The morning call., 1894-04-28
WILL BE STOPPED.
Bear and Lion Will Not
Meet Tonight.
George A. Knight Speaks of What
Would Happen if the Commits
sioners Were Defied.

Unless a miracle happens the proposed
wrestling match between the lion and the
pear at Colonel Dan Boone's arena will
not take place tonight within the pre-
eiDcts of the Midwinter Fair.
Ever since the so-ealled wrestling match
was first advertised TO take place there has
been more or less discussion as to the
legality of the proceeding. The police
were notified, and then attention was
called to thu fact that the unusually high
price for admission was suggestive of
something more than an ordinary every
day athletic contest.
Secretary Holbrook of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was
also informed of the nature of the contest.
Mr.. HolbrOok said that under no circum-
stances would he permit such an affair TO
take place II 1t was in his power TO stop IT,.
However, it was not at fir st easy to see
what was TO be done under The circum-
stances, especially as the executive cOu-
mittee of the Midwinter Fair had not
made public what steps they intended to
take in the matter.
II the contest is stopped, however, il
will be by the ton of the Park Commits
siODers. The Commissioners have held
aloOt from the discussion up to the last
exercise any authority over the fair COM
mlttee. Yesterday. however. the follow
ing communication was sent TO Director
General de Young:
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. April q, 1894.
To the Hon. NJ H. dc Young, Director Gen.
eTdl, and the ETecattive Committee IF the Mid
a1inter FGir-G ENTLEMEN: There is an eXhi-
bition advertised for Saturday evening. April
tolbe wrestling match between lion aud a
grizzly bear, TO take place IN Golden Gate Park,
at Boone's Arena, and within the area that the
Park Commissioners have set apart, under your
control. for most pralseworthy purpOse-tne
Mldwinter Fair. Enough publicity has been
gwen 10 the effect that The so-caled wrestling
match Will be but brutal and savage fight
TO cause the Park Commissioners 10 call upon
the officers of the law and good citizens to stop
such degrading spectacle. It is useless to
urge that the so-called wrestling match is a
SubteIfuge. The price asked for admission is
sufficient evidence that no wrestling match is
anticipated BY THIS letter you are demanded
to use all your authority in preventing this pro-
posed violation of the law, and by preventing
preserve The history of iolden Gate Park and
the Mldwinter Fair from the blot that he pro-
posed exhibition Of Saturday night will surely
place upon il. Yours sincerely.
President OF Park Commission.
George a. Knight, attorney for the Park
Commissioners, spoke quite freely If the
matter last evening. IL can tell you one
thing" he said. shat this so-caled
wrestling match will not take place.
The Park Commissioners. as you know,
have exclusive control over Golden Gate
Park. Well, when this Mitwinter Fair
scheme was proposed to them they con-
sented to it as a future benefit to the city,
They conceded certain portion of Golden
Gate Park to the MidwinteT Fair. Now,
then, disgraceful exhibition is advertised
to take place in Golden Gate Park, within
the precincts of the fair. What are the
Commissioners going to do?
They are going to stop it; ana I'll tell
you how. They simply hold the Mid
winter Fair people responsible. Let the
executive committee ignore this note of
warning, aud it lies within the power of
the Park Commissioners to withdraw their
concession, IN which case the MIdwinter
Fair comes TO an untimely end.
They are charging $40 for the lowest
seat at this proposed exhibition. What
does that mean? Why, it means either
that CORY battle is 10 be fought under the
guise of a wrestling match or that the
public are to be guled and swindled out O (
their money. And the Park Commits
sioners do not wish that either should take
place.
1T would not do for our Eastern friends
to learn that Golden Gate Park had been
turned into bull-rng, or that the Mid
winter Fair was a shell game to entrap the
unwary.
No, sir This match will not take
place. The Park Commissioners will not
attempt TO interfere. But the executive
committee of the fair will be forced to ac-
cept this warning and Colonel Dan Boone
will find his pretty scheme nIpped in the
bud.
'.The executive committee does not want
to lose the fair"