The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-15
CORBETT NOW IN FLORIDA.
The Champion Makes a Rustic Bully
Vince at WayCTOSS.


Later Date.
Waycross, Ca, Dec. 14-Champion
James Corbett and party spent five hours
in the city this morning and left for Jack
sonville on train No. 35. They will fill
their engagement at Jacksonville to-
night 1t is hardly probable that the
party will be arrested on reaching there.
Corbett remained in his room until train
time, He will, after to-night's entertain
ment, go into training for the fight, which
takes place Jan. 25.
An unsophisticated youth from the
back woods went to the door of the din
ing room, where Champion Corbett was
eating breakfast, this morning and said:
"WhatH it cost to see Corbett2"
The head waiter told him
that it would cost nothing. The
youth walked boldly up to the
table where Corbett was and sat down
near the champion. "How is you, Jim2
Glad to see you. I'm sorter bully down
in my diggin's an knows what it is to
make 'em stand Off" The champion took
a hot Irish potato from dish and grasped
the hand of the youth, giving the potato
and the youths hand an iron grip saying,
''Well how are you2 / am awfully glad
to see you" The youth roared with pain
and made his exit amid the laughter of
all the guests.
CoRBETT AT JACKSONVILLE.
Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. IA. james J.
Corbbett, champion of America, arrived
in this city to-day at 2 o'clock. An enor-
nous crowd was at the depot when Cor
belts train came in and the champion
was greeted by cheers. No attempt was
made to arrest Corbett and the party
taking carriages, were driven to the st.
James hotel. AT the MOTEL Corbett was
seen by the correspondent Of the Southern
Associated Press and talked freely of
Mitchell and the coming fight. The
champion was considerably stirred up
over the report that he would be arrested
upon reaching Jacksonville.
''I'm not afraid of arrest on my
own account said the cham
pion. u have been to jail in my
time and can go again If necessary.
But know if were arrested that Mitch
ell would go around blowing that came
to Jacksonville purposely to be arrested,
so as to get out Of meeting him. I'm up
to Mitchell's tricks, and was afraid of
being arrested because of the dirty use
the English blubber would make of the
fact.
ANXIOUS TO FIGHT.
81 am anxious to meet Mitchell, ;" con
tinued the champion, land to get him in
the ring, would be willing to stay in jail
six months and train on bread and
water" As Corbett said this, his eyes
flashed and he clenched his hand in way
that bids i'll for Mitchell il he ever faces
Corbett in the arena.
Regarding the claim made by Mitchell
that he wanted an earlier date than Jan.
25 for the fight, Corbett saiu THAT is
all rot. MitchellIdid not want any earlier
date. The fact is, he wanted the fight
to occur at as late a date as
possible. He is making $1,000 a week
starring, and will make it just so
long as the excitement can be kept up.
He wanted the fight to be put off for
three months or more, so he could reap
harvest of American dollars and still
have time to train for the contest"
Brady, who was sitting by, corroborated
Corbett's statement.
THE SELECTION OF THE REFEREE.
''There is another point that want to
clear" added Corbett, land that is in ref
erenee to a choice of referee. Mitchell
in published interview claims that
Honest" John Kelly, who has
been chosen to referee the con-
test, was suggested by me and
accepted by him. The reverse is true.
Mitchell suggested Kelly and l accepted
him. The truth is, Mitchell is making
all these statements in order to confuse
the public, and to lay the basis for as
many objections as possible"
mo matter who wins this fight"
added Corbett, 'hiitchell will make SlS,-
500 out of it. You see, he is under con
tract to star five weeks at 81, 900 week
that makes $40, 600; he will get back S.
600 of the original money put up to bind
the match with Blanchard, of Boston, that
makes $4,000; he gets 81, 500 for training
expenses, and then he will win 81 900
which Brady bet him that he would not
show up, if the light comes off. making a
total of $l8,5O0. That's rather nice wad
for loser, isn't itp' queried the cham
pion.
AFRAID MITCHELL WONT SHOW UP.
''Do you believe that Mitchell will come
to times'' was asked Corbett.
For the honor of pugilists" replied
Corbett, 81 would like to believe the En-
glishman honest; but Mitchell is such
tricky fellow that / am afraid
he will take advantage of every
technicality to avoid meeting
with me. He wants to keep the
excitement up, however, whether he in
tends to come to time or not. Mitchell is
out for the stuff, and as long as the eXcit-
ment is kept up, he can get big money
starring. If he does meet me, it will only
be after he has exhausted every excuse to
avoid it,
The Corbett party went down to May
port this afternoon TO inspect the train
ing quarters. The champion himself is
delighted with the quarters chosen.
Corbett is looking remarkably fit. He
says he weighs l08 in his clothes and 191
stripped. He expects to get dewn to 178
or ls0 by the time set for the contest.
coRBETT AS AN ORATOR.
Corbett and his company appeared at
the opera house tonight. They were
greeted by an immense crowd. At the
conclusion of the programme the cham
pion appeared and said :
Ladies and gentlemen find It difficult TO
express my appreciation Of your kind reoep-
tion. and therefore will not attempt to do So
You all know that have come down here to
prepare myself TO meet Mitchell,
boxing match, not a prize fight. / never
was principal In a fight in my life. Every
contest ever had was held under protection
of the law and was with gloves. Some peo-
pie characterize these contest as brutal ana
demoralizating. yet the same people win
attend foot ball game and after seeing
players carried on the Held with broken limbs
or worse injuries will applaud wildly. I am
an American and in my own country, and j am
going TO meet an Englishman. but that cuts
no figure. wantino odds. My motto is "a
fair field and no favor and all / ask is that
the referee do his duty and let the best man
win.
The applause that greeted this speech
was deafening.
All talk Of stopping the contest has
subsided, but no one knows what move
Gov. Mitchell is meditating