The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-16
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE
How the Day Was Spent by the Con
testants

Carson City, New, March 16-Cor-
bett spent the last day before the battle
very quietly He arose about o'clock
and after a brief promenade the
rickety Veranda of the Springs hotel
did ample justice to his breakfast For
an hour he lounged about the mussy
little barroom and parlOr, reading pa
perS and making occasional remarks
regarding his antagonist of tomorrow
in a somewhat uncomplimentary vein
usual to his opinions of the auburn
haired pugilist. Trainers White and
Delaney did not allow their man out
of their sight, watching him with a So
Icitude that was comically hen-Ike.
The big fighter accepted the close
guardianship good naturedly, though
he frequently reminded his trainers
that he very we'll realized the import
ance of being careful The curious
crowd which thronged the vicinity of
Shaw Springs all day were vigorously
excluded from Corbett's quarters, w hite
having announced that his man must
be kept quiet and away from all ex-
element. The champions father ar
rived on the early train from the coast
and received a warm welcome when he
reached the camp. Harry and Joe
Corbett, with their father. spent the
greater part of the day with their pu-
gilsstic relative. During the forenoon
and afternoon Corbett took several
short walks, but was permitted very lit
tie of any other sort of exercise.
Among the sub-trainers and other at
tacheS of the camp there was an ap
parent effort to conceal the intense in
terest and excitement resulting from
the near approach of the event of the
Celtic saints day. Big Jeffries and
McNey nervously paced back and forth
through the quarters, or awkwardly
joked with their acQuaintanCes, keep
ing as much as possible out Of the sight
of their chief. jolly kid" Egan, who
through the month of hard work has
been the fun maker of the camp, was
full of illy-Suppressed enthusiasm, his
long aSSOcia ton with COrbe+t having
made it impossible for him to see any
possibility of defeat for his big patron.
Delaney and White. both veterans of
the training quarters, were more self
contained, but even they gave some
evidences of nervousness. Through
out the camp. from the cook and bar
keeper to the champions a feeling of con-
fidence prevailed. We can't LOSE was
the unanimous sentiment, and a senti-
ment which found frequent and vigor-
Gus expression. From o'clock in the
morning until late at night the camp
is besieged by visitors All sorts of
vehicles, from stage coaches to bicycles,
crowded the enclosure about the hotel
and the murky little barrOom did
business which left the traditional old
est inhabitant dumb with astonish-
ment. The members of the constantly
shifting crowd were almost all of them
COrbett admirers. and the man who had
bet cheap cigar and the one who had
wagered his bank account We'd with
one another in singing the praises of
him who had licked John l.. and who
would not do a thing, oh, not thing
TO Fitzsimmons." as the barkeeper put
1t. The enthusiasts were much disap-
pointed at not being allowed to see and
talk to their favorite, but White firmly
refused the frequent requests.
You can just say for me-" said Cor
bett, as he sat at luncheon with his
father and brothers. that 1 am going
10 win. I have waited a long time to
get crack at FitzsimmonS, and now 1
intend to show him what l can do. 1
don't want to do any loud talking.
There will be something to do besides
talk and then l will show the public
that my confidence is well founded"
Corbett will enter the ring weighing
close to 1876, rather over that figure
than under it. His exact weight has
been kept a secret by his trainers for
various reasons.
Things were quiet at Cooks ranch to-
day, and but for the great number of
visitors who all day filled the road go
ing in the direction of Fitzsimmons'
training quarters there would have
been but little going on. Fitzsimmons
took a short run in the morning and a
walk in the afternoon just to keep his
wind in good condition, but he took no