The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-26
That Recent Fiasco at Suf-
folk Club
Peter Maher Entirely 0utclassed na''
From the Start


being grand contest between two OF the
best known pugilists in the country, Peter
Maber and Jim Hall. At the close OF the
sixth round not one OF this multitude dld
not have something unpleasant toremafK.
The contest goes on record as a draw, but
no one who witnessed il doubts Tor
moment that Maher had all the better OF 1t,
and could have jumped in at any time and
scored a Knockout TO his credit owing TO
the little-looked- physical weakness OF
Hall. In my last letter ] veutured TO say
that this contest would be one OF the
greatest of the season. 1 did not state
that it would be a fake for the simple
reason that | had il on the best authority,
not only from the matchmaker of the
club, but also from Quinn, Maher's
hacker, who had wagered hundreds of
dollars on the result to my knowledge,
that il would be fair and square contest.
III there had been anything crooked in the
wind certainly would have known it,
for was present when the articles were
signed, and know about all the details
concerning the match.
You will probably wonder, therefore,
cow it happened that it fell as fiat as it
did. Here are the facts, now prinssd for
the first time: The four prs=sakanaries
had been completed, and the c---. we're
anxiously awaiting the principals who
had long since arrived at he building and
were in their respective dressing rooms.
In the course of 10 minutes or so the
crowd, thinking that there was an un-
necessary delay, became anxious and i'm
patient and showed it by applauding and
making good -natured remarks which
brought laughter on the assemblage.
Another 10 minutes passed, still no signs
of the principals. Where in the duece
are they?" exclaimed one individual "Oh
they'll be here in a half hour or So" was
the reply from another corner. "Give
them chance to fix up a deal" There
proved to be more facts to this last state
ment then any body supposed, as you will
see later. At last,l after almost an hours
wait, the men appeared, and to the crit
ical observer they looked in perfect trim.
The gong sounded, and the battle was on.
The first round was rather tame, but
this was not unlocked for, as they were
feeling of each other, as is always the GUS
tom, or, il you like, sparring for an OPEN
ing. In the second Maher plainly out
elassed his man, landing almost at will,
but 1t could be easily seen lat his blows
at this stage that ] began to
smell rat, but decided to wait
little longer before making up
my mind for sure. The third round
opened Hall was completely out of it..
He was thoroughly tagged and constantly
fell back under the blows Of Maher. My
seat was directly under the ring, and in
critical moment as the men were about TO
clinch overheard Hall say 'don't hit SO
hard, Peter. What are you thinking OFF"
This was enough for me, and
now i was fully convinced that it
was a fake, pure and simple. Others
heard the remark and cries OF "Fake,
fake. Take them off 1" were started
apd taken up by the spectators
who, although they did not hear
what had been said, could plain
ly see that the exhibition was degent rat
ing into a farce. And SO it continued
until the referee announced that, as both
men were on their feet, he would declare
the contest draw. So much for the
long anticipated fight. Now for the ex-
planation Of this disgusting, not to say
dishonors BILE conclusion.
Now picture IL you will the dressing
DOM OF the club a few minutes before
.uc cOultbb beBult hIu Wnllt tne crown
, outside was clamor4ng for its prcmi.ed
entertainment. Both men were in their
fighting togs, ana Maher entirely
cxpectant that fair and square
battle was soon to be decided. Hail. on
the other hand, was the possessor of
q long cherished scheme, which he now
proceeded to unburden to his antagonist.
Dressed rs he was for the fray, he
approached the Irishman in the following
manner: "Peter, one of two things must
happen. Either you will give me your
word that you will go easy with me and
have the bout declared a draw, or / refuse
absolutely TO enter the ring" What a
predicament. After some deliberation
Maher decided that the only thing
for him to do was to choose the
former, which he did. The result
you well know. Manager Quinn was very
sore about 1t, and on the third round told
Peter to 60 in and finish him up, TO which
he received the reply "No, / can't do it.
The only thing I've got is my word, and
won't break that" And so it goes that a
good -natured, upright and clever man
was imposed upon by one supposed TO pe
his equal as far as manly character is con-
cerned.
ANOW lOl Aut Ol the NluD.
rhe question has been put to me several
times: Why didn't the manage ment, when
they saw that the people were TO be
bupcoed, call the affair of and return
the gate money! It is easy enough to
answer that these esteemed gentlemen
fully realized that they had taken I'm
four or five thousand dollars, and
their love for the glittering shekels was
too strong for them TO let co when
they once got them within their grasp.
Nobody will question, however, that they
are as much TO blame, II not more, than
the fighters themselves. They should
have been honorable enough, when they
found out the facts OF the case, TO
hare declared the match of, ana
returned the money which they had
received on the ground that square
boxing contest would be~given in return.
just how long this kind OF business il
going to last Is hard telling, but il IL safe