The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-12
NAHER MORE
THAN CONFIDENT
Morally Certain That He viii Put
l'ittsimmons to Sleep 10
Three Rounds.
THE FIGHT WILL CONE OFF
So Says the consul at RI raso. and Mexican
Authorities Admit Their Inability TO
rreysnt 1.-THE battle-ground
still Mystery.

Las Cruces. ". NJ. Feb. ll.Maher wal
visited at his training quarters today
with the exception OF aparing he ih go
ing through with hard siege Of train
Ing. IIo weighs 10 pounds. but does mol
look 10 heavy as Fiizsimmons To the
east Of his quarters are lofty monnatinS
and every day Peter and his trainers trol
out into the foothills and return In time
for hearty dinner.
There was probably never pugilisi
who had more confidence OF winning q
battle than this brond.ahouldercd. clear.
eyed lriAhmhn In fact. most men would
think him reckless IN his statements. ~
am feeling better than ever before In my
life" he said. "and ! am morally certain
that can put that big guy out In three
rounds"
Have you any doubt OF the battle tRb-
Ing place." I asked None whatever, .
he replied II am as sure OF Il a. that
ih" sun viii rise tomorrow morning
weigh seven or eight pounds more now
than when ! fought FitzHlmmona before
In addition 10 carrying more weight.
aIn positive that am three times M
good boxer | do not see why ! should
not land on F'itz few times. when
landed on him In the other fight. and ]
can tell you u | land on him | will fetch
him"
The house occupied by Maher ms train.
ing quarters was formerly occupied by a
minister The Las Cruces people heard
that Maher was looking for training
quarters, and the owner OF the house
raised the rent from So 20 $50 month
The minister was forced 10 get out and
Aaher came IN. This shows the gem
eral disposition Of New Mexico people TO
help the carnival along.
on the walls Of the house are numerous
pastoral scenes and pictures OF the Holy
Land. and beneath them the pugillSts
rant about, spar. wrestlc and play rncy
tunes on the piano, Jim Hall IL duly
installed aA chief trainer, and Is working
almost as hard as Maher TO yet the latter
into good shape. lie Is ALSO quite as
confident as Maher that the latter will
win Mahcr does not have 10 work hard.
HAIL said 10 me today;
lie IL already In great fetiie and only
needs the finishing touches 10 put him
into the rii-g. | am confident that he
VIII win In three or four rounds why,
yon have no idea how strong he is. He
grabbed hold OF me this morning and
handled me AS easily az II | were a child.
! was putting out my best liclSs. too"
Johnny Murphy II gradually becoming
accustomed TO the rnrcncd air. II nuffed
like steam engine when | first came
said he. II could not run any Llsatnee
at all can now go almost as FAR as |
could at home, All ! can say about the
iight with Barry is that win do my beat
TO win"
Jerry Marshall is probably down nearer
10 good hard lighting weight than amy
OF the other pugilists training at Las
Cruces Maher and his trainers look on
the Australian as having an even chance
with Dixon, The only one-slded match
In the lot according to Maher's idea, IL
that between Walcott and Bright Eyes :"
ITS loo TO shot on Walcott," he said.
Maher's favorite training act Is TO kick
"a football about the floor OF the biz ring
where he works. The building has a
canvas roof, whereon the dust has settled
to the depth OF an inch or more When
ever the bah hits this roof a cloud OF
dust comes down and Peter and his train
crs are cnveloped in fog. Peter does not
mind IT, He rushes about frantIcnlly
through the thick atmosphere as though
he enjoyed H. one by one his trainers
give up and seek purer spot. Then
Peter tackles the ball alone. and the dust
IL gradually increased until the spec
tators are driven forth and the big, Irish
man Is monarch OF all he surveys,
To-day Maher treated himself TO a
boiled dinner but the hearty bout with
the table lid not seem to interfere with
him. Qrlun, Maher's hacker, expresses
himself rs entirely satisfied with Peters
condition. and SO does Buck Connellv
who Is at the quarters with "A bundle OF
OF money which he intends to put on the
lrishmau.