The herald., 1897-03-13
With Fear the Great Fight
May Fail
FIrzsIMMONs IS STUBBORN
ally Agrees to SIugging 10
Breakaways
Insists Thst the Other Has De.
d an Advantage Over Him.
Points for Bettors
/ Press Special Wire

.anoUN, New, March ia Iona
conference. which at times nearly re
suited in the spelling of all chance OF
the big fight being pulled off, was held
this afternoon between Martin Julian
representing Fitzsimmons, and Willard
A. Brady for Corbett over the construc
tion put upon the Marquis of Queens
berry rules. The ending was that
Julian, after objecting strenuously II
the right of the referee to make any
ruling whatever before the men stepped
into the ring and against the hitting
with one ANN free and in breakaways,
gave way entirely and consented that
the men should hit with the one free
arm and in breakaways. The fight will
therefore be fought in accordance with
the interpretation of the Marquis of
Oueensberry rules made by Referee
Siler. It was at times a stormy confer
ence, and time and again the smashup
was perilously near, and time and again
1t was only averted by the most marrow
margins. Brady at the outset took the
stand that Corbett was willing to abide
by the decision OF the referee, no matter
what that decision might be. The cham
pion, he said, was willing to fight just
as Siler said.
Julian, on the other hand, maintained
that there was no right vested in the
referee to make any ruling whatever un =
I'll the men were ready to fight. He
claimed that Fitzsimmons had alwaJ s
fought "a good, fair, square fight. and
in all his fights the hitting had been with
both arms free, and that all brealsaways
had been clean. Corbett, he said.
had won the championship of the world
in fight conducted under such condi-
tions and methods, which were coed
enough to win the championship, AMI
should be sufficiently good to defend it.
"Fitzsimmons, say frankly" said
Julian, sis not experienced in hitting
with one arm free. He has always
fought his battles fairly, and he wants
to fight this one fairly. We cannot give
in on this proposition. and If Corbett will
not agree to fight with clean break
aways we are willing to fight him under
the rules of the London prize ring"
THAT is a good thing" broke in
Brady. You say Fftzsimmons is not
accustomed ITO fighting in anything but
the most open fashion, and yet he is
willing to fight under the London prize
ring rules, which allow wrestling. hit
ting with one arm free, biting, gouging
and heaven knows what. If he is not
willing to fight with one arm free it is
queer that he should be willing to fight
under rules which allow that and a
great deal of the Same kind that Is
worse
1--WE want 1t one thing or the other"
said Julian, mot mix up of Queens
berry and London prize ring rules"
The argument went on and on, each
man firmly entrenched in his position,
while Dan Stewart sat listening, his hair
turning gray as he saw all the chances
of the great fight ending in miserable
Row over technical point in the rules.
Sifer took part in the argument, and
he ana Julian went over the same
ground that Brady and Julian had trav-
eled before. over and over 1t they went.
going always in circle and winding up
at exactly the same point every time
Julian insisting that hitting with the ore
strictly Marquis of Queensberry rules,
and Siler insisting that it was the very
essence of the aforesaid rules
Finally Julian said: well. I will
make a proposition. I am willing to
leave it to Mr.. Stuart and abide by his
decision" t-.
Il don't think 1 am capable of decid-
ing technical point in prize ring rules. "
said Stuart. "and hardly care to un-
dertake to make the decision"
"Then am willing to agree to leave
the matter with you and Siler," said Ju-
liam, although Siler has already de-
clared himself on the proposition
This suited Brady and the jury retired,
returning in few minutes with the an
nouncement that they had decided to
uphold the Interpretation of the rules
made by Siler.
Julian hesitated for some minutes and
then gave way.
II want to say gentlemen" he said
"that in all his fights Mr.. Fitzsimmons
has always given up everything and he
will do it now. We will fight under the
rules as Mr. Siler construes them, even
II we don't like it."
It was after o'clock when the confer
ence opened. Three was the hour, but
Julian was somewhat late in arriving.
stuart'e Office was found too small to ac-
oemmodate the members of the confer
ence and the correspondents, and an ad-
journment was taken to the Odd Eel
bows hall.
Julian opened the talk by addressing
Brady.
Il wantedfto see you," he said, "about
enc or two things in these rules that de,
not seem to be right. Rule one says that
It is to be a fair stand-up boxing
match in twenty-four foot ring, and
rule two that no hugging or wrestling
IL to be allowed; but Mr.. Siler says, quot :
Ing rule twelve of the Marquis of
Queensbewy rules, which is. the con-
test In all respects to be governed bv
me revised rules of the London priza
ring consider one of the most inn
portant of the twelve rules, and appears
to have been the bone of contention in
almost every contest. It has been the
custom Of referees, myself among them
to inquire of the principals, whether
they choose to Init In clinches with one
arm free, and also in the breahaways
Invariably the principals agree not t.
hit in the clfnches or in the breal1aways
but they generally forget all about Their
NJ rsvxA v.A .t.1-