Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-14
VISITORS GH3E DISAPPOINTED
The Report ye at frst Thought to Be h.
 ctended as Ruse
TO HRS OFFICERS OFF THEIR GUARD
pr. V site Says That Maher May Not Be Aole to Fight for Week-Fitz Ac- cussd of Having n Jonah
 in the Camp.

Fl Paso, Tex. Feb. 13-Tonight the contest being pulled off on schedule time tomorrow are exceedingly dubious This condition of affairs is not due to the ef- forts of the federal, state or Mexican au- thorities to prevent the two men from coming together, or to any inability on the part of Dan Stuart to guarantee a safe battle ground, but solely 10 the fact that Peter Maher is suffering from a temporary affiiction of the eyes that would make it impossible for him to put up decent showing in the ring
 About week ago while taking morn- ing spin at Las Cruces in brisk wnd several particles of sand were blown into his left eye. and later in the day, while kicking a a foot ball in his tent, quan- tity of dust was knocked from the roof into the same optic. The next day in- llammation set in and the services of local doctor were called into requisition. The trouble, however, was obstinate and refused to yield to treatment and couple of days since the right eye also be- came affected. Visitors to the training quarters from Sunday to Tuesday mo- ticed the trouble and regarded it as of
 
 thought or said of the matter until to- day, when word was received at head quarters that the Irishman was in bad shape and that fight tomorrow was next door to an impossibiity Tele- grams were at once sent to Las Cruces urging him to come to the city by the first train. The regular daily passenger train had, however already passed the training ground and nothing remained but to wait.fo the Silver City freight, to which passenger caboose is attached.
 This arrived over the Santa Fe shortly before o'clock and a large crowd of local and visiting sports gathered at the depot to see something of the would-be champions condition for themselves, In this, however, they were disappointed, for Maher, who was accompanied by his ma nager J. J. Quinn, and Pete Lowrey, left the train three miles out Here car riage was in waiting and the party was driven to the offices in the Grand Central hotel of Dr. S. F. White, the leading local oculst. After a thorough examination Dr. White came to the conclusion that Maher was suffering from an aggravated case of ophelmia, caused by alkali dust entering the eye lids, and he expressed the opinion that he could not enter the ring With any prospect of being on equal terms with his opponent in the matter of eye sight at least. Maher was consid- erably disheartened by this opinion, and after a conference with Quinn, a message was dispatched to Juarez with the re- quest that Fitzsimmons and Julian come across the river as quickly as possible.
 When pressed for more definite state- ment, Dr. White said that with care Maher might be able to get into the ring in three days. but that it would be better to allow himself a week. He prescribed a wash of sulphate of zinc and atrophia. and advised Maher to keep away from the sunlight It would be safer, he added, if he would keep his eyes bandaged and avoid air.
 The party remained ln the doctors of flee until Julian put in an appearance with the statement that the Australian had authorized him to make any arrange ments he might see fit
 Joe Vendg, Maher's packer, desig- mated Buck Connolly of Pittsburg as his representative, and the latter with Ju- lian went into conference with Dan Stu art at o'clock. Jim Hall, who has been at Las Cruces for week, says that he believes the trouble to be more serious than diagnosed by Dr White. He attrb- uted It to the careless use of unclean tow els.
 The change in the situation created great excitement among the visitors who have been attracted here by the carnival, and there were a score or more of big crowds on Main and intersecting streets. At first the opinion was expressed by many that the story of Mahers disability was simply a ruse to put the authorities off their guard, while there were others who held the opinion that the story had been matched by the carnival managers on the chances that postponement would bring a bigger crowd. When the diagnosis from Dr White came the doubts gave way to expressions of sym pathy for Maher. although good many individuals who had travelled long dis tances with the sole object of witnessing the big fight and then of starting post haste for home cursed their luck and vowed that there was Jonah in the Ftzsimmons camp. Only here and there could be found a man willing to express his disgust with the whole outfit and his intention of starting for home without waiting to see what the coming week might bring forth.
 The Fight Postponed.
 Fl Paso, Tex, Feb 13,-The conference between Julian and Connolly lasted for an hour and at it's conclusion 1t was an- nounced that the fight would remain in statu quo until Monday. pending which Julian would make no claim for forfeit in behalf of Fitzslmmons, the latter hold ing himself in readiness to fight on MOn-