The Portland daily press., 1896-02-18

$4,000 Forfeit Money Placed-Fitz.
Calls Corbett a "Stiff."
El Paso, Texas, Febr uary ia con
ference regarding the Maher- Fitzsim-
mons fight was held here today, Maher
not being present. He was represented
by Buck Connolly.
An interchange Of opinions, which at
times was decidedly warm, lasted twenty
minutes. Julian asked Connolly if his
man was here ready TO fight and received
a reply in the negative. Then the Pitts
burg man made proposition for the
posting of an extra forfeit and fight Fri
day. Julian responded that time enough
had been given and he now claimed the
forfeit. 1t was strange thing. He
said, Connolly would know today when
Maher could get into the ring and yot
insisted he could not do so an hour later.
Connolly called attention to the fact that
twenty-four hours notice of the battle
ground was guaranteed. and it not
been given, to which Stuart, who pre-
sided said the ground is ready.
$50 is Eiuz ready" said Julian.
Yes, am ready" said the Austral-
ian.
Connolly said it forced he would 20
into the ring tomorrow, but to save the
forfeit and not to fight.
Fitzsimmons asked whether, supposing
he broke his arm, the other crowd would
not take his money?
Connolly said he would not touch
dollar OF it. The latter continued to
press his point of geeting meeting
Friday. Julian as strongly insisted he
wanted the forfeit money on this match,
because they needed it. and then they
would talk about another match Friday.
Finally Connolly said: 81 will have
my man in the ring as soon as am noti-
fled. now demand tW hty-four hours
notice Of the location Vf the battle
grounds
Stuart kept silent and after pause
Fitzsimmons drew himself up, waved his
arm in the air and shouted at the top of
his voice, "your man is not in condition
to fight. He is another stiff like Cor
bett; You are putting up a bluff"
Not much," responded Connolly
quietly. "Maher is not afraid to meet
you in the ring or anywhere else.'
You want to crawl OUT" suggested
eyes, they want to crawl" yelled
Fitzsimmons. ''They are a lot of d-m
ours"
Then turning to the throng on the
other side of the railing, he yelled louder
than ever: "This fights off gentlemen
Won't fight. They never intended to
fight in this place. Now boys give no.
tice that will fight that big stiff Cor
bett at any time, let us have cigar"
and with this the pugilist stalked out to
the street. b
SOMEBODY shouted "three cheers for
Fitz," but the response was feeble.
Julian, who seemed chagrined at Fitz's
talk, remained behind, wranglipg over
the question of giving up the forfeit
money. Finally Julian made the propo-
sition that 1t be left to the vote Of five
men to be selected by Connolly. The
following were selected: George Siler,
Lou Houseman, VIM. Naughton, Tom
O. Rourke and Hugh Fitzgerald. Dan
Stuart was chosen chairman of the COM
mittee.
While the committee were debating
Fitzsimmons returned and repeated that
be would not fight Friday. Julian sue
oeeded in getting him to withdraw that
statement temporarily. The committee
decided under the articles that neither
man was entitled to the forfeit Con-
molly then made the proposition that the
Friday plan be considered. Julian
agreed explicitly, and stated that Fitz
would fight Friday and $4,000 forfeit was
placed in Stuart's hands this afternoon