The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19
A PRINCELY SPORTDEAD
SQUIRE ABISGDOS, MITCHELL's
BACRER, DIES IN NEW ORLEANS.
He Was Rich Iroumaster Of England
With an Income Of $3.50 900 Year.
Led a Life Of Dissipation.

AolnBuOn, tne noted English sport, anl
the hacker OF Charley Mitchell, died al
the st. Charles Hotel this morning
where he had been for several days suf.
fering from a severe attack Of pneumo-
MIA. The Squire came here from New
York with the Hall-Mitchell party in
the best OF health and decided TO make
protracted stay in the city He en-
gagged rooms at the st. Charles Hotel
and Immediately began to spend his
money right and left among his friends
He found the New Orleans sporting fra
ternity TO his liking, and while he was
here led a very fast life and INDUCED
in the luxuries and designations Of the
city freely. On the night Of the Hall
FitZsimmons fight he was one Of Halls
seconds, and while in the ring wore moth
ing but a loose undershirt to protect him
from the chilly air The Squire handled
the bottles and the ice In Halls corner.
and after the defeated pugilist had been
revived and taken back TO the hotel,
he started out for a lark and a general
round Of dissipation. He kept up his
spree until ne was finally obliged TO take
to his bed.
At first his Illness was not considered
serious, but the physicians who called
confident was the Squire that he would
soon recover that he insisted that Mitch
ell and Hall should precede him to New
York. and he was TO join them there
I'm time to sail on the Majestic on We'd
nesday The dissipation he had INDUCED
in for a fortnight had impaired his ply
sical vigor and made him an easy prey.
Skilled and trained nurses were OF no
avail. and slowly sinking, he died at .
1Ir rfts 11pa
NEW YORK. March 1s.-Charley Mitchell
and jim Hall arrived from Buffalo at the
Grand Central depot at 1876 o'clock this
morning They went 70 the Gedney House
at once. where they found a telegram 10
Mitchell announcing the death Of the
Squire. Mitchell began sending kilograms
at once about his death. He appeared
greatly affected by the news.
The first telegram was 10 A. Monk, the
'Squire's valet, at New Orleans. 1t was:
"No use Of coming to New Orleans now"
This referred to Mitchell's plan Of going
by train tomorrow. He followed II up
with another to Monk. II read; Have
Squire embalmed and brought to New
York right away. We can then catch
beat"
a third dispatch 20 the same effsct was
sent TO w. +. Bailey, the Squires sec-e-
tary, who is in New Orleans. Another
went to "Gravatic,' London, which is the
cable address Of the 'Squire's lawyers. II
read: esquire Abingdon Baird He'd at
New Orleans this orning."
Mitchell then spoke feelingly about his
friend. when l left New Orleans" he
said. "the Squire was in bed. The doc
tors advised me to leave him. as he would
set better more quickly; so l came 10
New York. Before left. however, told
them that If they would get the Squire
into shape and in New York in time TO
catch the boat for England on Wednes-
day. would give them $l.00O. | am great
ly affected by my friends death. He has
been sufferer from bowel troubles for
some time, and his constitution was run
down"
When Mitchell was asked what effect
the Squire's death would have on his
match with Corbett, he said:
1T won't have the slightest effect. The
Squire gave me the $4,000 TO bet. with the
understanding that / was to have It all II
/ won. That Is the way the Squire
backed all his men. I will say now that,
barring accident. l will battle with Cor
bett when the gong sounds"
Squire AbngdOns real name was George
A. Baird, and he was one Of the best
known all-round sporting men Of England.
lie was a gentleman jockey Of Great
Britain, having ridden against the best
men Of England, Ireland and Scotland.
IL was only within a few years past
that pugilism began to divide his atten-
tiOn with racing. But since he took en-
to the fighters, Abingdon
has backed nearly all the fighters Of
prominence in Great Britain. He was a
liberal hacker. too, paying all his mems
expenses and presenting the stake money
to them when they were winners He
haxgntfar. of ct
chooser OF men. But he was a good
loser. as full Of pluck as he was ready
with cash. The Squire was exceeding
ly anable and made many friends. He
was a rich ironmaster, with an income
OF $3.50, 900 a year.
lie ran away with Dolly Tester, ex-
ballet dancer. ana wife OF the MARQUIS OF
Ailsbury. few years ago, and paid the
Marquis 100000 TO settle the matter He
was at one time on friendly terms with
the notorious Bessie Belwood, and was
named as correspondent in a divorce suit
brought by Mr.. Lancaster, whose wife
was stage beauty, known as Agnes
Hewitt
once, too the papers cautiously re-
ferred TO partnership between the
Squire and Mrs. Langtry.
Because OF reports OF some unsavory
dealing at the Smith-Savin fight i'm Bel
can Club and promptly started a club |
Of his own in King street. 81. James.
Abingdon's training establishment for |
race horses at Moulton Paddocks. New !
market was the finest thing os its kind |
IN England. His luck in racing was not |
always good, but he had Liverpool cup |
winner four times in Father Confessor; |
took the same cup three times with Lady |
Rosenberg, and won the great derby |
)nce-in lSS5-with Royal Hampton.
The 'Squire's present visit 10 America |
vas for the special purpose OF promoting |
he Mitchell-Corbett contest, and he pro-
,Osed 10 see good deal of the country |
incidentally.
The father Of the Squire was the we'll
nown Baird, Of Gartsherrie who be-
anne so well-knOwn at the time OF the
allure of the Western Bank of Scotland
when he wrote his check. to pay the de-
nand OF the depositors. for f20OO,OOO ster-
ing.
1t is believed by many that the death
( the Squire may have some effect
pom the Mitchell-Corbett match. The
xecutors OF his estate may insist upon
he withdrawal of the $4,000 stake money
which the Squire put up. In that case
he match will likely fall through. as II IL
hought that there is no man in England
gho will back Mitchell for that amount.
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