The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
Considerable Guessing as to
Where the Battle Is to
Take Place.
MAHER AND FITZ BOTH READY
1t Is Believed the Special Train Will
Land the Sports Somewhere
in Mexico.

Ell PASO. TEX, Feb. 20-Barring in
reference from powers earthly or higher
Fitzsimmons and Maher will settle the
question OF their superiority in the prize
ring as soon after sunrise tomorrow
morning as the atmospherical conditions
are favorable to the operation of the
kinetoscope. AT midnight the party is en-
route to the battle-ground, the departure
having been made over the Southern
Pacific Road shortly after 10 O'Clock.
There were rot dozen men in the
entire eight coachloads, however, who
knew just where they were going to bring
up. Every other man had different tip
and each was positive that his was the
only simon pure article. There were sur
face indications, however, that the first
destination was Del Rio, which is 453
miles distant from this city. Across the
Rio Grande del Norte the Mexican terri
tory is in the State of Coahulla and out
side of the jurisdiction of Governor
Ahumada.
The nearest military post is Porfirio Diaz,
seventy-fve miles distant. For miles
around the country is wild and mountain
Gus, while the hills contain score of level
plateaus that would make an ideal spot for
the encounter. Those closest to the pro-
moters believe that this is the destination,
but there are others who claim to have
authentic information that the intention is
to run to Langley, a station forty miles
this SIDE, and then double back to Fort
Hancock, ffty-three miles from here,
where the Mexican frontier is reached in a
walk of a mile and quarter.
Color is given to this theory by remark
of one of the managers to the effect that,
while it would take seven to twelve hours
to reach the battle-ground, the return
might be made in two, if the engineer was
so disposed.
The United Press learns that the Mexi-
can authorities were advised several days
since that the ring was in progress of erec-
tion near Langtry and that the kineto-
scope apparatus was on the ground. The
mountainous nature of the country, how
ever. makes tine battle-ground inaccessible
to Mexican troops unless they cross the
American side at Eagle Pass, and to do
this it would be necessary to obtain per
nit from the War Department. 1t is not
known here whether such permit has been
applied for or granted.
All that is definitely known at this writ
ing is that the party is Off to Stuart's ''safe
ground" and that the principals are fit
and prim for the ring. Th, wires to-mor-
row will take up the thread of the story,
whether the strands be floating in old
Mexico or New Mexico, in Texas or in
Arizona.
The announcement that definite infor-
nation concerning the departure would be
given out at o'clock attracted q large
crowd'to headquarters.
There were Mexicans whose appearance
designated them as being of very high and
very low degree well-dressed American
sports and fringe OF brawny cattlemen,
colored brethren and hangers-out at the
local saloons and gambling houses. At
least third of the throng looked as
though iJ had not seen the price of a ticket
to the ringside for many long day.
Perhaps Dan Stuart was of the same
opinion, for after surveying with curl of
his lip the aggregation that had responded
to his call he whispered to one of his
associates and left the room. Five minutes
later when the Office boy posted the follow
ing on the plate glass windows there was
break for the open:
NOTICE.
InOse lHleuulHS 10 WlIueSS the Maner-tltZ-
simmons contest will be at the Office at 9:4O
tonight. The railroad tickets will cost not
over $12 for the round trip.
w. K. WHEELoCK.
There were snorts and grunts and howls
of disapprooation when the closing para
graph was read aloud, and great many
of the crowd freely gave the opinion that
the affair had been got up solely for the
beneft of hloated hond oIdars apd mil
lionaires.
Just before the train time Fitzsimmons
and Julian were brought to Dan Sluart's
office in carriage. Julian, on behalf of
Fitzsimmons, demanded that the purse be
Vac dcx- q Il