The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-01-25
TO FIGHT IN THE WOODS
THE LAST RESORT OF THE SPORTS
IN FLORIDA.

Under Tcnt-Aushoritiss on the
Abort.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jan. 17.-Tho
fight will not take place In Duval
county unless the courts restrain the
sheriff. Sheriff Brownard declares
that he will obey the Governor. There
has been a good deal of guessing as to
what the sheriff would do among those
who did not know nim. Some say that
he would see his lawyers and do what
they told him to do; others said that he
would not interfere, because his law.
yers had already told him that he
would lay his bondsmen liable to suit
for damages and that he would DISC
boy the Governor to protect them.
The sheriff does not believe that there
Is any danger of suit for damages in
case he interferes, and that If time
does develop case that it will prac.
tically amount to only farce, because
the club will be compelled to prove
specific damages to make case-a
thing which can't be done if the fight
Is prevented. In an interview this
morning on the subject, The sheriff
said:
II have been ordered by the Govern
or to stop this fight, and | propose to
obey orders. lie told me he would
place at Ely disposal all the force at
hts command, If necessary, to prevent
1t. His instructions am going to car
ry outin all sincerity, whether they are
unpleasant or not. shall do my duty"
said the sheriff, emphatically, Gas it is
laid down to me by the Governor"
"Will you ask the Governor to de-
clare martial law?"
Il will not unless l see indications of
such stubborn resistance as will make
me unable to cope with the difficulty
| am satisfied that if the plan for the
light Is persisted In, unless some inter-
vention Is secured there will be trou.
ble. The people here should, in my
Judgment, look squarCly at the true
situation, and make every effort to
prevent the forcing of IN unpleasant
issue. l have already made my plans
to prevent this meeting, and l know
that they will not miscarry, unless
their execution be restrained by action
of the courts"
President Bowden, of the Athletic
CLUB, Notwithstanding the declaration
or the Governor and the sheriff, offers
to bet $4,000 that the fight will come
Off at the appointed time and place.
THE CLUBS FINAL MANIFESTO.
Tonight the club furnished the
Southern Associated Press correspond
ent the following:
Jacksonville, Fla, January II, 1894.
The Duval Athletic Club make this
their final and most positive announce
mcnt that the Corbett- Mitchell contest
will take place on January 25th, 1894.
Reports have been sent out that Gov
ernOr II. l.. Mitchell has ordered troops
to Jacksonville for the sole purpose OF
5uppressing the contest. NOtwith-
standing these reports, the club reiter-
ates its past assertions, and for the
past week has been arranging for an
emergency of this kind. Should the
troops be sent here, while the club does
not believe that any violence would be
participated in by them yet we will not
subject our patrons to the slightest
danger of any kind. So thorough and
complete are our arrangements, that
should any emergency Of any kind
arise on the morning of the 25tt, we
are prepared to handle 5000 people
with the greatest convenience. This
will be no Richburg affair. where the
people were subjected to a long, tedi-
Gus and hot ride, but 1t will be done
quickly and conveniently as though it
occurred In the arena, now ready for the
contest. Once more we say to all
friends and lovers of boxing: If you
are In Jacksonville on the oath, of Jan
uary, 1894, and care to see the Corbett
and Mitchell contest. you can do 80 af-
ter arranging for the necessary tickets.
bU AI A1llLEIlCC CLO
A CARD PROM CORBETT.
The following statement fIom Cor
beCG has also been given nu':
Mayport. FL, JA3. II.
take this opportunity Of informing
my friends throughout the country that
l have received assurances from the
Duval Athletic Club today which war
rart me In saying that the contest be-
tween Charles Mitchell and myself
mi Iu f.nly nj
Vile, or IN that citv's immediate vicin-
tty, on January 25, provided both of
the principals appear in the ring.
JAMES j. CORBETT.
TO FIGHT IN TIIE. WOODS.
The above statement by the club
means that the fight will be fought in
the woods.
Everything now depends on the abi-
1ty OF the promoters of the fight to
keep the place selt cted secret from
the authorizes, for if it becomes
known, Governor Mitchell viii I'M.
doubtedly have troops on the scene. 1t
IS understood that the club people
nave purchased huge circus tent.
capable OF holding 5000 people. and
Will Drlng the men together under the
canvas. AS to the probable location
OF the contest, no point will be given
by the club officials. They know that
woods, without interference from the
Governor, everything must be as Sc.
cret as the grave.
1t was thought that the fight might
occur In st. Johns county, where st.
Augustine is located, but Sheriff Perry
of that county is as determined as
Sheriff Brownard of this DuvaD coun.
ty. Today Sheriff Perry said: 81 de-
sire to say that the Corbett and Mitch
ell fight, will not take place IN St.
Johns county, if the Governor orders.
will do my duty according to oath as
sheriff OF this county, if | have to call
upon the State troops. When Charlie
Mitchell asked me about the matter,
told him that would have to stop the
nght In this county, If ordered, and
that l would pull one man or the other
out Of the ring. 1t takes two to make
ahght. l wish to emphasize my posi-.
tion In this matter publicly, that there