Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-18
HE TALKS LIKE A SPORT Governor Clark Seems to Know
 All About It. MANGYART OF SELF DEFENSE He Stands Pat on His Declaration That the Fight Shall Not Take Pace in
 Arkansas.

Hot Springs, Oct. Ex-Governor Clark took his departure for Little Rock this morning. The governor talked freely to a correspondent relative to the present aspect of affairs here regarding the Cor -Fitzsimmons contest. He was asked whether or not the press dispatches of this morning correctly reported his posi- tion. He replied that he was not respon- sible for the reports, and that he found nothing during his visit to the Springs to cause him to change his mind about the contemplated prize fight.
 "Is it fact, governor, that you nave promised the citizens committee that you would let the local authorizes cope with the matter, and under no clrcum- stances would you call out the militia or . the state to suppress the fight if the Flor ida Athletic club insisted on going on with it"
 There is no foundation for such ru- mors," replied the governor ''The dis. patches that have appeared in the press or this morning attributing these reports to me are incorrect. 1 regret very much that they have been allowed to appear in print"
 Have your views in regard to the con test been modified in any way?"
 They have not. 1 came over 10 Hot Springs to see if there was not some com mon ground that we could md 10 stand upon, but after thoroughly investigating the matter I could find none whatever. I entertain exactly the same views that I did prior to my visit and cannot see how l can permit anything Savoring of prize fight to be pulled off in Arkansas terri tory. I would like to help the citizens of Hot Springs in anything that would ben eft them, but there is nothing about prize fight that would accrue. to the ben eft of any community"
 "Did you promise the citizens commit tee that in any event you would not call the state militia to invade Garland coun- ty for the purpose of suppressing the fight?"
 q made no such promises or anything like them The fact is that the military of the state are now holding themselves in readiness to res )nd to call from me at any time. 1 am engaged in marshaling my forces for any contingency that may arise"
 "It is generally understood and so re- ported upon the streets and in the hotel Hobbies that the citizens committee con vinced you that thoro --"' . --7-' ''- ence between a prize fight and the con test that Is now proposeo to De u;Ju,,.,I off under the revised articles of agree ment entered into by the Florida Athletic club and the packers of Corbett. Is such the caSe?
 That is not a fact. The committee tried to so impress but failed to do so. They showed me the revised articles of agreement, which were all right. They also gave me the gloves to look at. At first glance one who is not posted on thess matters would think for a moment that the men couldn't hurt each other with them, but I happen to know that they were five-ounce gloves that Corbett and Sullivan fought with, and that majority of the prize fights of the pres ent day are fought with. MT. Arlin, or some one else, in the committee room ad- mitted that these were the gloves that Corbett and Fitzsimmons were to fight to a finish with on the 31st of October if they were not prevented from doing so. Under the circumstances l could see no distinction between a prize fight to finish and glove contest for twenty-five rounds. Every ore knows that this fight will not last through twenty-five rounds, that either Corbett will whip Fitzsim- mons in less than twenty-five rounds or Fitzsimmons would whip Corbett Tax ing this view of the matter. I could not see the difference. see by the dispatches this morning that Fitzsimmons declares that he will not go into a limited round contest with Corbett. He refused to do so once before and the probabilities are that such contest could not be pulled off were to consent. FitZsimmons has noth ing to gain by meeting Corbett in con test where there is doubt of gaining decision"
 The governor talked pleasantly, but firmly, and the impression he left was that he meant every word he said, and that until something intervenes to pre- vent him from so doing he will declare martial law. He paid Judge Duffie high compliment, saving: "He stood like an old Roman in the committee room and would not consent that the proposed con- test should go on, refusing to yield or withdraw word or a syllable The governor stated that his office was crowded from morning until night with visitors from all sections of the state, who were pleading with him to stop the intended fight. Letters. resolutions and petitions were stacking up high coming to him by every mail, and all were of one tenor-opposition to the fight. The great majority of his constituents, he declared were bitterly opposed to allowing Corbett or Fitzsimmons or anybody else to bring off the glove contest or prize fight any where in the state.