The evening world., 1894-01-25
THE MAKING OF THE MATCH.
Determined OppOrition knocked
Out Early Plans.

every one but himself by whipping John
l.. Sullivan without seeming to have
made any great effort. he announced
that the next man he would meet In the
ring would be Charley Mitchell. The
Englishman claimed to be equally ans
ious to fight the triumphant californian,
against whom he had II personal grudse.
From a photo. by George q. Ho"kwoodJ
With Squire Abingdon Baird as n
hacker. Mitchell came 20 New York. ar
irving here In February, 1893, for the
purpose. he loudly proclaimed. OF ar
ranging the fight that would settle the
cha mpionship VI the world and effect.
ually stay the war OF words that mad
been keeping the cable hot since the
day Corbeti whipped sullivan. An effort
was unnecessarily made TO bar Mitchell
out OF the country under the Convict
immigration law, ne pLgillst beng lresh
from a term served for assault In n
British jail.
Even when the sporting world. was
death of Squire Abingdon In New Or
leans, Mitchell declared he would stay
and tight. He went BACK TO England for
a little time. after his hackers death.
but returned In September to resume his
interrupted arrangements.
a match was quickly arranged. but
Just as the papers were to be signed the
New York police interfered. ana 1t was
necessary to complete the arrangements
outside the State
This was the beginning Of a conflict
with officers of the law that did not
cease up to the day set for the fight.
Mitchell several times expressed DISCUS.
with the interference. ana claimed there
Of his nationalIty, while Corbetts
friends set up the counter claim that the
Englishman was simply blutfing and
would be pleased to have the fight pre-
The first loud protest, against the pro
posed battle was made when articles
were signed, TO have, it take, place at
coney Island. Judge Newton, the match
club, made all arrangements for the
night. and the Sheriff Of Kings County
said ne did not believe n boxing contest
woulu he Il violation of the law. 1t
looked NJ one time ds II the fight would
ak, place there, If Gov. Flower did not
interfere. but public Indignation hnaily
forced the Coney island people to cancel
the agreement.
The Columbia Athletic club. of Chica-
go, at one time claimed that the fight
house at Roby. Ind, but the Governor
81 the State took action and he being
sustained by the courts. all efforts to
get Tb the o ff9m1es! Wtbf dropped; =, >ou.
Orleans. likewise went to pieces. and for
a IN Il looked as though the fight
would fan through for lack of a place
Bids were made from clubs all over
the country and even from organi-
cations in Mexico, cuba and Australia.
but Few OR them were genuine, and none
Finally, the Duval Athletic Club. OF
Jacksonville. Fla, made the proposition
vidsd for a sao'oS purse by the Club and
a 5000 bet a side by the pugilists them
selves.
The pngillsts went into training early.
and both did with apparent faithfulness
all that could be done to be In iirst-class
condition.
corbctt trained at Mayport. a settle
Jacksonville. Five cottages were oc-
Gupied by the champion and his friends.
They were built by "A retired sea captain
named Wallace, who also constructed a
railroad Tor his own use, which now
bears the rather high-sounding title
Of the Jacksonville. Mayport and Pablo
Hallway.
1t was Capt. Wallacc's intention to
make Mayport a Winter resort for North
ern tourists and q summer home Tor
rich jacksonville citizens, Somehow the
Captains. plans dli not pan out. but the
rai!roal Is still there, and SO nre tho
cottages. II came in handy for Corbett.
who can truthful!y say That 1t was "a
lucky, day for him when Capt. Wallace
struck Florida.
The officials OF the j.. NJ. ana T.. Rail-
Mayport by followers OF pugllism anxious
to look the champion over in training,
provided him with the cottages, furnished
throughout. pu In Il plano and a billiard
table and built n hahdball court 5Oxsj
feet. not exactly as n mark OF esteem,
OF the active citizens OF Jacksonville
battle come off. this public opposition TO
the authorities being probably due to
the profit the fight offered rather tina
because OF love for sports.
II was stimated that the contest
would make Florida a quarter OF Il mill
ion dollars richer, and 1t was thought
that Indirectly. through the advertise
mFnt Florida $ climate would receive.
the result would be of incalculable none.
tary value.
Railroads, acknowledgements, dry-goois
men, hotel pruprletors. r~estaurateurs
and land owners put their nainc down
on the subscription list which the Duval
Athletic, club sent out, until nearly a
stake upon the success OF the fight.
Most OF them subscribed small sums for
lew had money to spare. the season not
having opened. but they donated such
amounts AS they could.
but just TO get the boxing celebrity there.
In addition To this outlay the directors
gave Corbett the privilege OF summonlng
a. special train at any time OF day or
night. ON top of all this the j., NJ
and +. Railway is said to have given
/, Of the managers Of that institution We're
instrumental In persuadlng Corbett to &c
to Mayport.
Mltchells quarters were at Anastasla
800 l'"N' " uA'tly plt anu
not inviting to e~Ncursionists. BESIDES
Mitchell WAS not on exhibition, and re.
fused to appear for admiration, SC
while In training he was left alone,
' while Corbett was constantly llonized
shortly after arrangements for the
! night were made rumors OF legal inter
; ference were heard. These speedily de,
( yeloped into determined opposition b,
! Gov, Mitchell, who went So far as &c
, assemble troops in Jacksonville two
days before the date set for the fight
the Governor was sustained in IN,
stand he took by Sheriff Broward. al
/, though both officials are said TO be OF
' sporting in%clinations and would probabi,
7 have liked TO see the contest.
! This opposition affected the gathcrinr
! or sporting men at Jacksonville VERY
J materially, though there were many whc
believed that the fight would AXE plac c,
IN spite Of the interference. A majority
Mrs. Mitchell disappointed.
Mrs. Charles Mitchell and Mrs. Moore
wife and mother-in-lRw OF the Englisl
i pugilist, visited a newspaper omce a
y 30 o'clock this afternoon and listenc,
y to the returns OF the contest. Both Ia
dies were very %sanguine tina Mr.
i Mitchell would win mill Ihn Anal pay.