The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-19
MAY FIGHT IN GEORGIA.
The Club Could Easily Rush the
Crowd Across the Line.

Met in an Out of the Way Place Un-
xpectedly-sheriff Broward Prom
ises to be ViRilant.
Jacksonville, Fla, Jan. 1S.-For the
first time since Corbett and Mitchell
signed articles agreeing to fight to
finish under the auspices of the Duval
Athletic Club, the Southern Associated
Press correspondent feels warranted in
announcing that it is likely the men
will face one another in the ring.
Whether the battle will be
fought without interference depends
on the ability of the club to keep the
place selected for the fight secret, for
if the governor learns of the place chosen
by the club he will most assuredly have
troops on the scene. Sheriff Broward, of
this county, was in Tallahassee, the state
capital, to-day and had conference with
Gov. Mitchell relative to the measures to
be employed to prevent the contest tax
ing place, even in secret.
THE SHERIFF TO BE ON THE ALERT.
A dispatch from Tallahassee to the
Southern Associated Press correspondent
says that the governor instructed the
sheriff to be on the alert and learn, if
possible, where the club would attempt
to bring Corbett and Mitchell together.
The sheriff was assured that if the place
chosen could be learned the governor would
order the troops to the scene. Sheriff
Broward told the governor that he pro-
use every effort to discover the plans of
the club and circumvent them. But
while Gov. Mitchell is as determined as
ever, 1t IS stated that he is not hopeful of
preventing a secret fight, for he feels, if
the club people succeed in keeping their
plans secret, that he will be unable to act
early enough to interfere
THE PLACE KEPT SECRET.
Where the fight will take place is now
the absorbing question, but of course, no
definite information can be given, as the
club people are as dumb as the proverbial
oyster, knowing that any other course
would be suicidal 1t is stated that Cor
bett and Mitchell have signed amended
articles, agreeing to meet at any place
the club may select This, of course, no
longer limits the battle ground to Duval
or st. Johns counties as stipulated under
the old agreement.
MIGHT FIGHT IN GEORGIA.
The club now has the entire state of
Florida to choose from, or may even at
tempt to pull of the contest in the adjoin-
4LlS SbdbS Ol1 NIGOIRld. III ldCL, bu6EC was Il
rumor current to-day that Georgia would
be selected as the scene for the contest.
The Georgia state line is only fifty miles
from Jacksonville, easily reached
by the railroads, and it is un-
derstood that some of the club
people feel that they would be safer
from interference in the thinly populated
section of Georgia adjoining Florida than
in the latter state, in view Of the de-
termined attitude of Gov. Mitchell
There is plenty of ground in St. Johns
and Duval countless however, and those
on the inside say that the place for the
fight will be in one of these Florida
bailiwicks.
NOT APT TO GO INTO ST. JOHNS.
1t is not likely, however, that St. Johns
county will be selected, as the East Coast
line, the only railway running from Jack
sonville into that county, is owned by H.
M. Flagler, the Standard Oil and hotel
magnate, and it is not probable that he
will permit the use of the equipment to
aid in any way prize fight after he has
emphatically pronounced himself against
it.
The truth is, the club is having some
trouble in making arrangements with the
railroads. There are plenty of railroads
running out of Jacksonville in every di-
rection, and all of the railroads, save Mr..
commodate the club as far as possible,
but the trouble is the club wants too
much. The club people want to secure con-
troll for "a hours of all trains on that
road contiguous to the point selected for
the fight, but this is impracticable, as all
the roads carry United States mails and
if the railway officials should yield to the
club there would be trouble with Uncle
Sam. OF course the club can get special
trains, as many as it will pay for, but the
governor can send the troops on the next
regular train and the promoters of the
fight don't want to run any risks now.
ONLY ONE ROAD REALLY AVAILABLE.
There are only two roads running out
of Jacksonville of which the club can
secure entire control. These are lines,
each about 20 miles in length, running to
Mayport and Pablo Beach, respectively
The Pablo Beech line is narrow gauge
and could hardly accommodate the crowds,
but the Mayport road is well equipped,
and it is stated tonight that the club is
arranging to secure control of 1t, and
bring the fight off near Corbett's training
quarters.
Outside of the railroads is the St.
Johns river with a magnificent feet of
steamers and if negotiations with the
railway officials fail, the club people can
charter steamers enough to handle the
CfOWub anu bfluB bH6 uSHJ on db some
point near the river.
STRING ON THE STAKES.
1t was stated tonight that if the club
people found that Gov. Mitchell's atUi-
tude prevented the large crowds they ex-
pected from coming, they would use some
scheme to make the fight a flasco and
thereby hang on to the $50, 600 stake now
in the hands of "Honest" John Kelly, of
New York. The club IS already in for
about $4,000, and it is said that the OBJ
stacles thrown in the way of the fight by
the governor, have made some members |
afraid of the financial result |
1t is stated that there is
some sort of a string tied to that $4,000 |
check sent Kelly. IF the club finds 1t is |
going to be a big loser it will be easy
enough to bring about fiulxe. A gentle |
hint from member of the club to Sheriff |
Broward as to the scene Of the battle will |
be sufficient. Manager Bowden, however, |
denies all these rumors.
In connection with the above rumors, |
the Southern Associated Press cores |
pondent has just been informed that |
Charlie Mitchell and Billy Thompson, his |
manager, had heard the story about |
string being tied to the purse, and that |
they were coming to Jacksonville to-mor- |
row to sec about it, 1t was further |
stated that Mitchell would refuse 10 20 |
on with the fight unless he was given
strong assurance that the purse went for I
auuearaucp at the ring side