Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-17
CORBBTTAND MITCHELL
WILL THEY DIVIDE TIE PURSE II THEY
FIGHT2
Arthur 7. Lumlsys Opinion Of the Prizs
Fighters-Tho "Infamous Corbsit-Aitchell
Mach"-Wll They Divide the Priz,
Money?
lcopYR1GHr, 1861

/
Years OF association with fighters
have impressed upon me the ex-
IRENE guillioility OF the American
sporting public. refeR to the frater-
nifty not as a whole, and except those
with intelligence enough 10 look be-
meath the surface and think for them
| selves. The most remarkable evidence
of gui!ibility is to be found in the now
! famous, or, 10 be more frank, Infamous
! Mitchell Corbett match. These two
| fighters for months have had the En-
glish and American sporting public by
| the ears and have been Throwing in
the coin" in such finished manner that
| some of their enemies and detractorS,
even, think they mean to DO on the
| level.
In tie history Of the prize ring no
two such fakirs have been brought 10
view. By system OF buncombe, devil
! ish in its ingenuity, and remarkable for
! IT'S surprises, these two men have
] placed themselves 10 position to be
| talked about in every country where
the word pugilsm is known. This fact
( alone would stamp them as faKirs.
! Honest men do not run into print at the
slightest provocation. If they have
any idea in mind they do not run to a
newspaper and blow IL into the ear OF a
! friendly reporter. The. old-time tight
| ers didn't pursue this course. Did
! Heenan and Sayres attitudinize as
| Corbett and Mitchell are atti-
tudinizing? When these two warriors
| OF the ring met and agreed to fight there
were no pyrotechnics, no display OF one
| thousand dollar bills with strings at
tacned), and no buncombe. The ar
| ticlcS were quickly arranged and as
| quickly signed. Heenan and SayreS
appreciated the fact that each was
battling for the cham pionship OF his re-
suective country, and his dignity alone
was sufficient. Columns Of newspaper
talk could not add to the honor in their
| eyes.
Note the difference. Here are two
pugilists, one Mitchell, man who has
done comparatively little TO warrant
reputation, and Corbett, fighter, who
since his defeat of Sullivan, has been a
human hlppodrome. And where does
Mitchell's reputation as pugilist come
| In? He should be known as the imam
Of draws" He is not England's cham
pion. Peter jackson holds this honor.
| He has never whipped tirst-class man,
and his chief claim to distinction Is his
draw with Sullivan,
Corbett shows up in better light. He
has fought and Wiped number OF
clever men, and up TO the time he met
| Sullivan he had some reputation and a
few friends. How much reputation and
how many friends has he now? l Will
not answer this question. l will leave
il TO the judgment of my readers. But
had Corbett seen fit TO be on the level
he could have been the most popular
champion this country has ever seen.
Here is one experience | had with
him which will indicate his character.
| A little over year and half ago II was
proposed TO match Mitchell and Corbett
for six rounds in the Madison Square
garden. When Corbett came east he
called on me and said he wished me to
be his adviser. He would be guided by
me, he said, in ali things. A few days
later he called again and wanted me to
go 10 the Clipper office with him and ar
range for finish fight between him and
Mitchell. I consented, and suggested
that we take q cab. Corbett agreed, and
added:
"Oh, yes. Let US have a cab, Arthur.
A nice one, you know"
Before agreeing to go to the clipper
Office with him it was arranged that he
should meet Mitchell on his own ground;
that there should bs no jollying, and
that only business should be discussed.
We arrived at the Clipper office, where
Mitchell was awaiting US. Imagine my
SURPRISE at the way Mitchell and Cor
bett greeted each other. 1t must be
understood that these two men were
supposed 10 be at dagRers drawn and
that there was no love lost between
| them.
Corbett started his jolly as follows:
"My dear Mr.. Mitchell, I'm very
glad to see you. l have heard you are
a very skllful boxer, and thorough
good fellow. 1t is an honor, my boy, TO
meet YOU, and hope we will see more
of each other" and more talk In SINH
lar vein.
1t was then Mitchells turn to jolly,
and he began this way:
II hardly expected to meet such a
gentleman. Why, Mr.. Corbett, while l
! have always heard you were nice fell
| low, you have exceeded my ideas. l
understand, toe, you are great pugi-
! list. Believe me. my boy, this is one OF
! the greatest moments OF my life, and
will always remember the occasion"
And then Mitchell and Corbett fell on
each others neck and wept for JOY at
the meeting.
Greet Jchosaphat. Shades OF John L.
! Sullivan! And these TWO men met TO
make n match en- the level.
| was disguised, and told Corbett so,
ard left him TO continue his jollying.
| The articles were signed for six
round 60, for the gate money, and had
| the men met they would have jollied
the public ana got the money. This
! little bit of insncerity was not enough
10 completely sour mo, however said
TO myself: perhaps l am mistaken.
j! There may be some good In iheSe two
men after all. I'll reserve judgment.
And then came the Sullivan fight,
| and the latter's defeat. Now, said,
! Corbett will have chance to show
himself. If there Is good in him 1t will
come out. II there is fake, be will
show 10.
Hardly had he won the fight than be
began to throw his friends Mike Dom
ovan, who provided nearly $4,000 OF the
$4,000 stake money, was the first.
Donovan had been. his friend and ad-
wiser for years. What did Corbett care
for this friendship? What was friend
shin to him? A mere game.
Nrxt ne threw Charlie Stencil. OF
ZCTETsEy. 77Tg
| sov1orvy