The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-20
FITz TO INSIST ON A FIGHT.
HE WILL NOT GRANT 4 LONGER DE-
LAY THAN FRIDAY,

He Insinuates That Maher VIII Put
Up Plea Of blindness on Entering
the Bing-He Issues "A Letter to the
American People Claiming That
He Is Entitled TO Their Sympathy.
El PasO, Tex, Feb. 19-This has been
a day Of watching and waiting, with the
result that everyone 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 vive for tips
concerning the location of the battle or
any new movement on the part of the
state or Mexican authorities. All sorts OF
stories were afiOat concerning where the
ring has been pitched or is to be pitched
A good authority located it across the
Arizona boundary, an equally reliable one
said confidentially that it would be a mat.
ter OF an ali night ride, third insisted
that he would be able to reach the spot on
a wheel Stuart and his colleagues pre-
served the same sphynx-like silence, ana
would not deign to notice even the tele,
graph roorback from Galveston that the
mill would be brought off on a barge in
the Gulf of Mexico.
I
Iauve statement concerning Maher's con-
qltlon this candid reply was received from
Grnces GManer 5 +b;, packer and manager at Las
AsSoclated Press: Maher will be in fair
cohdltlon. His eyes are almost we'll His
condition will not be as good as | womb
IKE II TO be, but nevertheless l expect TO
John j. Quinn" 9'''
tftzsimmOns crossed the Rio Grande
TINS morning and entertained the usual
crowd OF slght-seers watching him maxi
ing hOrseshoes. After a spin through the
% business streets he returned to his train
ing quarters at Juarez, where. this after
noon, he entertained a company of visf-
6QIS' among whom were Adjutant General
Marry, United states Marshall Hall of
HSW Mexico, Capt. Hughes and Lieut.
Scharpe OF the Texas Rangers, Col. j. j.
Dlckey, wife and a party of ladies' of
Omaha1 together with a number of mill
Juarez.
Fiizsimmons is apparently perfect physi-
caliy ana eager for the fight. He stopped
training to-day and will rest until Fri
day. He asked that the following state
nent be given publicity: ITO the Ameri-
can People: out of goodness of heart and
oeleVlng as alleged that Peter Maher was
out OF condition on last Friday, l agreed
to give him three days grace, rather than
set myself before the American people in
the attitude of taking advantage of a
man who was reported to be partly blind
Not seeing him myself l knew nothing
10 the contrary. Now that the date has
assurance
been given that Maher will be in perfect
condition on that day, i intend going to
the rngside and will be ready to fight for
a kingdom. If his hackers well
fftz, here is a blind man, and If you insist
on hghting, go ahead 1 shall say to the
referee; Please call time In doing so /
shall Ieel- 1ustihed, because have agreed
70 TWO postponementS, and the last one
was accompanied by forfeit of 5000. In
asking the referee to call time will also
be guided by the earnest belief that the Ma
va IN fob NJ
circumstances, and honestly believe that
Maher'S hackers and friends have warned
hlm not to night, and in so doing they have
leu MN 10 DelleYe that If he escapes a
night with me, he can return to Ireland
and pose as the only champion of the
world. l am naturalized citizen of the
United States and l believe that l am en-
titled to the good will and support of the
American people. l have been in hard
and honest training for several months
ana nave spent thousands of dollars in
preparing to meet alleged champions, all
OF whom have at the last moment found
some loop hole to crawl out of a fight I
am now satisfied that none of them pos
Sess the courage to meet me and / there
lore have decided upon this course.
Signed: Robert FitZsimmons, Middle
weight Champion of the World"
Dispatches received today say that del
egations from Fort Worth, Dallas, San
ANTONIO ana Galveston are doubling back
again and quarters at one of the hotels
were ordered for party from Hot Springs
headed by Phil Dwyer of New York. Las
er points within twelve hours ride will
also be well represented here tomorrow
Notlce was issued from headquarters to-
msht directing ticket holders and all who
contemplate Witnessing the contest to re-
port for information at o'clock Thurs
day afternoon.
Not a single bet on the result has been
heard of for several days The money
went away with the train loads of sports
that left between Friday and Monday, and
the townspeople are not sufficiently in
terester IN either man to back their choice
with solid cash.
Among the majority of local and visit
ing sports the consensus of opinion seems
to be that the fight viii not last more
than three rounds and that the Cornish
the first round.
Jack Everhardt worked with Fftz to-
day and will be in his corner on Friday.
The principal of each fighter was notified
tonight by Dan Stuart of the place and
hour at which his man is to be in readi-
ness. This was done in order to conform
to the articles of agreement. Buck Con-
nelly received the intimation upon his ar
rival on the night train from Las Cruces
and Immediately wired Maher, Quinn and
the rest of the party at the training quar-
ters, to come down on the morning ex-
press, which is due here at II 40 a m The
notification TO Julian was taken across the
IlVer httle later by one of Stuarts lieu
tenants.
The latest rumor tonight is that the
battle Will take place in the state of
Sonoro, Mexico, which has made no nre-
paratfonS against an invasion and over
which Gov. Ahumada has no authority
Walcott and Bright-Eyes We're matched
TINS afternoon to meet in a twenty round
contest at Tom ORourke's Long Island
City (Old Puritan) Club on March 10 the
men to weigh in at 142 pounds, five hours
before, the contest: The club will turn
over so per cent of the gross receipts. of
which the winner takes 75 and the loser 25.
Stuart controls Bright-Eyes and Tom
ORourke has charge of Walcott
The referee is given the right of calling
additional rounds up to twenty-five If
necessary to reach a decision.