The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-18
WHIPPED INTO LINE,
1t Is Now Thought That Bob Fitzsimmons
viii Not BE Able to Dodge the Fight
with Mailer.

II - NOW ihOught mat bOo FitzSimmOnS
viii Not BE Able to Dodge the Fight
with Malicr.
El Paso Texas, Feb. 1.-THE fight
atmosphere Is clearer tonight than IL
mas Deen at any time since the carni-
val programme was broken into by the
development on Thursday afternoon
that Peter Maher was prevented by
physical disability from fulfilling his
part of the contract. With the minor
lights abandoned and the rapid pro-
gress toward complete recovery of the
lrishmans eye troubles. there is a gen.
eral belief that the outcome of the con-
ference today, at which Fitzsimmons
was whipped into line after he had
broken through the traces. and had de
clared that, so far as he was conserved
the match was off for good, will be
ratified by the appearance of the men
within the rOpes early on the morning
of the 2lst. That the hackers of Ma
her are sure of their ground was made
evident by the avidity with which they
hastened to put up theNadditional thou
sand forfeit money that was a condi-
tion OF Julian's pledge to have his man
on hand upon the revised date. There
are reasons for believing, moreover.
that In view of the change In the situa-
ton. the hostility Of the authorities
may be moderate, at least to the extent
nat the hghting party, provided that
from now on the managers quit their
blowing and their defiant talk. may
not nave to take chances of being hunted
IKE n band OF criminals on their way TO
the contest. The clergymen at lea ST
are satisfied both with the situation
and the outlook.
1t Is understood that Governor Ahu
,,iaua lhcllnes toward a similar view.
iii . H.,
That compelled the Cornish mans man
aSer to accept the proposition from tho
Maher side after his principal had, with
an EFFORT toward the spectacular. re-
tired. announcing that the fight was
on. When jury which. although Sc
lected by his opponent was composed
almost entirely of his own friends. de-
ciueu that ne was not entitled to the
lorfelt money, Julian found himself
completely whin-sawed and was glad
10 fall back as "a last resort upon the
proposition that q few minutes before
FitZsimmons had sourned win oaths
and denunciatiOns.
Combination i'm a Tight Place.
The fact Is understood to be that the
combination Is in as tight place tinan-
cially as 1t was at the time of the Hot
Springs and Little Rock complicat tons
and that If Fitzsimmons had been tak-
clared off withOu. forfeit. Julian
would have been at his wits end to get
his party into New York, where it has
an engagement about two weeks hence.
There was but one alternative. find
ing himself stranded, and that was to
let his man try for the $4,000 in the
purse on the date named by the other
side, and the certainty that If for any
cause whatever Maher was again un-
able to enter the ring. there would be
$1,000 with which to tide over the pres
ent difficulties.
1t was due almost solely to the cool
ness displayed by Connolly and Stuart
that the conference did not break up i'm
n bloody fracas. OF the mob of 200
sports and rangers on the other side of
the wire netting partition. fully nine
tenths were armed and ready to shoot
on the slightest provocation.
A United Press reporter met Cover
nor Ahumada this evening. The gov
ernor said he had given orders to re-
double the precautions for preventing
the fight taking place on Mexican soil.
He stated that If captured in the state
of Chihuahua penal servitude of
three years would await the principals,
trainers and abettOrs.
The battle ground is as much of
mystery to all but the promoters as
ever,