Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-28
BOTH MEN IN FINE FETTLE
Corbett and Fitzsimmons Hard
 at Work
FOR THE GREATEST FIGHT
In the History of Pugism-Very Little Betting Being Done-The Big Building Going
 Rapidly Up.

Carson, New, Feb. 27.-The conclusion of the week finds preparations for the -Fitzsimmons fight and other contests of less magnitude well in hand. All monetary arrangements are com plete. The principals have demonstrated that they are fit to battle for their lives even now. Stuarts mammoth coliseum is half finished, and the weather has modera ted sufficiently to please every body An infusion of objectionable char aeters is being carefully guarded against by the state and municipal authorities, and "sure thing manipulators are weed ed out immedia tely as their presence is detected.
 Referee George Siler has conferred with the men to whom his decision will mean glory or disgrace. and they have agreed to abide by his interpre tation of the rules under which they will contest. Gov. Sadler and Sheriff Kinney have been quietly gathering about them trus ed deputies who are on the pay roll. The tax payers are not grumbling at the ad- ditional expense and the householders dispense latch-keYs with a reckless lip- erality and unbounded confidence in their guests. Prom half completed plans Of the arena now on exhibition, l.2O0 tck- cts have already been sold and a number of sections yet remain untouched. These are the ones that will be reserved for special excursion parties from the east and elsewhere. who have already be- spoken accomnoda tion. Ring patrons In distant cities thus stand an equal show of getting seats with those who are near the grounds.
 Visitors are beginning to shed their overshoes today. the sidewalks and street corners having heen dried by the warm sun. The roads are little deep with mud but the sandy loam rapidly absorbs the water and bicycles are being oiled up for service.
 Corbett was stirring about at daylight this morning. He set the punching bag going before breakfast, of which he par took sparingly. Three hot games of hand bSll were next on the schedule, after which Woods and Jeffries took their gruel with the mittens. The Los Angeles won der is becoming speedy and he worked some surprises on Jim before the cham pion dropped on to his style.
 I'm learning a great deal" puffed Jeffries. after he had stopped a few lefts with his cheek; "but it Is rather dlscour- aging to reach out all the time and find nothing. If I could only get in just one punch every day it would satisfy me, but even that Is denied me-"
 Billy Delaney is supreme in the rub down and Charley White has been in- stalled as advisor extraordinary.
 Fitzsimmons gave his cook few point CTS on brolling beefsteak today. The bad roads prevented him from visiting the city and he romped about the ranch with "YarlIm" his pet dog, instead. Earnest Roober left his mark or the Cornishman's face yesterday and Bob's thin lips puffed out like a split watermelon. His nose is slightly oar bias and black streaks about the lids of the left eye attest the sturdy Teutoms hitting power
 When told of the story of the counter in which Fitzsimomns received such hard treatment, his friends wink and in tima te that the Australian is tamperine with Herring and creating a false scent to influence betting No one doubts Bob's ability to keep away from so ponderous a boxer a s Roeber, and so the talent cons clude that he is up to tricks. Certainly his work has been very clumsy thus far, possibly for the purpose of misleading Corhett's friends. who watch him daily.
 More discrimina ting observers, how ever. incline to the belief that the crafty Bob is accustoming himself to receive punishment in order that he may be able to stop a few of Corbett's blows prelim- mary to landing his own deadly short arm hooks. With the exception of Cor bett's manager Brady, nobody Is dis posed to do any betting. In all cham pionship battles heretofore, one man had entered the ring a pronounced favorite. On form, Fitzsimmons should control the long end. On class. Corbett easily leads. Sporting writers vary their opinions to suit their hearers and friends of both heavy weights are not indulging in any loud talk
 Quarters were reserved today for John l.. Sullivan. who will describe the fight for an eastern paper; Wyatt Earp, who has similar engagement and Prof John Donaldson, Corbett's old sparring part ner George Green and Dan Hawkins were about town this morning before re- tiring to the solitude of Empire City, from which they will emerge March 16