Evening star., 1896-02-14
MAHER'S EYES
Night Not Be in Condition by
Monday.
FlPZSIMMONS IN FINE CONDITION
Skepticism Regarding the Blindness
Of His Opponent.
GENERAL SPORTING NOTES

GENERAL SPORTING NOTES
Ell PASO, Texas, February 14.-Peter
Mahers eyes were a trifle better this morn
ing, but there is no telling yet whether or
not he will be able to enter the ring Mon
day, to which time the big fight has been
postponed. The opinions of the physicians
still differ, some maintaining that he will
be out in three days and others giving him
at least a week to remain in his room.
Even If Maher is able to enter the ring
Monday he will not be able to do himself
justice. He has been practically out of
training for a week. and he certainly will
be able to do nothing between now and
Monday.
If the fight comes off on that day Fitz-
simmons chances will be very greatly i'm
proved. He is in splendid condition.
This morning Maher was still locked in
the little room in which he was placed last
night. The shades were drawn and every
ray of light carefully excluded. Hot band
ages were applied to his eyes at frequent
intervals during the night, and when he
finally dropped off to sleep toward morning
that he Is in very bad condition. Maher
Is greatly worried lest the public think he
has backed down the eyes a
subterfuge to enable him to avoid going
into the ring Anybody seeing the mans
condition could not entertain such an idea
for an instant.
He is not only utterly unable to see, but
so helpless that he cannot care for himself.
Connolly, his trainer, said this morning: If
Peter rounds to by Monday there will be a
fight. as far as we are concerned. We are
sure that our man can win, even If he has
been compelled to let up in his training. He
is dead game and more than willing to fight.
If he can when Monday comes around he
will get into the ring"
Stunrt'x Confidence.
Stuart says that he is ready to pull of the
fight at any time when the men are ready.
1--WE would have been on the way to the
battle ground by now," he added, "if Maher
had been in any shape at all. I was pre-
pared to pull off the fight today, and / am
ready to pull it off at any time the princi-
pals are ready. There will be no fluke on
my part when the time comeS.'
The spot where the battle ground is to be
Is still a secret.
The Battle Ground.
Everybody thinks that it would have
been in Mexico, near the line of the South
ern Pacific, anywhere from fifty to hun
dred miles east of El Paso. Nobody know
where 1t would have been or will be. Con-
ditions may arise, it is clairned that will
permit the fight to come off In Juarez with
cut interference, but this is not likely.
The mere suggestion yesterday Of such a
thing seemed very funny to Governor
Ahumada.
"Oh, yes,'' he said, right here In the
bull pen. Let the gentlemen come. 1t
will be SO much easier than chasing them
along the banks of the Rio Grande, and
then the bull pen is so close to the Jail
Nothing could be more convenient. Let
them come"
Afraid of the Authorities.
Johnny Murphy's trainer, Conroy, told a
peculiar tale about the trouble with
Maher's eyes. He was asked If Peters
eyes were as bad as reported.
His eyes Glightly in1lamed," he re-
Piled but are Nenty good enough to
fight"
IF that is SO, what is wrong, them
"Pll tell you confidentally. Maher Is
afraid of the authorities. Wednesday night
our training quarters We're surrounded by
as hard a locking set of men. on horse
back, with rifles, as l ever saw. They pa
trolled the house-that is, within fifty
yards of it-all night, and had the life
scared out Of everybody. We learned from
Deputy Marshal Jim Boards son, who
waits on Us at the house. that they thought
we were going to pack up and leave for
the battle ground. and they were ready to
trail us up. Neither Maher nor anybody
in our camp Is ready to die with his boots
on, and unless Stuart can guarantee pro-
ply will fight
Gov. AhI mada yesterday ran across the
most popular nan in Ell Paso just now
John L. Sullivan. Through his Interpreter
the governor said:
PLEASED to meet you," and digging up
some Of the French he picked up while
abroad. John said something that sounded
like Mercy bocoop." Then they split pint
of champagne. Sullivan said afterward:
''You can bet your life that guy Is too
much of sport to stop a fight"
Mahcr Leaves FL Paso.
Peter Maher was taken back to Las
Cruces this morning. An oculist accom-
panied the pugtlist He would express no
positive opinion as to his patient being
able to fight within any specified time.
There seems to be little less inflamma-
tion this morning." DIR. White said, after
looking at the eyes just before the start.
"Maher may be able to enter the ring
Monday and make fight
Six Texas rangers kept guard about Ma
hers room last night.
Minister Romero Doubts 1t,
Senor Romero, the Mexican minister
here, gives no credehce to the story that
Dan Stuart had obtained a concession Of
land from the Mexican government upon
which the fight could be pulled off with
out danger of interference from either the
United States or the Mexican authorities.
In the first place, Senior Romero explain
ed, under the Mexican constitution state
officials are inhibited from disposing by
concession or otherwise to foreigner any
land within twenty miles of the border
without the express written approval of
the president Of the republic, and 1t was
his firm conviction that no such approval
had been given. And In any event, he con-
tinued. the person obtaining the land and
| those occupying it would be as amenable
to the laws and authority Of the general
government as the people of any other
section Of the country, and would be held
to as strict accountability for their viola
ton. Senior Romero is strongly of the
opinion that no fight will take place on
Mexican territory.
The federal authorities here are inclined
to the opinion that an attempt is being
| made to throw the officials off their guard
and kilograms have already been sent to
the military and civil authorities caution
Ing them not to be misled by appearances