The San Francisco call., 1896-10-18
He Wants His Own Referee
and a Palace Car to
This City.
THE SAILOR IS DIsGUsTED.
Groom of the National Club 0ffere1
Fitz a $4,000 Purse and
$500 Expenses.

Manager Groom of the National Ath-
letic Club has been privately negotiating
with Martin Julian for some days past
with the object of consummating match
between Tom Sharkey and Bob Fitzsim-
mons.
Groom has given up ali idea of getting
professor" James J. CoTbett, as the latest
intelligence from the East is to the effect
that CorbetU has quit the ring and in
future will give his entire attention to the
stage.
According to interviews which the New
York reporters had with Fitzsimmons
since his arrival from old England, Man.
ager Groom expected that the elongated
New Zealand prize-fghter would jump at
the first good offer that was made TO him
for fistic argument with Sailor Tom. but
according to the latest dispatches from
his manager it now looks as If Fitzsim-
mons Is not particularly ANXIOUS to meet
the husky lad who drove terror into Cor
belts heart.
Eyes, 1 thought that the better policy
in view of the unlimited amount OF news
paper notoriety which Corbett and Shar-
key recently received said Manager
Groom, was to keep a silent tongue con-
fair until the match was consummated.
But now that Fitzsimmons is placing
STUN bling blocks in the way of fight
might just as well give you the purport of
our correspondence.
Last Wednesday l wired Fitzsimmons
that the National Club would give $40, 900
for ten round contest between him and
Sharkey, and on the day following I re-
ceived this answer from Martin Julian,
who is manager for the fighter:
NEW YORK N. Y Oct 15
Will match Fitzsimmons against Sharkey on
following conditions: Purse 10 be $40, 900 and
winner to take all and $1,000 for our train
ing and travelling expenses; club to de-
posit $4,000 as forfeit on signing articles !;
balance put up ten days before match; Queens
berry rules to govern aud either Siler or House.
man OF Chicago to referee the match, which
must take place before December 1, on &C
count OF our Corbett match; " answer; .sns,,
Manager for FitZsimmons.
81 Immediately answered the message, :"
continued Groom, ''and stated that the
National Club would allow $500 for travel
ing expenses (Which I consider very fair
offer), and if acceptable / would deposit
$4,000 as per Jullan's request. So far as
Sharkey is concerned, he agreed to every
thing excepting the selection of the
referees named by Julian. His manager,
| Lynch, stated that just as soon as FitZ-
simmons or his manager reached this City
referee could be selected, if Julian really
| intended business.
Now you can see for yourself the
! schemes that are being concocted by those
cham pion hippodromers to avoid meet
| ing with the sailor This is what Julian
| telegraphs me in answer:
Nothing less than $1,000 for expenses, which
amount must not be deducted from the purse
Referee must be chosen before we leave New
York. What's the matter with Siler or House
man? Both straight fellows. Can't you ar
range for tight during week OF December z?
If satisfactory forward expense money imme-
diately and we will start for Frisco.
MARTIN JULIAN
"I answered this telegram by stating
| that the club would not exceed $500 for
expenses and that Sharkey would not
| agree to the selection of a referee pntil the
managers of the pugilists met in this City,
where the fight is TO take place, and that
everything else was satisfactory. Just a
moment ago l received Julian's reply,
which reads:
We want $1,000 expenses, but referee must
| be agreed upon before we leave here. Let
| Sharkey suggest some names. Can't you ar
range hRhv Tor December or 9? JULIAN.
"Now you can see that Julian is LOOKING
for the best of everything. He wants his
own referee, and The idea OF $1,000 expenses
is certainly ridiculous. The old Califor-
MIA Club when it was in it's prime wonld
| be amused IL Fitzsimmops demanded
$1,000 expenses from New York to this
City. Why. the prominent athletic clubs
of London, England, would not dream of
allowing pugilist $1,000 expenses from
New York to England, and here is
Mr.. Julian demanding that sum from
the National Club. Does it not look,
on the face of it, that Fitzsimmons is
adopting the tactics employed by Corbett
to avoid clash with the powerful sailor? {?
His trainer. Steiner. is here and l am
| sure tnat $500 will furnish Fitzsimmons