The San Francisco call., 1897-03-14
STUART
STILL IN
TROUBLE
Fitzsimmons Yet Continues
to Complain About
the Rules.
HE MAY FINALLY GAIN
HIS POINT.
To Prevent a Fiasco Corbett
Would Agree Upon
Changes
MULDoON EXAMINES THE SAN
FRANCISCAN.
Pronounces Him in the Best Of Coz
diticn-Sports F ocking to
MULDoON EXAMINES THE SAN
FRANCISCAN.
Pronounces Him in the Best of Coz
.diticn-Sports F ocking to
Carson.

CARSON, New, March Is. - Martin
Julian accepted in behalf of Bob Fitz-
simmons. yesterday, Referee George
Siler's Interpretation of the Marquis of
Queensberry rules permitting hitting in
the clinches and in the breakaways; but,
as was related in yesterdays issue of The
CALL. it was not until after a long and
worrying wrangle had been indulged in
that Julian acknowledged the supremacy
Of the referee in this particular matter.
Now comes the story that Fitzsim m ons
will not abide by Julian's acceptance and
will act for himself in the matter OF say
ing what rules he will fight under. For
some reason or other the Cornishman has
taken a sudden dislike for the clinch rule
as elucidated by Siler, and he declared
openly to-day that inasmuch as he is the
man who has to fight Corbett he has the
right to have something to say regarding
the rules which are to govern the battle.
Bob seems inclined TO think that his
manager and brother-in-law, Julian, gave
in rather too easily. Apparently say
apparently advisedly-he cannot get it
out of his queerly shaped head that the
rules as they stand favor Cor bett's method
of fighting and will in consequence oper-
ate to his own disadvantage.
This will ID doub btless have an odd ring to
those who are not familiar with Fitzsim-
mons ring tactics, just as every press rep
resentative who listened to Martin
Julian's statement yesterday that Bob
knew nothing of clinch hitting was forcsd
to snicker.
don't think the Cornishman is bit
sincere in his objection to the clinch
clause any more than I believe Julian
means what he said at yesterdays confer
ence in regard to it. Bob is tricky, you
know. By pretending to have the worst
end of every deal he enters into he coaxes
his opponent into being little over-con-
fident-into believing that the lanky fell
low is either afraid or doubtful about his
ability to win.
When his adversary thinks he has
things his own way he leaves openings
that be would otherwise carefully guard,
and Fitzsimmons gets the chance he
wants. Fitzsimmons has done this often,
and Julian has rendered him valuable as
sistance by affecting penchant for hair
splitting and quibbling over trifes and
finally giving way, thus leaving an i'm
preston of generosity on his and the
fighters past.
Now, would there be any harm in work
ing,the old game over again? Surely they
could lose noAhing by it. For the moment
they might sacrifice some public prestige,
but as soon they come out finally and an
noInce that they will accept the rules as
they stand every body will applaud and
say that Bob is the most liberal hearted
boxer in the ring. That's what Fitz
likes. He goes into the arena, then,
pronounced favorite with the spectators,
and vou know that is always encouraging.
Itgives fighter confidence and am bition
that he might otherwise be in need of. To
my notion it is Fitzsimmons intention to
let this matter hang fire for day or two,
30 as to give the world a chance to do
some talking. Then he will surrender.
Nobody can convince me that Fitz-
simmons is not as good as Corbett IL
taking care of himself in the clinches,
Martin Julian's declaration to the con-
tIafy Notwithstanding; and l believe the
Cornishman is of the same way of think
ing, down deep in his heart. What did
he.do to Peter Maher, to Billy Mccarthy
q and to Joe Choynski every time there was
cIinchP
But then, as the matter stands, We must
wait until the Cornishman makes his an
nouncement. In the meantime big, good
hearted Dan Stuart is the man VINO has
to suffer. Hundreds of people who want
to witness this fight are practically rest
ing on hair.trigger, if the expression Will
be permitted. They have gone to Hot
Springs and other places expecting to see
fight, and have spent their good money
literally, but only to be confronted by
fasco. Naturally they exhibit some temer-
ity. about venturing out again until they
are assured absolutely that not only will
the law keep its hands off but. that the
principals themselves really mean to fight.
Every little rumor OF a hitch that oss
out has a tendency to scare these kind OF
people and to cause them to cling to their
passage money little longer. Stuart
realizes that these stories cannot be sup
pressed, and ne is using his every effort to
have things run along smoothly, leaving
no room for disturbing rumors to arise.
. He breathed deep sigh of relief yester-
day when Martin Julian announced that
he would ABIDE by Siler's Interpretation of
the rules, put nov that Fitzsimmons him.
self shows signs of clicking over the
traces" the big Texans cup OF bitterness
is again filed to the brim.
But am satisfied of one thing, and
that is that there is not the least chance
of the big mill falling through, unless one
OF. the other of the principals deliberately
f1unks and makes quiet exit from the
scene over the mountains surrounding
Carson. He would never get away by
train. This is only hazardous view OF
bare possibility. Neither Corbett nor
tzsim mons would ,iare do such thing.
When say there is going to be hight
should qualify. | mean that even II Fltz-
simmons insists up to the 18th OF March
that he will not fight unless the clinch