The morning news., 1894-01-18
TO FIGHT IN A CIRCUS TENT
The Canvas Will Be Pitched in the
Woods.

ties-The Club Issues Another State
ment to the Effect That the Fight
Will Surely Occur.
Jacksonville, Fla, Jan. 17.-The Cor
bett-Mitchell fight will not take place in
Duval county, unless courts restrain the
sheriff. Sheriff Broward declares that
he will obey the governor. There has
been good deal of guessing as to what
the sheriff would do among those who
did not know him. Some said that he
would see his lawyers and do what they
told him to do; others said that he would
not interfere because his lawyers had
already told him he would lay his bonds
men liable to a suit for damages, and that
he would disobey the governor to protect
them. The sheriff does not believe there
is any danger of a suit for damages in case
he interferes, and that if time does de-
velop case that it will practically
amount to only farce, because the club
will be compelled to prove specific dam
ages to make a case, a thing which can
not be done if the gght is prevented
THE SHERIFF TALKS.
In an interview this morning on the
subject, the sheriff said: II have been
ordered by the governor to stop this
light, and propose to obey orders. He
told me he would place at my disposal all
the force at his command if necessary to
prevent it. His instructions | am going
to carry out in all sincerity, whether they
are unpleasant or not. l shall do my
duty" said the sheriff, emphatically, "as
it is laid down to me by the governor"
"Will you ask the governor to declare
martial lawl"
II will not unless I see indications of
such stubborn resistance as will make me
unable to cope with the difficulty. | am
satisfied that if the plan for fight is per-
sisted in, unless some intervention is Sc
cured there will be trouble. The people
here should, in my Judgment, look
squarely at the true situation, and make
every effort to prevent the forcing of an
unpleasant issue. l have already made
my plans to prevent this meeting, and
know that they will not miscarry, unless
their execution be restrained by action of
the courts"
Mr., Bowden, of the athletic club, not
withstanding the declaration of the gov
ernor and the sheriff, offers to bet 800 900
that the fight will come off at the ap-
pointed time and place.
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM THE CLUB.
Tonight the club furnished the South
! ern Associated Press correspondent the
following:
Jacksonville, Fla, Jan II, 1S94.-The Duval
Athletic Club make this their final and most
| positive announcement that the Corbett-
Mitchell contest will take place on Jan. 25,
| 1894. Reports have been sent out that Gov.
| II. L. Mitchell has ordered troops to Jackson
| vile for the sole purpose of suppressing the
| contest. Notwithstanding these reports,
| the club retterates its past asser-
| tlons and for the past week has
l1gr for h1afar VOTE 10
| Should the troops be sent here. while the
| club does not believe that any violence would
| be participated in by them yet we will not
| subject our patrons to the slightest danger of
| any kind. So thorough and complete are our
! arrangements that should an emergency of
| any kind arise on the morning of the 25th, we
are prepared to handle 5000 people
| with the greatest convenience. This
| will be no Richburg affair, where
| the people were subjected to a long,
| tedious and hot ride, but it will be done as
| quickly and conveniently as though it Oc-
| CURED in the arena now ready for this con
| test Once more we say to all friends and
| lovers of boxing If you are in Jacksonville
on Jan. "a, 1894 and care to see the COrbett
and Mitchell contest, you can do so after ar
ranging for the necessary tickets.
DUvAL ATHLETIC CLUB.
CoRBETT ALSO HEARD FROM.
The following statement from Cor bett
has also been given out:
Mayport, Fla. Jan. III take this oppor,
tunity of informing my friends throu ghout
the country that have received assurances
from the Duval Athletic Club to-day. which
warrant me in saying that the contest be
tween Charles Mitchell and myself will posi-
lively take place in Jacksonville, or in that
citys immediate vicinity. on Jan %. provi-
ded both OF the principals appear in the ring.
JAMES j. CORBETr.
TO MEET UNDER A CIRCUS TENT.
The above statement by the club
means that the fight will be fought in the
woods, where the Southern Associated
Press correspondent announced that it
would have to take place weeks ago.
Everything now depends on the ability of
the promoters of the fight to keep
the place selected a secret from
the authorities, for if it becomes
known, Gov Mitchell will
undoubtly have troops on the scene.
1t is understood that the club
people have purchased a huge circus tent
capable of holding 5000 people, aud will
bring the men together under the can
vass AS to the probable location of the
contest no hint will be given by the club
officials They know that if the fight is
to occur, even in the woods, without in
terference from the governor everything
must be as secret as the grave.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY's SHERIFF DETERMINED.
1t was thought that the fight might oc-
cur in St. Johns county, where st. Angus
tine is located but Sheriff Perry, of that
county, is as determined as Sheriff Brow
ard, of this (Duva) county. To-day
Sheriff Perry said: Il desire to say that
the Corbett and Mitchell fight will not
take place in St. Johns county if the gov
ernor so orders. | will do my duty accord
ing to my oath as sheriff of this county,
if l have to call upon the state
troops. When Charlie Mitchell asked me
about the matter, told him that l would
have to stop the fight in this county if
ordered, and that l would pull one man
or the other out Of the ring 1t takes
two to make a fight. l wish to emphasize
my position in this matter publicly that
there can be no misunderstanding with
regard to my official attitude toward the
affair"
LOOKS LIKE DUvAL COUNTY.
The probabilities are, therefore, that
some point in Duval county will be
selected for the mill, as under the
amended articles of agreement the men
must meet either in St. Johns or Duval
county. 1t goes without saying, how
ever that the state authorities are on the
alert and will use every effort to prevent
even a secret fight. Gov Mitchell is
said to be thoroughly aroused and
it is asserted that he will manage to
keep himself informed of the plans Of the
club and try 10 surround whatever spot
may be selected for the fight with state