Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-17
A LITTLE WHILE LONGER
And the Championship Contest
Will Be Over.
SOME MONEY TURNED LOOSE
With Odds on Corbett tt-Roth Men in Fine Con-
dition-A Short, Sharp Fight Pre-
dicted-Name and Take.
SOME MONEY TURNED LOOSE

| pHSre. fortunately, however, the sun
! came to the front and its glorious rays
| dispelled all gloom. The early outlook
had the effect of making both Corbett and
! Fitzsimmons do little more work than
| they had intended to on the day before
| the battle. Fearing to take any chances
| under existing atmospherieal conditions,
! both men exercised with view to keep
ing their wind up in case of a possible
| postponement Nothing short of a rain
or snow storm will bring about such a
| postponement however, and all indiea-
| tions' tend to show that fair weather
| will be vouchsafed tomorrow.
The long-looked-for specials from east
| and west arrived today and discharged
additions to the crowds which already
| severely tax the resources of the town.
| The attendance at the ring will not be as
I large as was expected.
| Between 1900 and 5000 people will, per-
| haps be careful estimate of the num-
| Der who will see the meeting of the two
men which took nearly two years and the
| expenditure of thousands of dollars to
| bring about.
Visitors kept arriving and departing
| from Shaw's Springs and Cooks ranch
| all day and the roads between Carson
| and the training quarters presented
| busy scene with its constant stream of
vehicles of all kinds.
2. j. Corbett Jim's father, arrived by
one of the western specials shortly after
noon. William A. Brady met him and
drove him out to the springs where they
found Jim entertaining his friends.
For every one the big fellow had pleas
ant greeting and cheerful, confident
word. In fact Corbett never seemed in
better spirits since he began training
than he did on this, the evening of the
contest
Fftzslmmons' visitors had to wait some
time before Bob put in an appearance
at the ranch, and he was making hay
while the sun shone and taking advantage
of the bright spell to do some jogging
along the road. When he returned and
had a rundown he was in evidence, and
his conversation showed just as much
faish in his winning star as hts rival dis
played.
This overwhelming confidence on both
Sides Is puzzle to all the sports. 1t is
undoubtedly genuine IN the two men, and
tends to still shake the idens of any one
who is inclined to wave about picking
| the winner.
If the victory had to be decided by the
amount of confidence entertained the ref
cree would have a harder task than that
which will be undertaken by Referee
Siler tomorrow, and the fight will be pro-
longed much longer than is looked for
under Queensberry rules. The prevail
ing opinion seems to be that the fight
will be limited to fifteen rounds
Judging by the betting, this number
is the favorite, while under ten rounds
comes in as a second choice. No one Is
| inclined to think tina the battle will be
| long one. The Interpretation of the rules
which allows hitting in clinches and
| breakaways appears to account in a
great measure for the popular idea of
| a short fight.
| Dan Stuart, it is evident, assumes with
| the majority, since he has put on the two
| smaller fights to fill the event.
Betting was about the same all day.
| There is plenty of Coroett money in sight,
| but Fitzsimmons cash is not so plentiful
| Paris mutuals with Corbett, Green and
| Hawkins as the pick of the combination,
| were very slow and there were scarcely
any buyers for Fitzsimmons, Smith and
| Flaherty.
1t was not quite the day of rest at the
| camps that was anticipated, although
| both men laid up considerably and dis
| pensed with the sparring end of the pro-
| gramme entirely. Corbett played three
| games of hand ball and then took a turn
| ct the punching bag in the morning.
Light foot work in the hand ball court
| followed and then Jim was rubbed down.
| After he was dressed he received callers
and stood chatting outside the court for
| nearly half an hour. Corbett was in a
| particularly cheerful humor and seemed
| much pleased at the number of visitors.
Among those who drove out to the
| springs were Ida Fuller, whose sister
| Loie, is an old friend of the Californians.
| Billy Woods and Jeffries were about
| as contented looking a pair as could be
| found in the Vicinity today. since they
| had rest from Jim's gentle manipula-
| tions. McVey. also wore smile, which
was absent during the days when his
head was battered against the wooden
| walls of the gymnasium. Later In the
afternoon Jim went for a short walk
and came home with series Of sprints.
At Cooks ranch Hickey and Stenzler
| had time to compare notes on pas i'm
| juries, as they were not scheduled to put
| on gloves Roeber, however, had to push
| and shove for a few minutes while the
| champion tired out his wind. Bob then
took a turn at the bag and sprinted
| around the yard a few times. A little
| road work ended the proceedings.
Both pugilists turned In early to get a
| good, long rest before the eventful hour.
| According TO tonights arrangements,
| Corbett will perhaps take short walk
| in the morning, and then drive to the
arena OF course, the weather will have
| men.
Prof. Watson, of the Olympic club of
| San Francisco, who Is credited with
| having brought out Corbett's boxing
abilities, was probably the most welcome
| visitor at the Californians quarters to-
s;come in and take a flash a.. me. Wal
| ter" said Jim, after handshake. Your
! opinion ought to settle the question Of
| my condition"
Watson followed the champions father,
| P. ]. Corbett, into Jim's cottage, where
an examination took place. Jim stripped
| to the waist and Watson thumped him
| and kneaded every muscle on his trunk.
| Mr. Corbett. Sr., adjusted his spectacles
| and watched the process.
Il you're down pretty fine, Jim: pretty
| fine" said Watson. mot too fine un-
derstand me; just about right. should
think. never saw your muscles so
| hard They show up through the skin
| more than ever before. Perhaps that is
4 why you appear to be drawn so much
| Your neck is bigger than 1t cSnd TO be- 1
| think. Have you been saving your
| right? Your left seems TO be bigger than
i I. ever saw 1t. If you were a stranger
(! should say you intended TO fight the bat
i tie with one hand. Your right shoulder