The record-union., 1896-02-14
MAHER'O EYES SORE.
Consequently He and Fitzsimmons Will
Not Meet in the Ring To-day.
Opinion Prevailing in El Paso That
the Fight is Off for Good-Sports
Getting Ready to Go Home.

Ell PASO Tex.) Feb. 13.-Robert
Fitzsimmons and Peter Maher will not
battle in a prize ring tomorrow morn
ing, and tonight it is confidently as
serted by many of the downcast sports
that the proposed mills are off for good.
This condition of affairs is not due to
the efforts of the Federal, State and
Mexican authorities to prevent the two
men from coming together or to any in
ability on the part of Dan Stuart TO
guarantee a safe battle ground, but
solely to the fact that Maher is suffering
from a temporary affliction of the eyes,
that would make it impossible for him
to put UP a decent showing.
About week ago, while taking a
morning spin at Las Cruces, in a brisk
wind, several particles of sand were
blown into his left eye, and later in the
day, while kicking a football guam
tity of dust was knocked into the same
member. The next day Inflammation
set in and the services of a local doctor
were called into requisition. The trouble,
however, was obstinate, and refused to
yield to treatment and a couple of days
since the right eye also became affected
Visitors to the training quarters from
Sunday to Tuesday noticed the trouble,
and regarded is as of so trif1ing a nature
that nothing was thought or said of the
matter until to-day, when word was
sent to headquarters that the Irishman
was in bad shape, and that fight to-
morrow was next door to an impossi-
bility
kilograms were at once sent to Las
Cruces urging Maher to come to the
aifu hx he first
to-day, and was Immediately driven to
the office of DR.. White, the leading ocu-
list. After a thorough examination DR.
White came to the conclusion that
Maher was suffering from an aggra-
waited case of opthalmia, caused by
alkali dust entering within the eyelids,
and 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 eyesight at least. .Maher
was considerably disheartened by this
opinion and after a conference with
Quinn message was dispatched to
Juarez with the request that F'ftzsim-
mons and Julian come across the river
as quickly as possible.
When pressed for a more definite
statement, DR.. White said that Maher
might be able to get into the ring in
three days, but that it would be better
to allow himself week He prescribed
a wash of sulphate Of zinc and atrophia
and advised Maher to keep away from
the sunlight 1t would be safer, he
added. if he would keep his eyes ban
daged and avoid exercise.
The party remained in the doctors
office until Julian put in an appearance
with the statement that the Australian
had authorized him to make any ar
rangements he might see fit. Joe Ven
dig, Maher's hacker, designated Buck
Connolly of Pittsburg as his representa-
tive, and the latter, with Julian. went
into conference with Dan Stuart at 8
O'Clock. The conference lasted for an
hour, and at its conclusion it 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 Fitz, the latter holding
himself in readiness to fight on Monday
or before, and agreeing to announce
his final decision that day if Mahera is
still disabled.
Maher and Quinn expressed them
selves as satisfied with the agreement.
and the Jrishman said he was confident
of being in shape to get inside the ropes
Monday. The few that saw him, how
ever, were of a different opinion. His
eyes are badly swollen, there is a con-
tinuous cataract discharge and the eye
balls are dotted with white spots.
The opinion late tonight is that the
fight is off for good, and many of the
out-of-town sports are getting ready
for an early departure. No attempt will
be made to bring off any of the minor
fights until the big affair is settled,
Stuart saying that such a move would
be unpolitic. Maher will remain here
until Monday under the care of DR..
White and win do no more training.