The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-19
The Duval Athletic Club Decides Not to
Risk Arrest at the Hands Of
the State Militia.
ANOTHER PLACE SECURED
Nashua County or an Island to Be
the Scene Of Contest.
Circus Tent Leased and Platform in
Course of COnstructiOn-Tick
to Be Not Less than $50.

JACKSONVILLE. Fla. Jan. 1S.-Corbett
and Mitchell will meet and fight within
thirty miles of Jacksonville, one week from
to-day. The battle will not take place in
this city That is certainty. The Duval
Athletic Club has given up as futile the idea
of calling the fighters together in the ring
of its new arena here. The members claim
that while Governor Mitchell's firm stand
against the fight is Illegal unwarranted,
presumptuous arbitrary and what not, it
effectually disposes of all chances of pulling
off the mill where the thing could be made
a financial success in this city. Under the
most advantageous circumstances the re-
ceipts will not pay the liabilities incurred
1t will have cost the close corporation
known as the Duval Athletic Club $4,000
to put Corbett. Mitchell and referee Kelly
in the ring next Thursday. In fact 1t has
cost close to that much already. The purse
for which John Kelly now holds certified
check calls for $4,000. $1,000 more was d.
vided between the principals for training
expenses and $500 was expended on an
arena which will never be used. Besides.
$500 has been paid out as attorneys fees
to five of F'lorida's constitutional lawyers
This would leave $1,000 for incidental ex-
The onus Of 1t all is now being thrown
on Bowden- 1t is claimed that he went to
Governor Mitchell in approximately the
same manner as Dominick OMalley went
to Governor Matthews, Of Indiana The
same lines of diplomacy were employed
coercion and threats. Before the world
at large became aware of the fact that the
infant was born Governor Mitchell told
Bowden that the Duval Athletic Club would
die Of hamilton. He warned Bowden
against succorng il, and told him that
long as there was a law In Florida which
gave fts chief executive the power to call
her militia to arms no prize fight could
take place on Florida soil. Bowden knew
all about this when he interested the cap
ital Of some Of his friends here in the ven
turer and began operations the amphi-
theater. Had Bowden stood alone the
fight would, it is positively asserted, been
declared off a week ago, when it became
apparent that ii could not be contested in
this city. AS matters now stand his asso-
ciates have concluded TO stand a loss, and
President Mason said to-day to the CORE
spondent that the loss no matter what 1t
may be, will be shared in equal parts by
each of the five men who have monetary
interests in the undertaking. I'VE shall
"one week from to-day, go down in our
pockets and make up the difference be-
tween the receipts and disbursements, and
then attend to Governor Mitchell in man.
ner that will teach him that laws are not
framed in the brains of arbitrary cranks."
1t was admitted by the members of the
club to-day that a piece of ground, beyond
the jurisdiction Of the STATE, county or
city officials had been selected. on which
the battle is to take place. That portable
platform is now in course of construction
is also known, and the plans call for fun
twenty-four-foot ring in the clear. The plat
form proper is to be three and one-half
feet above the ground. n number OF special
trains probably four, of ten coaches each
but with the privilege Of engaging every
bit of rolling stock in the service, has al
ready been contracted for with a railroad
company having Jacksonville as a terminus
President Mason alleges, further, that
ndemnifying bond of $4,000 has been filed
by the railroad company. which is a party
train not designated by the club shall pass
over the road before five hours after the
last special leaves Jacksonville for the bat
what sort OF ground the club has selected
There are many strips in the territory ad-
jacent TO Jacksonville in which the preroga-
tives of Governor Mitchell would be mop
erative. There are Indian reservations near
here, on which the Governor would be
for instance, recognizes the authority of Il
United States marshal, and the seers pre-
dict that the International battle will take
occupied by Mitchell for training purposes
BY indiraction. the club has given out that
a water route would be used, but Ittle stock
is being taken in this. 1t appears to be
reasonably certain. however. that a circus
tent will cover the spectators.
One of the worst complications that con-
fronts the club under the new order is the
private box and reserve seat question
Thousands of dollars worth OF reservation
has been made and In the free-for-all
plan. II will be impossible to define the
limits OF one or the other. and some very
Circular joe Vendig. Mike Dryers COM
missioner. and who is supposed to repre-
sent DIVERS interest IN both the club and
the cost to see the fight Will be inversely
proportional to the number of spectators.
Said he IF there are one-thousand people
or more we have concluded to charge SIS
per ticket. In any event, in order TO over
come the box seat question. we VIII charge
1t was reported late tonight that the
| location of the battle ground will be in
Nashua county. directly north Of Duval
| county between the town of Fernandina
| and the city of Jacksonville. Fernandina
| is a little over twenty miles from Jackson
| vile, on the Florida Central & PeniDsular
railroad The site of the battle ground will
| be within six miles of Fernandina, near the
| village of Yulee. The tent belonging to
| V,
| leased and will be pitched after the train
| arrives at the place of contest. The sports
| who will attend the contest will not be
| given the word until an hour before the
| time for the train to start. Mitchell has
signifed his willingness to fight anywhere
in the State of Florida, and there is now
nothing TO prevent the fight Should the
sheriff discover the place of meeting, other
| sites have been arranged for and the crowd
can be taken TO one of them within an
| hours notice
| Ii has been decided by the Duval Athletic
Club to fix the price of tickets for the Cor
/ bett-Mitchell contest according TO the size
of the crowd present at the train on the
morning of the battle. The club officials
say that $4,000 is wanted to clear them
| from debt Should one thousand people be
present. S25 per ticket will be charged and
| I'm a corresponding ratio Sheriff Broward,
| who went TO Tallahassee. last night. to OBJ
! tain specific instructions from Governor
| Mitchell i'm regard TO the contest, received
| nothing new or definite in the way of or
| ders He was told that he was TO act as
previously instructed.
Two More Fake" Offers.