The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-17

Carson City, March 16.-The last l.
hours of daylight remaining before the
greatest struggle in the history of pu-
gilism begins were ushered in with
lowering skies and threatening at
mosphere.
Fortunately. however. these condi-
tons which threatened to put a damper
on the spirits Of all concerned in the
big event did not last long and after
tussle Old Sol came to the front.
But the outlook had the effect of
making both Corbett and Fitzsimmons
do a little more work than they had
intended to do on the day before the
battle.
Fearing to take any chances under
existing atmospherical conditions, both
men exercised with a view to keeping
their wind up in case of a possible
postponement.
Nothing short of a rain or snowstorm
Will bring about such a possibility,
however, and ali indications tend TO
show that fair weather will be had
tomorrow.
EASTERN SPECIALS.
The .looked-for specials from east
and west arrived today and discharged
additions to the crowd which already
has severely taxed the resources of the
town.
The attendance at the ringside will
not be as large as was Anticipated.
Between 5000 and $500 people will,
perhaps, be a careful estimate of the
number who will see the meeting of
the two men which took nearly two
Years and the expenditure of thou
sands of dollars to bring about.
JIMS FATHER.
Visitors kept arriving and departing
from Shaw's Springs and Cooks ranch
all day and the roads between Carson
and the training quarters presented a
busy scene with a constant stream of
vehicles of all kinds passing to and
{ P. ]. Corbett. Jim's father, arrived
by one of the western specials shortly
after noon.
William A. Brady met Corbett's
father at the depot and drove him out
to the springs. where they found Jim
busy entertaining a number of friends
from all over the states.
For each and every one the big fell !
low had a pleasant greeting and a
cheerful, confident word.
In fact, Corbett never seemed in bet |
ter spirits since he began training than |
lie did on this, the eve of the contest, |
which carries with it the future of the |
BOB'S VIEWS
Fitzsimmons visitors had to wait |
some time before he put in an appear |
ance at the ranch, as Bob 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 had a
rub down he was in evidence and his
conversation showed just as much
faith in his winning star as his rival
displayed.
This overwhelming confidence on
both sides is a bit of a puzzle to all
the sports.
It is undoubtedly genuine in Bob
and Jim and tends to still further
shake up the ideas of any one who
is inclined to waver about picking the
winner.
If the victory had to be decided by
the amount of confidence entertained
by the rivals. the referee would have
a much harder task than that which
will be undertaken by Referee George
Siler tomorrow morning, and the con-
test would probably be prolonged to
3 much greater degree than is looked
for under Queensberry rules.
PREVAILING IDEAS. r
The prevailing opinion seems to be
that the duration viii be limited to
Is rounds.
Judging by the betting. this number
is the favorite while under 10 rounds j
comes in as second choice.
No one is inclined to think that the {
battle will be a long one. The inter
pretation Of the rules which allows
hitting in clinches and on a break {
away appears to account in a great s
measure for the popular idea of
short fight.
Dan Stuart, it is evident, assumes $
with the majority, since he has put on 9
he two smaller fights to follow the big I
event. {
BETTING ABOUT THE SAME.
The betting remained about the :
same There is plenty of Corbett :
money in sight, out Fitzsimmons cash