The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
In Ninety Seconds Peter
Maher Was Sent to
Sleep.
PUT OUT IN THE FIRST.
The Irish Fighter Received One
OF Those Famous Upper
Hooks.
DECIDED ON MEXICAN SOIL
Sports Dragged Long Distance to
Witness Contest That Was
Truly Disappointing.

LANGTRY, TEX, Feb. 21.-It took Rob
ert fitzslmmons just ninety seconds this
afternoon to defeat Peter Maher and be-
come the lheavy-weight champion of the
world. The fight took place in the bot
toms of the Rio Grande River on the Mex
lean side, one and a half miles distant
from the Langtry depot.
Even to his friends it was evident that
the Irish lad was not in it from the start.
Before the round had progressed thirty
seconds Maher attempted a foul and was
heatedly warned by the referee. Fitz-
simmons coup was in the form of one of
his famous upper hooks, with which he
knocked out Hall and broke the nose of
Jack Stelzner, his trainer.
Maher made a gallant effort to get upon
his feet when time was called, but after
getting half way, TO a reCum bent position,
he fell back, and still had his head on the
floor when time was called, and the de-
cision was awarded TO the Cornishman.
When the train Of sports arrived from
Ell Paso at 2:3O o'clock there was no evil
dence that anything unusual was about to
occur. The excursionists from Eagle Pass
and other points had been belated and
only some fifty residents of the country
L
COMPANY OF the Texas Rangers guarded the
depot while the remainder went down to
the bottoms or the Texas side, but not the
slightest effort was made to interfere with
the sports in any of their movements.
When the word TO move had been given,
the visitors speedily found that although
they had been on the road for over sixteen
hours and journeyed four hundred miles
the hardest part OF the entertainment was
yet to come. Following guides in strag-
Cling procession they went across the
prairie for a distance of five hundred yards
and then commenced precipitous descent
OF a seldom-used wagon road that went
III circuitous way down to the Rio Grande
over rocks and bowlders now slipping
on their backs, now clutchlng at bramble
10 save themselves from fall and a broken
ankle, and now stubbing their toes
against huge cobblestones or in cavities OF
the rocks, the sports toiled in double and
single file until the bank of the river was
reached. Then there was a tramp of SOC
yards more through sand and mud full
ankle deep to the point where the 75-foot
pontoon bridge had been stretched across
the Rio Grande River, which, swollen by
recent rains, had been changed from q
sluggish stream to a roaring torrent. Once
across the sports were on the bottoms OF
the Mexican side, and the canvas inclosure
that contained the ring was to be seen in
the distance. Five minutes more brought
the perspiring and sore-footed pedestrians
to the entrance stiles, where Bat Masterson
and Joe Vendig examined the pasteboard
tickets and passed the holders within.
4 more ideal spot for such an event
could have hardly been selected. To the
west, sloping down to the very foot of the
inclosure, was a mountain 500 feet in
height, rugged and almost perpendicular
Across the river on the Texas side was its
counterpart and fringed along its stern
summit, commanding a full view of the
ring, were some 300 men and women, who
looked like pigeons to those below.
Between the two mountains and within a
stones throw of the ring upon the bottoms
the river rushed with dull roar. Heavy
leaden clouds overhead and occasional
drops OF rain completed the picture.
The circus canvas with which the battle
ground was inclosed was 200 feet in circum-
ference and sixteen feet in height. The
ring was composed of white pine covered
with white duck and had an elevation of
we're two diminutive tents for the con-
venience of the principals in making their
final preparations FitZsimmons and Maher
with their attendants in the front rank of
the procession walked down but few
Yards apart, both reaching the inclosure in
a profuse state of perspiration. They were
taken to their tents and rubbed down.
At 3 o'clock when Referee Siler an
nounced that all was ready, l02 people
were at the ringside the remainder of the
visiting party with the local contingent
having decided that view from the Texas
hills was preferable to the expenditure of
$50 for a ticket. In response TO Siler's call,
Julian asked for ten minutes delay.
Quinn consented and it was readily
granted.
At 3:I3, FitZsimmons, enveloped IN a
flannel bathrobe, emerged from his quar-
ters and bounded up to the steps OF the
ring, and selected as his corner the point
TO the west with his back to the Mexican
mountain. Maher appeared a minute
later and took his chair in the opposite
corner facing the Mexican side, and his
back TO the spectators on the Texas hill.
Maher had in his corner Jim Hall, Buck
Connolly, Pete Lowrey, Jack Quinn and
Peter Byrnes, while Parson Davies acted
as his timekeeper. Fitzsimmons had be-
Alhd him Martin Julian, Everhart, jack
son Steiner and Jack Mccoy, while Burt
Hneed OF New Orleans acted as tlmekeeper.
1he fve-ounce gloves were produced
from the boxes and fitted on.
ne men were about to strip their over
coats when Julian called George Siier to
the center of the ring and the two con-
versed quietly for couple of minutes.
AT It's conclusion Siler demanded in siren
uous tones us Mr.. O'Rourke here?"
am responded the Bostonian. whose
heao barely came up to the level Of the
ring focr.