Evening star., 1897-03-17
Influence on In,aginations.

Around the hotels and saloons il was
surprising how the influence of the fight in
the atmosphere inspired imaginations
Everybody had evidently been diligently
reading up the history of pugilistic events
and one could hear men who had never
been south of Quantico in their lives re-
counting in graphic detail their experiences
at the ringside at every fight of Importance
from the meeting of Sullivan and kilrain
at Mississippi City to the go between Cor
bett and Charlie Mitchell. Others who
would hold their hands over their noses to
protect those inviting features if they hap
pened to get in scrap diScoursed on hook
cuts and upper cuts with the air of record
heavy weights, and explained the advan-
tages Corbett had over FitzSimmons at in
hghting. or vice versa, with minute techpi-
cality that was marvellous to their hearefs.
There was considerable betting in small
amounts at odds on Corbett of ) to 3Ie,
but Fitzsimmons hackers demanded ) to 3.
The favorite mode of placing money, espe-
cially in the departments and in private
establishments where employees are numer-
Gus, was to bet on the number of rounds the
fight would last Each entry to a pool of
this sort would put up ~ or 30 cents or
dollar In a common pot and mark on slip
or paper the number of rounds he thought
it would take to settle the contest seal the
slip in an envelope, and write his name on
the latter The figures in the envelopes
ranged all the way from to Go and more.
When the time approached for something
definite to arrive over the wires from Car
son crowds gathered in the vicinity of the
various places where the returns were to
be received, and the bulletins were eagerly
awaited. AS early as l o'clock The Star
office was the converging point for scores
of spectators, which rapidly increased to
hundreds.
The news as 1t came from the ringside
was bulletined on a great blackboard, and,
in addition to that, announced to the crowd
by means of megaphones. Before o'clock
thousands of people were assembled In
front of the Office and the voice of the an
nouncer. magnifed by the megaphone. car
ried the news to the extreme edge of the
crowd.
AS the afternoon wore on a more favor
able sentiment on the FitzsimmonS side
became evident. Gossip carried the news
through the crowds that sporting men at
Carson were telegraohing their friends TO
bet on FitZsimmons because he was
cool as cucumber this morning, while
.Corbett showed signs of nervousness and
was irritable. CORRESPONDENT Boyd of the
San Francisco Chronicle. it was said. had
received sucn telegram from the Chron-
icle's sporting editor at Carson
"If Corbett does not keep his head
said an old sporting man, who had been
one of the most ardent believers in the
Pompadour's success. on hearing this, its
all up with him. I think he's a better
man than Fitz. but there's no discounting
the KangaroO's gameness and courage.
Then. he always keeps clear head. He's
licked everybody Corbett told him to lick,
world beater when Fitz went against him.
Then Fitz went after Shafkey as soon as
Ccrbett had got through with him. There's
no doubt of Fftz's fighting ability. but 1
think Corbett will win.- II anybody offer
ed a hundred to sixty on Corbett, how
ever, I'd take the Fitz end of II as sim
pie business proposition. There's not real
ly bigger difference than 10 to 0 between
EN-"
Interest at the Capitol.
Few senators and representatives were
at the Capitol today. Neither house was
In session. ard the topic Of general inter-