The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-14
Maher, the Big Irish Pugilist,
Almost Blind at Present.
Has Alka1i Sand in His Eyes,
and the Mill is Postponed.
MAY FIGHT MONDAY.
If Maher is No Better Then Ii
May Never Come OFF.
1t is Reported That Peter is
Afraid of the Soldiers.

Ell PASo, Tex, Feb. 1.-THE big
fight is postponed until Monday at the
earliest. and when that day comes the
future of the matter will be deter
mined. Julian paid a visit to Maher
late last night, inspected his eyes, and
after q conference decided that he
would let the fight be postponed until
Monday, without claiming a forfeit.
If Maher is not in shape to fight at
that time Julian will decide as 20 what
he will do regarding the forfeit Al
though Julian talks about his forfeit,
he really could do nothing else
than agree to the postponement, for
he had not a cent of money up as a
forfeit, all of his 81, 900 forfeit being
deposited by Stuart personally. Even
if he demands the forfeit money, it
will go to Stuart, none of it coming to
Julian or Fitzslmmons.
The following was posted about
town last night:
Owing to temporary affection of
Peter Makers eyes the contest will
have to be postponed a few days"
This was agreed to after Julian had
examined the eyes of the Ir1shman
and had a conference with Quinn and
Connolly.
Maher has been training IN an old
was SO thick when he was going
through his training that visitors com
planned of it and warned Maher
against continuing work in an atmos-
phere of dust Sunday one of his eyes
began to pain. Report came down
that he had sand in the member, but
that it would only temporarily incon-
venience him. Tuesday both eyes
were affected and the condition of the
Irish fighter has been getting worse
until Wednesday he could not see. Ma
hers trouble is not uncommon in this
region. Residents are not so liza bic TO
it as those who have been here but a
short time. The alkai dust creates
an irritation that results in blindness
and great pain. but it usually passes
away in a week or ten days
Martin Julian and Fitzsimmons were
sent for as soon as Maher was placed
in a room. Both examined the suffer
er's eyes, expressed their sympathy
for him and announced that they
claim forfeit They will give Maher
ample time to recover.
Opinions differ as to whether Maher
will be able to fight on Monday. Some
physicians say that he will be able to
use his eyes as well as ever within
three days and others say it will be
week at the inside.
OOAAhy Jul PAAy GEd4AGrs OOAEOyB
told peculiar tale about the trouble
with Makers eyes. He was asked if
Peters eyes were as bad as reported.
His eyes are slightly inf1amed," he
replied. but are plenty good enough
to fight"
eff that is so, what is wrong, then?"
''I1l tell you, confdentially. Maher
is afraid of the authorities. Wednes-
day night our training quarters were
surrounded by as hard a looking set
of men on horseback, with rifles, as I
ever saw. They patrolled 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 at the house, 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 protection, Maher,
Marshall nor Murphy will get in the
RING -