Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-22

'S'N''N' wv oB'Afb6'y Vi pNdCutu txRS vi
toast, chops and coffee Later he took
some raw eggs, milk and brandy and lay
down for nap.
When the train of sports arrived from
! FL Paso, at . 80. there was no evidence
that anything unusual was about to occur.
The eycursonists from Eagle Psss and
other points were belated and only some
% residents of the country about had
gathered at the depot. One company of
Texas Rangers guarded the depot and the
remainder went down to the bottoms on
the Texas side, but not the slightest effort
was made TO interfere with the sports in
any of their movements.
When the word to move was given. the
visitors speedily found that although they
had been on the road over 10 hours and
had journeycd 400 miles. the hardest part
of the entertainment was to come. Fol
lowing the guides, in struggling process =.
sion they went across the prairie for 500
yards, and then commenced a PERCEPTIONS
descent Of seldom used wagon road that
went in a c!rcuitous way down to the Rio
Granda.
Over the rocks and boulders, now slip
ping on their backs, now clutching a. the
hrambie to save themselves from a fall
now stubbiDg their toes against huge cob
BILE stones or in cavities of the rocks, the
sports toiled in double and single file uu.
til the bank OF the river was reached.
Then there was a tramp of 800 yards
more through sand ard mud, full ankle
deep, to point where a 75-foot pontoon
bridge stretched across the Rio Grande,
which, swollen by the recent rains, had
been changed from sluggish stream to
roaring torrent.
Once across, the sports were on the bot
toms of the Mexican side, and the canvas
enclosure of the ring was seen in the dis
tancc. Five minutes more brought the
pcrsplring and sore-footed pedestrians to
the entrance stiles where Rat Mastcrson
and Joe Vendig examined the pasteboard
tickets and passed the holders within.
A better spot for such au event could
hardly have been selected To the west,
closure, was mountain 30 feet in height
rugged and almost perpendicular.
|. Across the Siver on the Texas side was
IT'S counterpart and fringed along its sum
init. commanding fun view OF the ring,
were some 300 men and women, who
looked Ike pigeons to those below. Be
tween the two mountains, within stone S
throw of the ring upon the bottoms, the
river rushed with dull roar Heavy
laden clouds were overhead and occasional
drops of rain completed the picture.
The circus canvas with which the battle
ground was enclosed, was 2n0 feet in cir
conference and Is feet IN height The
ring was composed OF white pine covered
with white duck, and had an elevation of
four feet. Over in the corner to the west
We're two diminutive tents for the con-
venicnce of the principals in making their
final preparations.
Fitzsimmons and Maher, with their at :
PENDANTS, in the front rank of the process
sion, walked down hut few yards apart,
both reaching the enclosure in profuse
state of perspiration. They were taken to
their tents and rubbed down.
At 3, when Referee Siler announced
that all was ready, 1872 people were at the
ringside, the remainder of the visiting
party, with the local contingent, having
decided that view from the Texas hills
was preferable to the expenditure of $50
for ticket. In response to Siler's call,
Julian asked for 10 minutes delay Quinn
consented and it was readily granted
flannel bathrobe, emerged from his quar-
ters and bounded mp the steps of the ring.
He selected his corner, to the west,
with his back to the Mexican mountains
Maher appeared a minute later and took
his chair in the opposite corner facing the
Mexican side.
Maher had in his corner Jim Hall, Buck
Connolly, Peter Lowrey. Jack Quinn and
Peter Byrucs, while Parson" Davies
acted as timekeeper. Fitzsimmons had
behind him Martin Julian, Jack Ever
hardt, Jack Stclzcner aud Jack Mccoy,
while Burt Sheed of New Orleans, acted
as timekeeper
Five-.ounce gloves were produced and
fitted on, and the men were about to strip
their overcoats when Julian called George
Siler to the center of the ring and the two
convcrsed quietly for a couple of minutes.
At its conclusion, Siter demanded in
stentorian tones. SIS Mr.. o Rourko here:"
II am, responded the Bostonian.
"Have you the purse money Siler
again demanded.
1T is here" said O'Rourke, and he
produced his wallet and waved two checks
in the air. Fitzsimmons was watching the
proceedings with keen interest. As the
papers were produced, his lips curled and
he yelled
THAT stuff don't go. Julian. | want
cash How do we know what those are
worth"
Did you cash these checks, last night,
asked Siler of O'Rourke, while the crowd
pressed in the neighborhood of the two
men.
Yes, did shouted the Boston man.
do you think was fool enough to bring
$50, 600 with me into such diggings as
these. It's the first time my honesty has
been questioned. tell you the money is
in the bank
Matters looked squally for time.
Julian looked O'Rourke squarely IN the
face and defiantly said: Nobody ever
questioned your honesty. we Wahs money.
We will take no checks.
Then. addressing the crowd, he con