The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-08
THE PROPOSED PRIZE FIGHT
1t Cannot Come Off in the
Indian Territory,
commissioners Browning Has Taken
Prompt and Decisive Steps to Prevent
Such an Occurrence-Intruder Will be
Forcibly Elected and Prosecuted
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Police VIII Helm
the Troops Eject the Fighters,

WAsHINeToN, Oct. 7.-Commissioner
Browning. Of the Indian Office, has
taken prompt and decisive steps to pre-
vent the Corbest- Fitzsimmons prize
fight taking place in the Indian Terri
tory. He has prepared letter OF in
structions to Agent Wisdom, at Mus
co9ee, 1. T., directing him to see that
the laws are enforced and to eject
forcibly any intruders who may enter
the Indian country for the purpose OF
creating disturbance or of engaging
in anything that may prove detrimental
to tho Indians.
The ommissioner says that the
statutes of the United States are ample
to cover the situation and to prevent the
fight. The agent will have at his back
not only tho Indian police, but enough
U nited States troops nee ssssry to eject
the fighters. The statutes have given the
United States authority to keep out of
Indian Territory..all persons whose pres
ence would be detrimental to the peace
and prosperity of the Indians. T 70 COM
missioner says there is no doubt that
the presence of the prize fighters and the
gang that would follow them into the
Indian country would be very detri-
mental to the Indians, and that 1t is,
therefore, the duty Of the Indian office
to keep them out.
lie says that the agent at Muscogee
has not got as much authority as the
agents on reservations, but neverthe-
less, has enough to prevent the fight
taking place in the territory OF the Five
Civilized Tribes. The commissioners
intends also to notify all the governors
and head men of the Five Civilized
Tribes that they must not allow the
fight to take place, and must assist the
United States authorities in prevent
ing it.
Commissioner Browning was asked il
the admission Of Corbett, FitZsimmons
and others connected with the fight TO
citizenship in one OF tho tribes would
make any difference in the authority of
the government, and ne said that it
would not change the conditions in the
least.
The government hiss the power to eX-
pei full blood Iadian from the Terri
tory IL the peace and good order of the
Indians required it. The government
will be able to exercise a great deal of
discretion in the affsir. The United
States marshals, or the Indian agent and
his police backed by the United States
troops, can remove the fighters as in
truders and keep them out. and compel
them to answer as to violation of the
law afterwards.
1t ia not case where the fight might
take place and the fighters then be
called upon as to whether they have vio-
lated the law. The government will not
even wait for the affair to progress that
far. The principals and others con-
nected with the fight will be hustled off
the Indian lands on the ground that they
are intruders whose presence is unde-
sirable. II they make any complaint
about 1t the courts will have to deter
mine the rights of the matter, and 1t Is
believed the probabilities are that the
power of the United States government
will De broadly interpreted.
No Chance In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,, Oct. 7.-Governor
Altgeld, when asked what course he
would take in case an attempt was
made to pull off the Corbstt. Filzsim-
mons fight on an island in the Illinois
river, near Henry, ILL.,, said: ~ don't
know where the island Is. nor do |
know of any projected prize fight, but If
1T is on Illinois soil we will do all In
our power to prevent any prize fighting
taking place there. The enforcement
of the law rests primarily with the
local authorities, but IL it becomes
necessary for the State to take a hand
you may say that will uso every effort
to prevent the fight