Evening star., 1896-02-21
PREPARING TO FIGHT
Fitzsimmons and Maher on the Wav
to the Battle Ground.
RING TO Be PITCHED IN MEXICO
Place Almost Inaccessible for
Troops.
r E CO RDS OF THE MEN

Ell PASO, Texas, February 21.-The South
ern Pacific train, carrying the prize fieh.
party, reached Sanderson, Texas, two and
cne-half hours run from Langley, at ll:IJ
am, central time.
SANDERSON, Texas, February o1-Th,.
train on the Southern Pacific road yhici,
left El Paso at 10 o'clock last night with the
prize fighters and their followers will rea ch
Langley. on the Mexican border, at 10::::.
today, and the present expectation is that
the cars containing the prize fighters will
be set out either at that station or at Shum-
la or Niaduct, two stations within fifteen
miles or there: that the party will cross the
Rio Grande river into the Mexican state of
Coanulla, and that the ring will be pitched
at the foot of Mosquito mountain
Inc region Is very inaccessible to Mexican
troops the mountains dropping close to the
edge of the river. and it is expected that the
fight will take place in one of the valleys ON
the river bank.
Ell PASO, Texas, February o1-'The ffeh,
train on the Southern Pacific railroad is re.
ported tc be two hours late. 1t is within 100
miles CT Langley and Is expected to arrive
here at 80 central time.
TABER, Texas. February 21.-The train
OF the Southern Pacific, carrying :he prize
hent party, has just passed this station. /,
is TWO hours late. 1t Is due on the presen,
scheduie to reach Langley, 40 miles east OF
mere the supp Iosed battle ground about 3 20
~ IS thoug1t exceedingly doubtful
"hether the ARA lgements can be perfected
90 as TO pull the fight off before dark. in
Whlch case 1t will be postponed until early
tomorrow morning. The party was al,
Well and in good spirits when the train
passed here.
Departure From Ell Paso.
The departure from FL Paso last nteb,
was attended with mystery A notice had
peen posted on the door and on the iron
railing surrounding the office of Stuarr
reading as follows:
Those intending to witness the fight VI M
nave to be at this Office at $3.50 O'Clock to.
hlght. The railway tickets will not cos,
over W. for the round trip
Inc sale of tickets was fairly brisk Each
puyer was told that If he would keen his
seat, pay MS fare and put curb upon his
pari, &c uhtii ne was instructed to cisem
PARK he would surely see the battle The
directions were given to the admirers al
pGsilsm at Stuarts office al 9:45 ocIork
as promised.
,osI Eaeh person was told simply to take tho
lo:l" O'Clock train going south and ask nc
questions. Not another piece of inrorma
tlon was given to anybody
stuart absolutely refused to tell his
closest friends. and even Z. J. Rector and
the men who are to build the ring ar,. in
the dark "
Rush for the Train.
There We're 1,500 persons packed insile
the post office and on the sidewalk and
across the street, until the high steps lead.
ing to the post Office became crowded by
the overf1owing. When the definite an.
nouncement was made there was a frantic
rush for the depot and wild endeayors te
secure berfhs in sleepers. for it also he.
came known that the trip would last all
night and that no move would be made
upon :ho battle ground until daylight a,
the earliest.
At 1915 o'clock the train rolled out of the
depot and started on its way toward The
battle ground.
The Battlefield
The Mexican frontier opposite Lang!ry
is barren desert in the state of Coal hula
There is no Mexican town within fifty miles
and no military post within a two days
march. For Mexican troops to reach the
place by rail they would be compelled te
run over a branch of the Mexican Central
to SpoHord, Tex, and thence over a hun.
dred miles on the Southern Pacific l'h.
place selected by Dan Stuart appears to be-
so far from civilization that even the spec.
tators need two nights and day to ge,
there and hack