The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-17
CHAMPIONS WILL MEET,
English and American Athletes to
Contest.
The America Cup Will Be Raced for in
September -FitzSilnmOnS' Latest
to COrbett.

According to latest intelligence it is now
almost certain that an international ath
letic contest will be decided in America
this year between amateur athletes, repre-
senting the London (England) Athletic
Club and the New York Athletic Club. As
previously stated in THE CALL the New
York Clubs chances of success against the
crack athletes who will wear English colors
are very slim; in fact, the home teams
only hope of success is in meeting poorly
conditioned opponents. The ocean voyage
and climatic conditions may unfit the in
vading athletes appearing on the field in
anything like fair condition for an athletic
competition.
If a team had been selected from the Diff
ferent clubs of the Amateur Athletic Union
to represent America against team Sc
lected from the leading English athletic
clubs, then the Americans could well af-
ford to say ''we are in it," Besides a con-
test of this nature could be more fttingly
termed International Neither Americans
or Englishmen will now wax enthusiastic
over this proposed contest between the
New York Athletic Club and the London
Athletic Club, as such a competition will
not, by any means, go to prove which OF
the two countries leads in outdoor athletic
performances.
The Englishmen, according to their past
performances, should certainly defeat the
New Workers, as the latter have not accom-
plished anything in the line of foot-racing
and weight-putting to place them on a
footing with their English cousins. The
New York Athletic Club never possessed a.
Splinter whose record could compare with
that of Bradley, the English 100 and 200
yard runner. Then there is Bradden, the
middle-distance champion of the London
club, whose last years records of 40 1-5
seconds for the quarter and minute 55 2-5
seconds for the half mile, will more than
smother anything the New York club can
produce.
Wade, the mile runner, with a record of
minutes and 20 seconds, can easily
defeat any of the American amateur long
distance pedestrians. The English club has
also five-mile runner, whose name cannot
now be recalled, who can easily run away
from any man the Eastern club can pro-
duce. His record for three miles is
IA minutes and 81 seconds, which
is five seconds faster than that of the de-
ceased American champion Willie Day.
The New York club may win in the hur-
dies, shot-putting and hammer-throwing
contests, but so far as the running broad
both clubs will have about an equal chance
of success-that is, of course, provided the
contestants will appear in good fettle for
what will certainly be sharply contested
race for supremacy.
The prospects of an ocean race between
the Vigilant and the Valkyrie has been
knocked on the head. Commodore Smith
if the Vigilant, which is now abroad
would wait for the new Valkyrie and race
her to this country, said: Suppose
they do, which they WON'T in
quired and affirmed the Commodore
in one BREATH "what will it show?
Ocean races are not calculated to bring
out the relative ability of two boats. After
then each has its own weather, sea and
sky. Mr.. Gould, l am sure, would not
permit the Vigilant to race against the
cup challenger, and I feel quite as conf
dent that Lord Dunraven would not take
any chances with his boat before she
reached here. Besides both yachts will
be under jury rig coming here, and test
of their ability, for that reason, if for no
other, would show nothing"
In reference to a race for the America
cup, Commodore Smith said after the
terms of the challenge had been accepted:
'"The race as now arranged will be decided
early in September, but the committee will
give the challenger all necessary time fol-
lowing the boats arrival that may be re-
CURED for fitting out. AS yet | know
nothing of any syndicate to build cup de-
fender. There is plenty of talk, that's all.
of course there will be at least one, and
perhaps two new yachts built, but who is
to build them is another question that can
not be settled now"
Manager Martin Swift of the Carbonate
State League Ball clubs has signed Big
Bill Massey to play first base for his club
next season. Massey was wanted by Grand
Rapids, Toronto, Toledo, Kansas City,
Reading, Pottsville and the Philadelphia
Colts.
Big Bob Fitzsimmons is still shooting
big words at Jim Corbett. Both pugilists
are losing no time whenever an opportun-
ity is offered to land cheap advertisement.
This is Fitzsimmons' latest shot at the
pugilistic champion OF America, in answer
to the following question: ''While your
record shows you TO be the greatest Knock
out hitter in the ring to-day, Corbett is
even greater at ducking, and if you cant
hit him what good are your trip-hammer
hooks?
Don't tie too fast to that" responded
Fitz. '"The first time we get mixed I'm
sure to trade him something for his pep
pering; he can't hit me all the time and
not get return, and | believe one OF my
O1AuHiPo VIZ 1ee1 just DIS heavy W Jill do W
any one else. Think he will keep jabbing
me back out of reach, Ell? Well, now l
want to tell you Corbett is no jabber; if
you don't believe it go look at his kineto-
scope fight with Courtney; you won't see
a iab in it. His blows are all side blows
and ducks. lam the jabber, although they
won't give me credit for it. l hit straight
and hard with the left, turning my body at
the same time, so that it makes it look like
a hook; and, another thing, they don't
like to call it a jab because it is a knock
out. Jabs got the name of being such hits
as sent the head back-nothing very seri-
Gus. Mine is the same old thing, only
twice the power that others put in it. It
knocks out, the same as Sullivan's side
swing used to do. As for ducking, think
/ must know something about it myself,
else how have got through so many fights
without black eye or any mark about nv
face?"
II, Horf1y cboafc Of n eo Gov -, -,,o,-.