Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-04
BURNS rs BUSINESS.
Farmer Calls the Talkative Nc.
Leod Down.
ANSWERS BIS REoEHT ATTACK.

ANSWERS BIB RECENT ATTACK.
EnectuaIly Settles TIE Question ~ he.
tween himself and the CA,ifornian-Lat-
ter Must Comp with Reasonable Con-
disions II He Meets the CbampioD.
Last Monday Dan s. Mcleod, the
California wrestler, published in q
Chicago paper. tie sporting
editor of which publication is his
hacker, an article devoted to Cham
pion Martin Burns in which he &C.
cused the farmer Of eluding him on
his recent Welt to Rock Island. and
in the same connection stated that he
had Haunted money under Burns
nose on the occasion of the lat
,er's match with Ed. Anterior
early in January-which he did not
and concluding asserted that he
would ''make Burns wrestle or drive
him out of the business" The arti.
Gle in question was accompanied by a
cut of Mcleod in q striking atti-
tude. and in which connection
this inscription was printed:
"Dan $. Mcleod. heavy
weight catch-as-catch-can champion
of the world. by reason of Martin
Burns evasion of q match" The
plan of Mcleod to assume the cham
pionship would be quite easy. if the
ethics Of sport permitted it, but the
glory of superior merit in the sport
ing world is not achieved through
such means. The facts were that
Mcleod on his last appearance here
did not utter chirp about Burns in
public, and it was only when going
away that he and his hacker began
to talk. And while they were both
assured that Burns would he here the
following day. neither could be in
duced to remain and meet the farmer
or to post cent of money. 1t was
in reply to Burns comments when he
arrived the next day, and when he
accused Mcleod of not acting in
good faith, that the latter published
the illustrated statement in last Mon
days paper,
Burns to Mcleod.
| To this Burns has written the fol-
lowing. which appears in todsy's is
sue OF the same paper:
Big Rock, Feb. ITO the Spor ting
Editor: In your issue of Monday.
Feb. !. you print long letter from
Dan Mcleod in which I am accused
OF keeping under cover, lodging
every proposition, etc. livery much
tisl'ke the practice INDUCED in by
others Of talking through the news
papers, but l feel that l am entitled
to an explanation. after such an nm
warranted attack has been made
upon me.
Now to the facts: On Friday, Jan.
|8, wrestled Ed Anterior at Rock
Island. MIR. Mcleod was there and
tod the audience, as has often been
told through the newspapers, how
badly he wanted q match with me.
| replied to him from the stage, tell
ing him to put up his money with
any bank in Rock Island, Moline or
Davenport, or in any newspaper Of
flee in the three towns. He left for
Chicago that night without putting
up any money. l did not leave until
the following day. when I went to
continue my exhibitions in Iowa.
The next heard was Friday, Jan.
20, when I received word from q
Rock Island paper that Mcleod and
Atherton were there to wrestle me.
| telegraphed that l would be there
Monday, Feb. /. Word came back
to me that they would remain in
Rock Island until Saturday noon
only. then wired back that l
would be there Saturday at IL q. m.
l travelled nearly all night to make
it. but got there at 1890 a. m. only
to find that Mcleod and Anterior
had left the night before for Chicago.
l also learned that every inducement
was offered to them to stay, but
they unjust be in Chicago" so they
said. and now l am accused Of
"dodging."
There is no reason why 1 should
be asked to put up a forfeit first.
The above facts Mr.. Mcleod cannot
truthfully deny. lam not evading
a match or anything Of the sort.
am standing on my rights as cham
pion. aud Dan Mcleod or any other
aspiraut will find me ready to talk
business in q business way. Re-
specially yours. FARMER BURNS
Mcleod 0s to . TIP.
And the paper in question at once
gives its illustrious Protege tip in
order that his reply may appear in
the same column with the append ed
result:
Dan Mcleod was shown the above
from Burns last night and said !:
What Mr.. Burns says is opposed to
the facts. have seven different and
distinct times had up forfeits to
wrestle Burns for the championship
and as much money rs he could raise
Two years ago on the eve Of his
match with Lewis. he promised me a