Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-18
BIG FORFEIT PUT UP
CONNOLLY STAKES $1,000 THAT
MAuER WILL FIGHT FRIDAY.
FItksimmons Gets Hufry and Says
He VIII Fight Corbett With His
Hare knuckies.

lei Paso, Tex, Feb. 17.-(Specinl)-
The pot has been slmmering since FRI
day, reached boiling heat to-day at
noon. There was meeting, Martin
Julian and Buck Connolly. respective
managers of Bob Fit2sinmons and
Peter Maher. Buck Connolly said that
Peter Maher was still unable to fight
and asked postponement until next
Friday. Martin Julian then claimed
the forfeit and said after agreement
tight could be made. Connolly said
he would not give up the forfeit,
but would have his man at the ring
side within twenty-four hours after he
was informed by Dan stuart where
the ring was, but that Maher would not
fight until Friday.
Fit2simmons then spoke up and said
Maher was afraid to fight, that he
would sooner get his reputation by
challenging the lighters and never
lighting them. Fitzslmmons was at
boiling heat and announced that the
fight was off. Then he announced that
he would fight Jim Corbett or any 9TH
er man in the world. His talk outside
caused the crowd to hurrah for Fltz-
simmons.
with this he left the conference, but
Julian remained. The two managers
then got hot at one another and sew
cral uncomplimentary remarks were
passed.
Julian at last suggested to Connolly
that the latter could pick any five men
present who would sit ns "A jury and
they We're to decide whether or not
lie was entitled to the forfeit. but that
their decision would not govern the
fight for Friday. Fitz would fight any
way. TO this Connolly at first object
ed, but afterwards suggested that
Stuart pick five men.
The men We're selected and after be-
ing out but a few minutes they decided
that Julian was not entitled to the for
felt. that he had forfeited all rights
when he did not claim the forfeit last
Friday.
Julian then announced that FitZslm-
mons would he at the ring side next
Friday and he wanted Dan Stuart to
he responsible to him for Makers for
felt. To this Connolly agreed and the
matter was settled. F'itz w still hot
ana says he viii not fight. but 1t Is
thought that he Will cool down by to-
morrow and Will consent TO the ar
rangements.
The prospects look better now for
pulling on the fight than IT ever did
but when the fight ocurs the crowd will
not be there. as most of the people
that were here have returned to their
homes.
Dan Stuart does not expect now that
II Will be a glowing success financially,
but says he has everything ready and
the lighters can get in the ring at any
time they get ready and that they need
not fear legal Interference.
Governor Ahumada returned to Chi
hudhua this afternoon after a stay in
Junrez of one week. Dan Stuart re-
ceived n telegram from Santa Barbara
to-day stating that steamboat that
would carry a thousand people could
be procured there 9nd the fight could
take place on the Pacific ocean outside
of the jurisdiction of the United
States. He said he did not have to
take this as he had n better place here.
John l.. sullivan is here and on n
tear. but has done nothing Al all except
talk. He shows ut the opera house to-
night. Nearly all the fighters whose
matches were declared off yesterday
Will leave tonight for their homes.