The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-20
puGIlIsT MrroHEL1


Squire Abingdon-uow He Came to Put
Up for uim-Declino's Corbetps Orer.
New YoRK, March 10. - Charles
Mitchell, who is staying at the Gedney
House, rore early this morning and read
carefully the biographry Of his deceas'
ed friend and hacker, Squire Abingdon
Baird, who died yesterday. To many OF
the published statements Mitchell took
decided exceptions, partic ularly that
which represented tho squire as a sort
OF person about whom prize fighters
were wont TO hang, and the inference
that might be deducted concerning his
own connections with the deceased mill
lionaire,
esquire Abingdon and l." he eaid,
"haye been friends, | might say pals,
for seven years, bvt never Ia my life
have been under any obligation to
him either financially or otherwise. He
accompanied me to this country at his
own solicitation, His solicitors, Lum-
10y and Lumley, then said that | had
saved his life by getting him out OF bed,
and getting him to interest himself in
anything, Tor he had been confined to
his room for three weeks and was not
expected to live, Itwasnot necessary for
the squire to find any money for me to
bind this match with Corbett, My
father-in-law, Pony Moore, put up
$500 to make u match for $4,000
side ten weeks prior to any intimation
that the Squire would back me. The
chances then We're l,000to that Abb
ington would never como to the United
States, and | certainly had not expected
anything from the Squire then, for dur
ing my previous relations with him We
had the only quarrel We ever had,
That was in connection with the Hall
Prtchard fight. He backed Pritchard,
and !, being with Hall, naturally
regarded him in the light Of
an antagonist Now want to
make clear tho way in which
the squire cNme to present me
with $4,000 to back myself iu this
fight with Corbett. On arriving In
New York we were met with the eXor-
bitant demand Of Corbett that should
put up $4,000 at once and in one de-
posit to scure match or else shut up.
OF course that was rough on me, but
the squire at once came TO my assist
ance and said, Il will give you the
money and as much more as they want
to bet 1 thanked him and
replied that the $4,000 would
be sufficient, adding that l
knew We could got odds for tho re-
mainder at the ring.side. He put the
$4,000 in my hands and remarked in
the presence Of forty people: Here is
the money; make your own match. l
want nothing to do with it. If you win
take all The money was, therefore,
wholly voluntary gift, which / all the
moro appreciated as was not in con-
dition to refuse it. l also want to say
that 1 have never been indebted other
wise to anybody in my life for dollar.
l have always been able to earn my
own living and never was a 'cadger." "
In talking about the offer Of jim Cor.
bott to-day to-fght him for the purse
and honor without any side bet If nee
essary, Mitchell said:
1T is tho only good thing l have ever
known jim to do or say. OF course l
uppIuCldto Hlo hlHuHoSsI tHOuSu 3llHh
his charity comes little too late. The
only time | want Corbett TO treat me
nice is when We are in the ring and
then the better he treats me the worse
l will use him."
Mitchell also said that Hall was
ready to fight Fitzsimmons at the mid.
dlo weight limit in the same week und
before the same club whore the fight
between himself aud Corbett would
come of.
esquire Abingdon has been willing to
put UP $4,000 to bind this match and
the money 10 still ready and will be put
up at any time. 1t was my own opin-
ion and that Of many Others" he said
"that Hall can fight better Mt l5S
pounds. l want it understood that this
Is not meant as bluff II is n bona
fic offer. leave here on Wednesday
on the Majestic, and want it understood
that Hall and his friends mean busi.
ness. The money Is ready"
Ike Thompson, the wealthy book
maker, said lie was willing to guarantee
that the money to bind match be-
tween Hall and Fitzsimmons at tho
middle weight limit would be put up as
soon Fitzslmmons accepted the offer.