St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-09

Hall should make a reputation before
preSuming to fight for the middle-weight
championship. Hall retorted with the
assertion that he had defeated Fitz-
simmons in Australia, and he could do
it again were opportunity offered him.
FitZsimmons replied that the sO-called
battle in Australia had been ''fake,"
and that the fight was only for SO, and,
as they were both poor, the result had
been arranged beforehand. This asser-
ton lost F'itZSimmOnS a great many
friends and admirers in this country,
and the fact that he had sold out for
such beggarly sum was not regarded
as any mitigation of his fault.
The ST. Paul Fiasco.
After the FitzsimmOns-Demps fight
the Australian made several efforts to
secure a match. but they all resulted in
diSappOintmentS, and he finally con-
Sented to meet Hall in a large arena
erected in St Paul for purse of S12,-
600, the conditions being that both men
should weigh in at the middle
weight limit. Both men trained
hard for this event, and many thou
ands of people gathered in the
Twin Cities to witness it, but
legal authorities interfered and the
original programme for the fight was
finally abandoned. a proposal was
made, however, that the men should
meet and settle the question of superior
ity in private for half the sum hung up
in the original purse. FitZsimmons
eagerly accepted the proposition, but
the Hall party heSitated, and finally re-
fused, urging as an excuse that the
fight could be brought off for the larger
sum in some other part of the country.
The fight was not brought off, and the
men had their training for nothing.
The Olympic club last September Of
fered an enormous purse for the match.
and, as it was generally supposed that
FItZsimmOns had conceded everything
asked by Hall, the coming match was
looked upon as fixture.
The Fight Was Announced
as feature of the carnival, but it was
finally discovered that Hall did not want
to fight at that time. He refused to
meetFitZsimmons On the date mentioned,
urging that his theatrical engagements
were of more Importance to him than
anything else, and that in order to Sc
cure the fight, the Olympic club would
have to change the date very materially.
The Olympic club, valuing the fight
more as a feature of the carnival than
on its individual merits, refused,
famous boxers was again indefi-
nitely postponed. Finally, the Cres-
cent City Athletic club conceived
the idea that match between FitZsim-
mons and Hall would be an attraction
for which they could afford to offer a
sum equal to moderate fortune. When
it was learned that there was possibiI-
ity of bringing the men together, both
the Crescent City Athletic club, of New
Orleans, and the Coney Island club en-
gagged in very lively competition for
the contest.
The match was made for the largest
purse to be offered, and the bargain was
finally closed with the Crescent City
Athletic club for a purse of $4,000.
NGNGI OClOlC Luo ohNh q oAiliA OCCh
at stake on the issue of a single fight.
A purse of $1,000 and stake of $4,000
a side made the enormous sum of $780,
GOO dependent on the result. FitZsim-
mons and Hall went their respective
ways
TO Prepare for the Battle.
They are men of SOmeWh at similar
build. Both are giants, strong, healthy,
big boned, Ion g-armed, stubborn, formid-
able fighters, adopts in science, expert
enced in the ring and hard punchers.
Each has a distinctive style. Each has
been regarded as a wonder. So closely
was the match considered that for a long
time even money was wagered on either,
the pool room letting the bettOr take
his choice. Hall promised to go to the
rIngside a fayorite, and there was
trace of spite in that. The East has
been anxious to revenge Itself on Fitz-
simmons for the defeatof Jack Demp-
sey, and they went to Hall, not only be-
cause Hall was considered good man,
but because the sections were drawn
against the South and Hall. There was
not much choice, however, and the bet
ting was consistent during the day.
Hall seemed most strongly a favorite,
and Fitzsimmons only lightly the choice
of the talent. 1t was to 10 on Hall at
nightfall and % to 100 on Fitzsimmons.
An influx Of Fitzsimmons men and
several hundred of FitZsimmons money
appearing in the pool room late in the
evening beat down Hall and made Fitz-
simmons for the time the favorite. even
money demanded for Hall and to on
his opponent.
Wild rumors rnn riot before and after
noon. There was an unauthOritative
threat of interference every hour of the
day, and when these had been effect
ually run to earth there was rumor
that Hall had fallen out with his trainer,
that the fight was fixed, and that the
purse would not be forthcoming. Each
rumor died a natural death.
Neither man worked hard on his last