Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-15
SPORTS ARt D|SGUSTEO. Many of Them Are Pulling Out
 From Fl PaSo. FIGHT PROSPECTS ARE POOR The Secondary Fighters Are Clamoring for
 Definite Information. MAHER'S EYES ARE IMPROVING SOME If He Isn't in Condition to Fieht on Mon day Some of the Lesser Lights Will
 Probably Be Fitted Against
 Each Other.
FIGHT PROSPECTS ARE POOR
MAHER's EYES ARE IMPROVING SOME

Fl Paso, Tex. Feb. 14.-There was considerable thinning out of disgusted sports today. More are going on the morning and evening trains of Saturday, and the prospects are that the crowd at the ring side on Monday, provided that Maher is in condition to get within the ropes, will be composed in the main Of the local fraternity. The promoters con tinue to insist that the size of the crowd is a secondary consideration, and that the chief point is to get the men together. . but they become indignant when it is suggested that this means more of an exhibition for the benefit of the lloneto- scope than a straightout contest for the worlds championship.
 On the question of the minor contests that were to round out the carnival the managers continue to manifest a reti- cence that is galling to Dixon, Marshall, Wallcott, Leeds Everhart and the re- mainder of the secondary men, who have been dropping into the office at frequent intervals with the view of finding out just where they stood. A number of visiting sports would have remained over a few days had the promoters been willing to put on some of the middle or light weights. and it has been put blunt ly to them by scores of individuals here from distant points and who are as much out of pocket as they are out of temper that if the proposed battle ground is inaccessible to the Mexican troops and without violation of interna- tional comity, as they have all along claimed. it would be an easy matter to pull off the Dxon-Marshall or Leeds-Ev erhart contest tomorrow so as to show they meant business and are acting in good faith toward the small fraternity.
 TO this representation, however, that there has been, up to date, but one re- ply: We intend to pull off the big fight first and then we will see what we can do with the other fellows" This evening, however, the pressure both from town people and visitors became so strong that it was given out officially that If Maher was still unable to fight on Mon day or Tuesday the Dixon- Marshall and Everhardt-Leeds fight would be put on for those days but that the battle ground or grounds would not be the same as selected for the principal contest.
 Word came this evening by telephone from Las Cruces to Buck Connolly that under the treatment prescribed by Dr. White Maher's eyes had considerably inn proved during the day, and that the local doctor was confident of his being in shape on Monday or Tuesday. Before going up to Las Cruces on the late train Connolly said:
 We shall ask another postponement if Maher cannot see we'll enough on Mon- day and If 1t Is refused then the other people can take the forfeit. I believe, however that they will be willing to wait a while longer If it is necessary. They came down here for purse, and not for forfeit that will be barely sufficient to see them home; and if they are so sure of winning. matter of few days delay Is not worth consideration. If they won't consent then we will take up the proposi- tion from the National Sporting club of London, but we are not willing to go back on Dan Stuart so long as there Is an earthly chance of bringing the men to- gether under his auspices"
 Maher, Quinn and the lawyers went back to Las Cruces on the 10 o'clock train by direction of Dr. White. who said that in Maher's present condition quiet was absolutely necessary. Drs. White and Brandon, the latter having been called into consultation, made another examina- tion of Maher's eyes just before his de- parture and agreed that there was no evidence of any foreign contagon or or ganic trouble outside of the alkali poison ing. This kind of eye trouble is always more or $ epidemic here, and particu- 1arly am ng strangers, and physicians other than those named as well as citi- zens who have themselves been sufferers, say that even partial recovery Is invaria- bly question of from two to three weeks. Maher is under strict orders to do no more training and to avoid over-exertion and as consequence, even should his eyeSlSnt lfnpTONe, le VIII lOSc COIultloI by taking on five pounds more of flesh between now and Monday. Wild reports were current this morning that the Texas officials had decided to arrest both men and their principals in the event of there being further evidence of an effort to bring eff the fight this week. The county or st4te officials on the ground claim that the stories are pure canards.
 Fitzsimmons and Julian spent the greater part of yesterday in town and ;nr cJ,f ft,av,a ca1x,a about the streets and sports for the pur- pose of giving the lie to the story that the Australian had been notified to con Sider himself as under arrest whenever he crossed the river to Texas soil There were no rangers logging his foot steps, nor were there any indications that Ad- jutant-General Mabry or the local au- thorities were concerned in either his comings or goings. Ftzsimmons is con- siderably broken up over the postpone ment of the fight. He has worked hard to get himself in the condition which he now is in and says he does not know what effect await might have on his constitu- tion. Then again, the strain to which his mind has been wrought up through all the rumors that have been set afioat may, he thinks, have disastrous effect on his nerves. He planes Maher and trainers by not taking proper precau- tions during his training. He says he is willing to wait until Monday, but after that date he does not know what he will do.
 Parson Davies, John L. Sullivan, Pad dy Ryan and the remainder of his outfit decided to leave last night instead of on Monday next. The ex-champion is re- sponsible for the change of plans. He is sore and ugly over the postponement, and says that he does not believe that another championship fight can be brought off on this side of the Atlantic within a century. A number of visitors from Chicago, New York, St. Louis and
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