Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-25
Thousands View the Battle ip
the Arena
Most Noted Sporting Men in the
Country Present.
Soldiers Attend, But Not to Pro.
vent
MORNING SCENES,
Jacksonville Was Wide Awake anA
Astfr Earlier Than Usuai

MORNING SCENES.
Jacksonville Was Wide Awake anl
Astfr Earlier Than Usual.
JACKSONVILLE. Jan. 25.-This city was
up and doing earlier this morning than IL
has been for many q day. 1t had been
fairly lively all night long. for many Of the
sports were so late In getting ready for bed
that they were afraid they might miss some
thing. so they remained up and made them
selves very much In evidence through the
small hours.
The morning dawned cloudy, but cool ana
with a premise OF excellent weather for the
hight The temperature could hardly have
been better. 1t was about seventy degrees,
with cool and gently wind which made q
light overcoat comfort, but not necessity
The rush toward the arena began at an
early hour. 1t was long before the time set
for the contest when streams of buggies,
carriages and all sorts Of vehicles began TO
drift out toward the arena. The price of
transportation went up with the Increased
demand Hard times in the north have
made visitors fewer in numbers this year
than for q decade. The hackmen Of Jack
sonvflle therefore prepared to accumulats
as much wealth possible to tide them
through a hard summer.
Two. three and four dollars was asked
and demanded for a trip to the arena The
price carried with IL the privilege of a re-
turn ticket, but there was no earthly chance
OF nnolng the original vehicle, as the avari-
cioos 1ehus snapped up anything that bad
The price OF a ride, and let the majority OF
those whom they carried out get back 70
town the best way possible.
Description Of the Arena.
The arena in which the siadiators faced
each other is a rough, undressed pine
structure. four sided and beautifully s,tu-
ated on the outskirts OF the city. with q
ntful landscape whichever way the eyes
may turn. 1t is difficult Of access. ana
herein IT differs from the two clubs in New
Orleans. Within a square or two of thoss
doors half a dozen street cars pass. Two
lines OF cars run In the direction Of the
battle ground, but neither passes within
six squares OF the big whitewashed fence
that surrounds the arena, and the sport
unprovided with the cash necessary 10 hire
cab or hack had a long tramp through
the heavy sand. ankle deep. before he reach
ed the narrow entrance through which the
crowd was forced to pass.
The arena is in the fair grounds at Fair
field. a couple OF miles from the center of
the city by the Tortouis line Of cars. but
scarcely more than half that distance a.
the crow flies. Tapping a turn of the race
track there used TO be a high old building
used for any and all purposes. and having
broad and sloping sheds on either side.
Around each side of the building the club
threw up high fence without a crevics
through which any Peeping Tom might
glance. There was no attempt at ornament
on the construction of the arena. An I'M
susceptible and unchar1tsble executive had
stubbornly blocked the club at every turn
until yesterday, but the club pegged away
al its arena and when the announcement
favorable decision If
the court was received the force went TO
work with Increased activity and the rude
arena was ready for its crowd when the
vanguard of boys of sports began to iile to-
ward the fair grounds.
The arena is large enough to seat with
some degree of comfort five or six thousand
people The seats are built around four OF
its sides, at a circus pitch. running from
almost the maximum height OF the twenty
five foot fence all but flush with the ring.
The long low sheds that sloped down from
the sides of the old building were lifted up
with props and there was a fairly clean
view from the upper tier Of seats down In
the ring at foot OF the boxes filled with
sporting celebrities from all points Of the
compass.
Originally IL was intended to shelter the
crowd with a canvas covering. but guber-
material opposition cut down the force OF
laborers. impeded the progress of the rear
ing of amphitheater and modified the elabo-
rate designs at first prepared for the scene
of the battle royal
that gathered to be in at the birth of q
new champion welcome with loud &C.
claim the triumph Of the old one was the
blue and gray canopy Of heaven. The glad
iators themselves and their retinue OF
scientists. trainers and attendants were
somewhat differently provided for. however.
by the roof OF the old fair grounds build
ing. with its long. saunt rafters. shaded
from the sun.
The ring as has been noted already. was
in the center of the arena. 1t WAS o con-
ventional affair. square. raised a few feet
from the floor. with stout-looking posts to
support the substantial ropes tenseiy drawn
around il. There an outer row OF
posts, likewise supplemented with ropes.
leaving a narrow and unobstructed alley
way all around the ring. to be used by the
seconds and the helpers, who are the lieu-
tenants in every fight The floor was
heavy pine board nailed Secure to the jacks
beneath them and covered Of necessity.
The entrance to the arena was block
away from the gates Of the grounds. end
the aisles penetrating the long, marrow
rows Of seats enabled the crowd to lind
ready access to points OF vantage, where
they might look down with complacency
upon the fierce struggle for supremacy be-
tween the 1.-THE and active opponents. the
pustlistic color bearers Of the two greatest
English-speaking people OF the globe and
probably the greatest living opponents OF
manly art.
The ia,n around the doors of the arena
was dense al times. hut there was ploty Of
room for all, and no discomfort was ex-
perienced by anybody.
The betting in the morning was strong In
Corbett's favor, the general impression be-
ing that the little Englishman would stand
no show against him.
Mitchetrs Party CONFIDENT.
The general impression. however, atd -