The herald., 1896-02-14
THE Sand IN MAHER'S EYES
Or Wool Over Optics of the
Officials
DELAYS THE GREAT FIGHT
P0stponement Is Had at Least Until
Monday
Stuart Is Not Pious But He Is Praying Hard
for q Valentine From the Mexi.
can Officials

Associated Press Special Wire
Ell PAso, Tex, Feb. l3.-The big fight is
postponed until Monday at the earliest,
and when that day comes the future of the
matter will be determined. 1t is the eyes
of Peter Maher that threaten to stop the
event. Buck Connolly, one of Maher's
seconds, came rushing to Stuart's office
this afternoon with the information that
Maher would, because Of his eyes, be in no
condition to fight tomorrow, and saying
that it would be absolutely necessary to
have postponement. He said that
Maher's eyes had been 10 badly in6amed
by sand blowing into them during
his training that he could scarcely
see. Stuart at once set to work to secure
a postponement of the fight to enable
Maher to get into condition. According to
the conditions of the mattel: Maher and
FitzsinImons each posted forfeit of 1000
to insure their appearance in the ring.
Julian, when seen by Stuart. declined to
accept the statements OF Connolly without
verif1caton. He insisted that Maher
should come to FL Paso and submit TO
inspection. Dan Stuart said:
"lf they agree among themselves to
postpone the fight, 1 am willing it should
be done. but I am ready to pull of the
fight on February IA, just as have always
said would. Let the men declare them
selves ready and the fight is a certainty, as
far as am concerned"
Maher came to the city at 6 80 tonight.
His eyes were tightly closed and he wore a
green shade over them. Over the green
shade was a travelling cap with the visor
pulled down close upon the nose to pre-
was compelled to allow Connolly and Hall
to guide him to the carriage, as he was
utterly unable to open his eyes. The car
riage was quickly driven to q little brick
building OH an alley just off the plaza.
The newspaper representatives were sent
for by Connolly and Maher's eyes we're in
spected. They were swollen almost shut
ners. A raising of the lids
showed that the eyeballs were
greatly inflamed and matterated. Maher
has been training in an old adobe rink at
Las Cruces. The dust was so thick when
he was going through his exercises that
against continuing work in an atmosphere
of dust. Sunday one OF his eyes began to
pain. Report came down that he had sand
in the member, but that II would only tenn
porarily inconvenience him. Tuesday both
eyes were affected and the condition of the
he could not see. Maher's trouble isnot
uncommon in this region. Residents are
not SO liable to it as those who haye been
here but short time. The alkali dust cre-
ates an irritation that results in blind
ness and great pain, but it usually passes
away in a week or ten day.. An army
surgeon who examined Maher's eyes yes
terday, said he thought they would be well
in week. DR.. Yandell. city health officer,
who looked at the sufferer tonight, said
Maher would not be able to enter the ring
for week.
Martin Julian and Fitssimmons were
sent for as soon as Maher was placed in
a dark room. They examined the suf-
ferer's eyes, expressed their sympathy for
him and announced that they would not
under the circumstances, claim forfeit.
They will give Maher ample time to re-
cover.
Buck Connolly said tonight:
"Maher has been in this condition for
nearly a week. He has done no training
since last Sunday, and has not been able to
see for three days. We kept the matter
quiet, hoping that he would como around
so that lie would be able to enter the ring
and make his fight. We did not want the
papers saying that we we're putting up a
bluff or trying to get out of the thing.
Quinn (Maher's other backer) wanted Peter
TO fight anyhow, but set my foot down on
that. He had no earthly chance to win,
and so many of my friends have money on
him that could not allow him to enter the
ring with the certainty of being whipped"
The following was posted tonight abo ut
town:
lowing to temporary affliction of Peter
Mahers eyes, the contest will have to be
postponed few days."
The thing upon which Dan Stuart has
all along been basing his confidence has
Just become public. Months ago Stuart
secured concession from the Mexican au.
thorities for a tract of land near this city.
Everything was understood. but the form
al papers we're not made out. General
Rolerio Rubio, a relative of President Diaz,
was then secretary OF interior of
the Mexican government. Before the
close of the deal General Rubio died.
That made delay in the sending of
the papers to Stuart, and during that
time the promoter sought Dallas and then
Hot Springs. After that failure he deter
mined to try his Mexican scheme. In No.
vember General Gonzales Cosio was ap.
pointed to the cabinet position made va
cant by the death of Secretary Rubio.
Stuart had all along been working upon the
belief that at the proper time the formal
papers would be made out and his carnival
thus be all assured fact. His latest ad.
vices have been that the concession papers
would reach him this week. They are not
here today and unless they should come in
tomorrow morning Stuart must run a
gauntlet of soldiery if he brings of the
fight. If ever Dan Stuart uttered prayer
it is that he may receive a valentine in the
form of n Mexican concession paper, and
those who are as religious as Stuart would
doubtless add fervent amens to the pro-
moter's appeal.
Stuart has at no time since the Dallas
affair intended to pull off the fights in
Texas. New Mexico was only considered
as q remote probability, a possibility that
faded after congressional action. For.
while Stuart would not hesitate to bring Off
his events in Texas OF New Mexico under
ordinary conditions, he has no notion of
defying tho United States authorities.
While Stuart has been going ahead with
his plans, the stir in the United States has
been growing. This has had its effect
upon the Mexican authorities, par
ticuarly the action of congress. 1t
leaked out from some quarter that
there was large amount OF money to be
paid for the grant, and the statement was
printed that the governor of Chihuahua
was to receive $4,000. This reached
Governor Ahumada, and is the one thing
to which he reverts when talking of the
fight. He takes it as a personal reflection
on his military record and the dignity OF
his Office, and there is little doubt that he
means what he says when he declares that
prizefght invaders, without any distinc-