claim that $4,000
when his estate is settled up. That idea is
q oorker he estate of George Alexander
Baird is worth anywhere from SIS, 900 coo
up, and $4,000 is mere bagaIelle in COM
parison. Baird's relatives would not dis
grace his memory by suing for such paltry
sum. Besides, it would do them no good if
they did. George Alexander Baird gave
me that $1,000 to place On myself, the
understanding being that in case defeated
Corbett | vas TO have the 10000 stake
money, besides the $75, 900 or $780, Goo purse,
or whatever purse should be offered for the
contest No, there is no fear OF the match
lot going on for any lack Of side bets
1t is with extreme regret that leave for
England. / am completely overrun with
business matters which / have here in
America to attend to. When | speak of
business affairs | do not refer TO any
attempts at acting, taking or incorporating
in anything but my true guise. What
really mean is that l have real business
m0uters to look after, the same IS any
broker in Wall or Broad street, OF any mer-
chant in the dry goods district. I'll let other
champions attend to acting such as Gen
temau Jack' and the like.
/ will stay in England until September
and do little II any work there, as | believe
too much work makes man stiff aud stale.
! will be back in America the first week in
September and train three months assid =
ously near the club house where the contest
will occur. l will get into the finest posslble
shape for battle, and will have no excuses
TO fer should the tide go against me- All
! ask for is g fair field and no favor and
that the better man win. l sincerely trust
that my prospective adversary feels the
same way. If he does the American public
will confidently predict. be treated to g
battle which will satisfy them from every
standpoint.
A HARD FIGHT CERTAIN.
Now q word as to that battle. It will
not be the easy, one-sided affair that the
partisans Of each side look for. On the con.
tracy, it will be a hard, determined strug-
gle, and scientific throughout Corbett has
the advantage Of me in hight and reach
III other points think we are about equal
although so eminent an authority as John
l.. sullivan, who has fought us both, SAYS
that am the harder hitter. Other things
being equal, skill, speed and STIFFNESS, hard
hitting sometimes offsets superior hight and
reach.
Much has been said about Corbett's won-
derful left hand. Like that of Peter Jack
sons, many regard it as impenetrabe, and