Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-20
F|TzS|OMMONS' MANIFESTO He Is Ready to Fight for a.
 Kingdom. IA REMARKABLE DOCUMENT Satisfied That Hone of the Charpions Have
 the Courage to Meet Him.. HE WILL FIGHT ON FRIDAY OR BURST The Sports Are as Much in the Dark as Ever So Far as Knowing Where the Bat
 lla Ground Is-Maher Is
 Improving.
WILL FIGHT ON FRIDAY OR BURST

Fl Paso Tex, Feb. 19.-This has been a day of watching and waiting, with the result that every one knows at sunset as much as at sunrise and little if anything more. There was somewhat of a more bouyant tone in the sporting market than yesterday, and as the afternoon wore on everybody was on the qui vve for tips concerning the location of the battle or any new movement on the part of the Mexican authorities. All sorts of stories were af1oat concerning the point where the ring has been pitched or is to be piphed. A good authority located it across the Arizona boundary; an equally reliable one said confidentially that it would be a matter of an all night ride: a third insisted that he would be able to reach the spot on a wheel. Stuart and his colleagues preserved the same sphinx-like silence and would not deign to notice even the telegraphed roorback from Galveston that the mill would be brought off on a barge in the Gulf of Mexico. In response to a request for any authoritative statement concerning Ma hers condition this candid reply was re- ceived from Maher's packer and manager at Las Cruces this evening:
 "To the Southern Associated Press: Maher will be in fair condition. His eyes are almost well. His condition will not be as good as I would like it to be, but nevertheless I expect to see him win or would not let him fight.
 JOHN J. QUINN"
 FitZsimmons crossed the Rio Grande this morning and entertained the usual crowd of sightseers watching him mak- ing horse shoes. After a spin throgh the business streets he returned to his train ing quarters at Juanez, where this after noon he entertained a company of vis- itors, among whom were Adjutant-Gen- eral Mabrey, United States Marshal Hall of New Mexico, Captain Hughes and Lieutenant Scharpe of the Texas rangers, Col. J. J. Dickey, wife and party of la dies of Omaha, together with number of military officers and people from El Paso and Juarez. Fitzsimmons is ap- parently perfect physically and eager for the fight. He stopped trianing to- day and will rest until Friday. He ask ed that the following statement be given publicity:
 ''To the American People:
 "Out of the goodness of the heart and believing as alleged that Peter Maher was out of condition on last Friday. agreed to give him three days grace rather than set myself before the Ameri- can people in the attitude of taking ad- vantage of man who was reported to be partly blind. Not seeing him myself. l that the date has been set for Friday and the assurance been given that Maher will be in perfect condition on that day, I intend going to the ringside and will be ready to fight for kingdom If his packers say, Well, Fitzsimmons, here is blind man and if you insist on fight ing, go ahead shall say to the referee, Please call time
 on doing so shall feel justified be- cause I have agreed to two postpone ments, and the last one was accompanied by forfeit of $20O0. In asking the ref cree to call time, will also be guided by the earnest belief that the Maher crowd do not want to fight under any circum- stances and I honestly believe that Maher's packers and friends have warned him not to fight and in doing so they have led him to believe that If he escapes a fight with me he can return to Ireland and pose as the only champion of the world. I am a naturalized citizen of the United States, and I believe l am entitled to the good will and support of the American people. have been in hard and honest training for seven months and have spent thousands of dol lars in preparing to meet the alleged champions. all of whom have at the last moment found some loophole to crawl out of a fight. am now satisfied that none of them possess the courage to meet me, and I, therefore, have decided
 
 "ROBERT FITZSIMMONS. "Mddle-weight Champion of the World
 Dispatches received today say that del- egations from Fort Worth, San Antonio and Galveston are doubling back again, and quarters at one of the hotels were ordered for a party from Hot Springs, headed by Phil Dwyer of New York. Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Albuquerque and other points within twelve hours ride will also be well represented here tomorrow. No tices were issued from headquarters to- night directing that ticket holders and all who contemplated witnessing the con test to report for information at o'clock Thursday afternoon. Not a single bet on the result has been heard of for sev- eral days. The money went away with the train loads of sports that left be- tween Friday and Monday and the town people are not sufficiently interest ed in either man to back their choice with solid cash.
 Among the majority of local and vis- iting sports the consensus of opinion seems to be that the fight will not last more than three rounds and that the Cornish man will have Maher at his mercy after the first round.
 Jack Everhardt worked Fitzsimmons today and will be in his corner on Fri day
 The principal of each fighter was noti- fled tonight by Dan Stuart of the place and hours at which his man is to be in readiness. Buck Connolly received the information upon his arrival on the night train from Las Cruces. and imme- diately wired Maher, Quinn and the rest of the party at the training quarters to come down on the morning express, which is due here at 11:30 a. m. The mo- tificatlon to Julian was taken across the river little later by one of Stuart's lieu tenants The latest rumor tonight is that the battle will take place in the state of Sonoro Mexico. which has made no preparation against an invasion and in thority. E eE
 .sWalcott and Bright Eyes, were matched this afternoon to meet in
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