Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-21
THOSE PUGILISTS.
They Leave Fl PasO, Found for Nobody
Knows Exactly Where.
MAHER LOOKS FIT TO FIGHT.
The Mil Is Expected to Take Place
on Mexican Soil This Afternoon
The Betting Is I'm Favor OF
Fffz.

Ell PASO. TEX. February @.-Peter
Maher arrived from Las Cruces at noon
to-day, accompanied by Dan Quinn, Jim
Hall, Peter Lowry, Jersey Marshall, aud
a number OF PIttsburg friends. who hare
been visiting at his training quarters du-
ring the past few days.
DR.. White awaited their arrival. He
closely examined Makers eyes, and de-
cared that they were In fairly good con-
diton, and the vision was perfect.
delegation Of correspondents was afforded
a view OF Maher. and ne declared to them
that he was in good shape. From
careful examination, IL seems that Con-
nellys apprehension as TO Makers con-
dition was a trifie pessimistic, and his
anxiety has led him to feel dubious OF
his mans entering the ring in top-nolch
shape The Irish lad certainly never
looked better fit to fight, and apparently
is stronger and harder by odds than
when he fought Steve ODonnell HIS
skin Is bronzed from training in the
sunlight, and his muscles, while flexible,
are strong as knottcd ropes. His eyes
are stlll a little weak, however and
show traces Of the soreness caused by
the alkil dust. The whites Of his eyes
are tinged with a faint shade OF red, but
the pupils are clear and bright On each
side OF his forehead there is fresh
blister. caused by the application of coun-
ter-irritants This gives him no pain.
and will be no factor In the coming fight
This afternoon Meher took a long walk
- the outskirts OF FL Paso in company
with his trainers. After being rubbed
down he declared that he was In me
condition. He said tonight Il never tax
much but / wish 10 say 10 my frlendS
that | am In first rate condition, ana am
ready 10 enter the ring at any minute.
I understand Fitzsimmons characterized
me as a cur few days ago. He would
never have dared TO talk that way If
had been present. Wait till get crack
or two at him tomorrow, and we will
see who is cur He is great big
buffer, but bluffs won't so in our argu-
ments. Ny friends have no fear OF the
result"
FIRST BETTING.
The first suspicion of betting was no.
ticed to-day. only a few thousand dol
lars were wagered. and the odds were
in favor OF Fitzsimmons. Most or the
money was placed at 100 to Is. and that
on the Cornishman. The Manner crowd
appear TO have plenty OF money, but VIII
wait to bet at the rlngside, In the hope
Of securing better Odds.
Shortly after O'Clock the crowd OF in
tending participants began to line up
again at headquarters. There were per-
haps go sports from outside the city,
while the local fraternity was represent
ed by about a fifth OF that number. As
each man received his pasteboard the
rendezvous for the departure was given
him in an undertone.
Maher drove at 9:3o. with big crowd
OF enthusiastic friends In his rear. He
was given a cheer as he passed the Office,
and, pokng a face wreathed with smiles,
out OF the window, he waved his hand
I'm response.
Maher will have in his corner tomorrow
Jim Hall, Buck Connolly. Peter Lowry.
Jack Quinn. and Peter Byrnes, while
Parson Davies will act as time-keepes
FItzsimmons viii have behind him Mar
tin Julian. Jack Everhardt, Jack Stel-
zener, and Jack Mccoy, while Hugh
Kane will probably act as time-keeper.
Bat Masterson will officiate as master of
ceremonies and chief sergeant-at-arms;
George Siler, as referee. and Lou House
man as official time-keeper.
Governor Thornton, of New Mexico,
arrived at the city this afternoon, and
was coseted for an hour with one OF
his representatives., who has been I'M
der cover In town for ten days. Later,
however, the Governor said that his
visit had no relation TO the fight. The
latest tips afioat were taken across the
river to the Mexican authorities by
mounted couriers.
Just before train-time F1tzsimmons and
Julian were brought to Dan stuarts
Office in a carriage. Julian, on behalf Of
FltzsimmOns, demanded that the public
result be converted into money 10 be
paid at the ringside. He insisted that no
checks would be fought for or accepted
by Fitzslmmons. To this Stuart agreed
Stakeholder ORourke was hunted up
and produced the checks. The carriage
was sent out for the cashiers Of the
banks, and when they appeared at their
respective Institutions the vaults were
opened. and $1,000 In new one-hundred-
dollar bills was counted out, 5000 from
the State Bank and 1900 from the First
National Bank The entire pile was turn
ID over to Referee George Sller. who
wrote a note to Julian, stating that he
would produce It at the ringsde Later
Julian said he would demand 20 see IL
before the train pulled out. Il don't dis
trust any of these people, said he. but
we have been turned down once. and we
propose TO be on the safe side this time.
WHITTIER AWAY?
The departure was made over the
Southern Pacific railroad shortly after 10
o'clock. There We're rot dozen men in
the entire eight coach-loads, however who
knew just where they were going TO bring
up. Every other man had a different tip,
and each was positive that his was the
only simon-pure article. There were sur
face indications, however, that the first
destination was Del Rio. a point on the
Sanderson branch Of the Southern Pacific
railroad.
Del Rio is 453 miles distant from this
city. Across the Rio Grande is a Mexi-
can town which Is in the State OF Coahu-
liza and outside of the jurisdiction
OF Ahumada. The nearest military post
is that OF Porfirio Diaz. and is seventy
I'VE miles distant. For scores OF miles
around the country is wild and noun
famous. while the hills contain a score OF
level plateaus, either OF which would
make an ideal spot for the figN
Those closest To the promoters believe
that this Is the destination. but there
are others who claim to have authentic
Information that the plan is 10 run to
Del Rio or Langtry, a station forty miles
this side, and then double back TO Fort
Hancock. fifty-three miles from here.
where the Mexican frontier Is reached IN
a walk OF mile and a quarter Color
Is given TO this theory by a remark Of
one OF the managers to the effect that
while II would take seven To twelve
hours to reach the battle-ground. the re-
turn might be made in two hours il the
engineer were so disposed This wirer
viii tomorrow take up the thread of the
story. whether the strands be floating In
old Mexico. New Mexico. Texas. or Arr
IONA
The train bearing the crowd 10 witness