Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
ABOUT PETERED OUT.
Interest in The Meeting Of Raher and
FitzSimmODS Gone.
SPORTS DISAPPEAR FROM Ell PAso.
only "a streamcr of Crepe Needed
Now at PugilIstlc Headquarters
COMPLIMENTARY kilograms Between
Corbett and the Australian.

Ell PASO. TEX, February B-Interest
in the possible meeting Of Maher and Fitz-
simmons on Friday has about petered out.
The throngs that bIockaded I'll Paso street
from store-front to curb have gradually
dwindled to complete disappearance, ana
the groups that are occasionally encoun-
tered on the cross thoroughfa -es are COM
posed IN the main of Meylcans from
Jaurez or ruralites from the surrounding
country. The headquarters, too, are de-
serted and need only a streamer Of
crepe on the door TO complete their fu-
nereal aspect The feeling is next to gene
raj that something will again happen to
keep the men from entering the ring.
Taken all together, never has a worlds
championship pugilistic contest been inn
peded by such a sudden lack Of interest.
Fitzslmmons took four hours exercise
this afternoon, boxing with Mccoy, the
local heavyweight. wrestling with Jack
Steiner, OF st. Louis, and purching the
bag. There is no question that he ls in
magnificent condition, while his temper
toward Maher Is decidedly ugly. Every
thing indicates that he viii put up the
fight OF his life II the opportunity is Of
Tered three days hence.
The company OF state Rangers, twenty
four all told, still remains in the city,
although the men are not as much in
evidence about the streets as they were
last week. Adjutant~Gensral Mabry held
n consultation this afternoon with Cap
talns Mcdonald and Ball, and later said
that the Rangers would remain here until
the fight managers had gone out OF
business.
sEMI-OFFTCIAL.
A semi-ofiicial statement given out from
headquarters to-day says in part: mo one
should think that the Fitzsimmons-Mahe
fight will not take place simply because
the lesser fights have been declared of.
The fact OF the matter Is that Stuart
has been placed in better position to
pull off the big fight since the little
events are out OF the way than he was
before. There lie no need for the visitors
that remain TO fear interference. The
ring Is well located, and the conditions
are such that no one Will be arrested or
molested. This much can be stated alb
solutely, the assertions to the contrary
Notwithstanding"
Spider Kelly, who came down from
Las Cruces to-day. says that Maher
walked twelve miles yesterday. and ar
terWard TOOK TWO hours exercise lhuOOiS'
His eyes are doing well, and there Is
no question of his being Mt for the ring
Friday.
Fitzsimmons received to-day dispatch
dated at Chicago. and reading as follows:
ITO Robert Fitzsimmons: read In to-
nights papers that you said L was
cur. The first time see you will make
you take it back, as l did before
~. J. CORBETT."
After making the air sulphurous for
awhile, Fitzsimmons turned the message
over to Julian. who promptly filed the fol-
lowing reply:
~. ]. Corbett, Chicago: All right chap
pie; get ready: put yourself in better
condition than you were in Hot Springs,
and get down here. Fitzsimmons will
put YOU out Of existence the day after
he puts Maher among the has-beens.
MARTIN JULIAN"