The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-07
CORBETT In IT FOR BLOOD.
He Would Meet Mitchell Without a
Purse Rather Than Miss Him.

~~NSANA AhAh NAA0O
Bare Knuekles in a Room Preferred to
aPeacsful Separation-work on the
Arena Practically at Standstill-
The People Growing Tired of the
Talk and Unosrtainty-TheS Sluggers
and Their Baokers Both Diseour-
aged.
Jacksonville, Jan. 6.-There was a story
current to-day that Corbett had written
letter to Mitchell Offering to forego the
purse and meet him in private in case the
contest could not be otherwise pulled on
A telegram was received from Mitchell
denying that Corbett had written such a
letter, and when the story was sifted 1t
developed that Corbett had said to Mana
ger Bowden, of the club, that he was so
anxious to fight the Englishman that he
would meet him in q room for nothing,
either with gloves or bare knuckles.
To-day, as has been the case every day
since the match was bruited, the only de-
velopment has been talk. Some days the
talk Is spicy and some days it is dull.
This has been one of the dull days.
THE PROMOTERS DISCOURAGED.
The truth seems to be that the de-
termined opposition of Gov. Mitchell has
| taken the heart out of the fighters and
out of the promoters OF the contest. The
| athletic club is still talking about bring
ing the fight of on time, and Corbett and
| Mitchell are said TO be training away, but
majority of the people here do not be-
lieve the contest will be allowed in Flor
| ida, at least not publicly. If Corbett and
Mitchell get together they will have to
meet secretly, so secretly that the gov
ernor will not know they have fought un-
til the newspapers so announce.
THE GOVERNORS POSITION
All talk about the club bringing press
ure to bear on the governor to get him to
''let up in his opposition is said by those
who ought to know to be the veriest rot
Undoubtedly the club would like to get
the governor to recede from his position,
but the club knows and the public, at
least the Florida public, knows that the
governor is not In the receding business
at present
WORK ON THE ARENA
1t is said that the Duval Athletic Club
paid off thirty-three workmeu this even
ing who have been engaged in the con-
struction of the arena In which it Is in
tended that Corbett and Mitchell shall
fight. The arena is built around the old
fair building, the center of which viii be
about the location of the ring. The fair
building, which has not been used for sew
eral years, will form part of the struct-
ure. Its sides have been torn away, but
the roof will remain and join the new
roof which is oc0ver the additions. The
building is to be practically square. The
club says that the structure can be
finished in three days. The work
done so far has been the tearing out of
the sides of the old fair building and the
establishing of uprights for the new part.
These uprights are all in place The sup
ports for the incline planed upon which
the seats are to rest are also in place.
The uprights are 2x4. and the supports
very little larger. No flooring nor wealth
erboarding has yet been put in. II the
club expects to have the building COM
plete in three days considerable addi-
tton will have to be made to the force.
MAY FIGHT IN CUBA.
There was story floating around in
sporting circles tonight that the scene of
the contest would be transferred to Cuba.
1t was said that MIR. H. B. Plant, who is
largely interested in Florida railroads,
and also controls steamship line from
Tampa, Fla, to Havana, had offered TO
provide all the facilities necessary to
transport large crowd TO Havana
provided Corbett and Mitchell
would consent to meet there.
This is sample of the stories
floating around, but all Of them have
more or less of the flake" about them. 1t
is apparent that the continual talk and
uncertainty has already disguised great
many people.
MITCHELL NoN-coMsITTAL.
st. Augustine, Fla, Jan. 6.-The
MORNING NEWS correspondent asked
Mitchell this afternoon if he had received
letter as reported at Jacksonville to-
day, that Corbett had written Mitchell
Offering TO forego purse and meet him
(Mitchell) in private If the governor in
terferes. when receive such letter."
Mitchell said, ''you shall see it when il
comes and also my answer" His friends
attribute this report to Brady's talk.
Anastasia Island excepting t he lighthouse
and military reservations of 600
acres and half as many acres private
pro perty, is government land unopened
for settlers. The St. Augustine authori-
ties have jurisdiction over only
such part of the north end
as lies within the city limits. The balance
is in St. Johns county. County Judge
Cooper knows of no Florida law prohibit
ing glove contests. Section 3 of the re-
vised statutes adopts the English COM
mon law as part of the law Of Florida.
Sections z to give the state the right
to serve criminal and civil process on all
United States reservations. The crimi-
nal statutes of the state say: "That
when two persons mutually fight by
agreement, each is severally guilty Of a
separate and distinct offense. that Is as
sault and battery" This is given ont by a
well-known ST. Augustine attorney who
does not wish TO be quoted.
CROWD OF GAzERs.
II is amusing to watch the "gazers"
who stand around the quarters of the
Englishman, and catch at the least possi-
Bile chance to get a snap look at him, and
then the newspaper correspondents flock
about Mitchell on the slightest pretext.
Some quote him correctly, others quote
their minds thoughts, and make mls6t
space filings on fake stories.
Mitchell is thankful for the defence of
him sent by the MORNING News cores
pondent refuting the white feather"
story specialized from jacksonville on
Tuesday He's here 10 fight Corbett, and
will do IL whether in or out Of the ring.
There is a neat story going the rounds
of "how a correspondent earns his wages,
Notwithstanding his conscience" 1t goes
that the editor of local paper, who was
the correspondent for the Citizen, re-
linquished the latter position because 1t
didn't fit his scruples as a newspaper
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