The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-26
MITCHELL KNOCKED OUT In
THREE ROUNDS.
He Was Badly Punished While Cor
bett Did Not Get a Scratch.
THE PRIZE FIGHTERS ARRESTED
AFTER THE BATTLE.

Scenes in the Arena-A Woman in Mans
Clothing Attracted Attention-The City
Fathers and the Militia Amused the
Crowd-MitchelI Appeared Smiling
Corbett's Hatred for His Opponent
Plainly Shown-Delaney Slapped the
Champions Face to Keep Him from
Hitting Foul Blow.
Jacksonville, Fla, January 25.-With
the Corbett- Mitchell fight scheduled at
one it was dismal surprise for those
who reached the ringside at twelve to
find the fighting stage still under process
of construction. When it was finished,
it was seen to be a substantial and we'll
arranged affair. 1t was raised four feet
from the floor and was 80 by 81 feet, a
twenty-four foot fighting square sur
rounded on all sides by four foot path
way. Eight padded posts supported the
three ropes which defined the fighting
space and a barbed wire fence protected
the pathway from outside interference.
Surrounding the platform were two rows
of reporters seats and benches, for which
the reporters paid the club 1920. The
platform was in the centre of a structure
like hay barn, open at both ends and
sides. The amphitheatre seats started to
rise from the line of posts which sup
ported the ends and caves of the build
aiding in shutting out the light which
was very dim today. Between the re-
porters' benches and the raised seatsswere
rows of level seats which sold at $35. and
ON which the spectators had to stand to
see the top of the platform. The crowd
that reached the arena at noon were
some of Corbett's party. They came out
to have look at the stage and Corbett's
dressing room. The latter was little
cotton-lined shanty, seventy-five feet
from the arena. In it were two cots, a
stove for heating water and the utensils
Corbett was to use in his corner. The
party completed the arrangements for
their principal and returned to town,
where Corbett was playing cards with
some friends. He ate hearty break fast
at his training quarters at eight, and at
noon took some beef tea and bread. At
a quarter to one the entire police force
of the city, about eighty men, filed into
the arena under command of Chief
Keefe. They were reinforced by one
hundred special officers sworn in this
morning for the purpose, apparently, of
giving that many citizens deadhead ad-
mission. The crowd was good natured.
A surprising thing was that not yet
had there been a single bet offered The
men who bet big were there by hum
dreds, but for some reason, the gam
some q uiet efforts made to place money
on Corb bett at two to one, but it failed.
There were at least five men here who
had SO, 900 in cash, which each wan ted
to place at that odds. AS to popular
betting, very little was done or at
tempted. Referee Kelly came into the
arena about half past twelve. AS he
passed the reporters he smilingly in
formed them that at last he had the real
stuff in crisp bills in his inside pocket.
The next commotion was caused by the
discovery of a woman occupying a good
seat near one corner of the stage. She
was
stylishly Dressed in Mems Clothes,
her hair being curled up under a soft
white yachting cap. Her escort, big
man, seemed able and willing to take
care of her. She was a good looking
woman and appeared only little discon-
certed by the attention she attracted.
q At one, instead of the fighters. more
work men entered the ring and hoisted'
aloft with ropes, the gasoline lighting
apparatus. Over the TWO sides of the
stage galleries were suspended from the
rafters by iron rods. In one gallery,
single Telegraph instrument was located
for use only in sending outW Union
bulletins. In the other gallery sat men
with long whlskers, who the crowd
decided must be the aldermen. Those
officials having free admission, they re-
ceived great deal of jollying. An
other object of good natured comment
form. At half past one, the first bet was
offered. A man stood up and yelled:
"One hundred to three hundred Mitchell
wins" There were no takers. Another
man rose and yelled: "Ziba King wants
to bet one hundred head of cattle to S.
600 that Corbett wins" This was re-
ceived in silence. Next the spectators
entertained themselves In geSSlng at the
number present. The house counted up,
according to most of the estimates, $500
men and one woman. At the varying
prices this would make the box Office
receipts in the neigh borhood of $50, 600.
At two, while the gasoline men were
still fussing with the lighting apparatus,
theresswas sudden increase in the num-
Der of spectators accounted for by the
fact that admission to any part of the
arena had been reduced to $40.
Thousands of good seats were yet unoc-
cupied. At 2.02, Joe Vendio entered the
ring and resented Billy MADDEN. If
Billy had anything to say he was not
allowed to say it. as tremendous yell