Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-18
MITCHELL's BACKER DEAD.
Squire Abingdon Baird Succumbs to an
Attack of Pneumonia.


Attack of Pneumonia.
NEW ORLEANS, March 1s.-'Squire Abingdon
Baird died this morning of pneumonia.
The squire was the English hacker of Charlie
Mitchell, the British pugilist soon to fight Cor
belt. and who seconded the Australian, Jim
Hail. defeated in the recent $40, coo prize fight
here with Fob Fi:zsimmons. Mr.. Baird was
very wealthy. Since arriving in New Orleans
he had been leading life of dissipation and
since Halls defeat he hardly went 20 bed until
he broke down in health.
NEW YORK. March lS.-Charlie Mitchell and
Jim Hall arrived from Buffalo at the Grand
Central depot at 1875 O'Clock this morning.
They went TO the Gedney House at once. where
they found telegram to Mitchell announcing
the death OF the SQUIRE. Mitchell began send-
ing kilograms al once about his death. He ap-
peared greatly affected bv the news
The first telegram was 20 4. Monk, the
'souire's valet, at New Orleans. 1t was: ''No
use of coming TO New Orleans now"
This referred to Mitchell's plan of going by
train tomorrow. He followed it up with an
other to Monk. It read: ''Have squire en-
balmed and brought to New York RICH: away.
We can then catch boat"
A third dispatch to the same effect was sent
to W. Z. Bailey, the 'squire's secretary, who is
in New Orleans Another went to "Gravatic."
London, which is the cable address of the
'squre's lawyers. 1t read: Squire Abingdon
Baird died at New Orleans this morning
Mitchell then spoke feeiingly about his friend.
when i left New Orleans" he said, 1.-The
squire was in bed. The doctors advised NE 20
leave him. as he would get better more quickly;
SO l came TO New York. Before L left. how
ever. / told them that if they would get
the squire into shape and in New York in time
to catch the boat for England on Wednesday. L
would give them 2 900. l am greatly affected
by nv friends death. He has been sufferer
from bowel troubles for some time, and his con-
stitution was run down.
When Mitchell asked what effect the
'squires death would have on his match with
Corbett he said:
1T won't have the slightest effect TIE
squire gave ME the $4,000 to be-. with the
understanding that was 20 have it all if i won.
II { Is the way the squire backed all his men.
will say now that. barring accident, will
battle with CorDett when the gong sounds"
TIE 'soUIREs RECORD.
Squire AbingtOn's real name was George A.
Baird. and hs WAS one of the best
known al-round sporting men of Eng
land. He was gentleman jockey OF
Great Britain. having ridden against the
best men OF England. Ireland and Scotland.
Ii was only within few wears past that pugil-
ism began to divide his attention with racing
But since lie took enthusiastically to the
fighters. Abingdon has backed nearly all
the lighters OF prominence in Great Brit
AIN He was liberal hacker, too. paying all
his mems expenses and presenting the stake
money TO them when they were winners. He
was not, however. always successful chooser
OF men. But he was good loser, ss full of
pluck a. he was ready with cash The squire
was exceedingly affGbie and made many friends
lie was rich ironmaster, with an income of
s15O. 900 year.
He ran away with Dolly Tester. ex-ballet
dancer. and wife OF the Marquis of Ailsbury. a
few years ago, and paid the marquis fi00, 900
10 settle the matter. He was at one time on
friendly terms with the notorious Bessie Bel
wood and was named correspondents in n
divorce suit brought by Mr.. Lancaster, whose
wife was a stage beauty, known as Agnes
Hewitt
Once, too. the papers cautiously referred to
partnership between the squire and Mrs.
Langtry.
at the SnIi.b-Slavin fight in Belgium Abingdon
was rejected by the Pelican Club and promptly
started club OF his own in King street, 81.
James.
Abingtor's training establishment for race
horses a. Noul:on Paddocks. Newmarket, was
the Ii uest thing OF is kind in England His
luck IN racing was not always good. but he had
a Liverpool cup winner four times IN Father
Confessor; took the same cup three times with
Lady Rosenberg. and won the great derby once
in lSs5-with Royal HAMPTON.
The 'sauire's present visit to America was for
the special purpose of promoting the MITCHELL
Corbet. contest, and he proposed to see good
deal OF the country incidentally.
The father of the squire was the well-known
Baird OF Gartsherrie. who became well known
at the time of the failure OF the Western Bank
OF Scotland when he wrote his cheek. to pay the
demand of the depositors, for g, 900 900 ster-
| ling.
EFFEcr ON THE FIGHT.
1t Is believed by many that the death OF the
squire may have some effect npon the Mitchell
Ccrbett match. The executors of his estate
may insist upon the withdrawal Of the S10, 0OG
stake money which the squire put up. In tina.
case the match will likely fall through, il is
Thought that there Is no man in England who
will back Mitchell for that amount.