Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-10
Lib PUT IN Ills OAR.
Squire Abingdon Baird, ChOlly
MitchelTS Friend,
NARROWLY ESCAPES A LICKING
At the Hands Of Fitzsimmons.
Jack McAuliffe Tries to Pick a
Quarrel By Joking Fitz About
Eis Flower Garden-President
Noel Arsiyes in Time to Quell
the Hostilities.

r.
came nearly being an improviSed hight,
of the rough and tumble order, at the
Crescent City Athletic Club this after
noon. Fitzsimmons visited the club at
3 o'clock. He went to the reading room
and began writing letter. With him
were two friends Of this city.
While Fitzsimmons was seated at the
writing desk Jim Hall, Mitchell, Squire
Abingdon and McAuliffe entered the
apartments. FitZsimmous wore but
tonhole bouquet of more than ordinary
size. 1t caught the eye Of McAulife,
whe said to Squire Abingdon: "Some
Of US are wearing the flower gardens to-
day; that's nice, now, amt it?"
The Hall party laughed at this sally,
but Fitzsimmons did not say word.
One of the party made slurring re-
mark concerning Bay st. Louis, at
which the eX-Australian laughed. His
laugh was taken as personal affair on
the part Of the squire who spoke his
mind freely.
Abingdon's remarks nettled FitZsim-
mons who arose and declared his ability
and willingness to do anything in the
way of making things even for every
BODY concerned. He said that it cut no
figure with him II esquire" Abingdon
owned the whole of England, and that
his wealth did not give him the right to
put in his oar.
Mitchell now took hand in the argu-
ment and assured Fitzsimmons with.
considerable passion that every man in
the Hall party was a gentleman. Bob
Fitzsimmons agreed that their actions
proved it to be true.
Mitchell and Hall stood side by side,
but Hall did not enter the row. He did
not even look towards FitzSimmons,
Just at this iuncture President Charles
Noel entered the room and the men
quit talking. Fitzsmmons, after the
dispute, said that he had only deferred
from acting rashly on account OF being
the guest Of the club.
ST was ready for any kind OF rum
pus," he said, land if the buffers had
pressed me much further | would GER
tainly have used my walking cane over
their heads. l was not looking for d
row and would not have visited the club
room in search Of it. certainly would
not have soiled my hands on them il
the row had been started, but would
have knocked down some OF them dead
sure.
az bear no malice toward Hall. On
the contrary, / am indebted 10 Hall for
giving me chance TO win the purse,
and am not one Of those fellows who
crow after winning battle. l am will
ing to meet Hall, but he does not seem
to want TO know me, and there the mat
ter rests"
President Noel gave Hall his check
for 50, 500, drawn on the Bank OF Com
merce at Chicago. Hall and the party
left Fitz at the club room al 4 o'clock.
FitzsimmonS, after the row, made a
statement that Warren Lewis, backer
of Jim Hall, visited him and made a
proposition to him to whack up the
purse evenly and let him and Hall fight
for the honor of victory on level.
81 did not like the gait" said Fitz-
simmons. 81 had played the sucker role
once in my life and it has taken me ever
since TO set myself right before the pub
lie. determined l would never again
lay myself open to criticism and there
fore refused Lewis's offer. l thought,
too. that l had too good thing to ar
range 10 give Hall half interest in a
purse thought l could easily win"
Fitzsimmons admitted that he would
have no sure thing against Corbett,
Jackson or Slavin, nor would Hall; Of
course, by chance, either Hall or him
self might whip one or the other Of
these great fighters. He did not believe
Mitchell ought 10 be clasSed as first
rate man, and said that he was in no
lwise entitled to claim OF being in the
hist Of champions.
Y "Choynski is a good, clever man." he
sAid, land place him as light heavy
Wight, but at that l think Hall would
mp him."
Me Hall party will leave the city
ErAy morning.
Fiksimmons has announced his inten-
tioa E confning himself to the middle
weig N limit, aud says that be will not
fight anyone out Of his class. He stands
ready tN meet any man at $50 or l53
pounds.N
Fitz N depart for Chicago early the
coming Aek, where he promises TO
knock outNAhke Boden in four rounds.
Hall tried kLaccomplish this, but failed.