The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-11

CARSON. March ia-Reseres ssler TO-
day gave out his Interpretation of tie
Marquis of Qgsensbesry rules. under
which tire men are 10 fgat on March L.
SSlevss letter 10 the two principals In t-ls
bag hEht Is as follows.
Carson city. New. March 10 Iss7
James j. G0rnerI. Esd and Honert
F1tzssuT1oa<. Esq -Gentleuaens Herewith
! hand you each the rules o. Fhe Marquis
Of QueenSberry. under the provisions OF
wh3ch you are 10 contest fer Nae heavy
weight cf1amp ionSnip OF the world in this
city on March Il. 1887 Accompany ing
and instructions. These are based upon
careful study. research. equity and fair
ness You are the principals 70 what WIZ
he the greatest contest Of modern times
You have bosh trained carefully and as
siGU0uEly. The principals and the PUBIC
are alike engTossed % an extent never ce-
fore made manifest IL Ike encounter.
While Il Is a departure 10 issue instruct
tons 70 the corn batznts In a battle OF
this kind week in advance OF the meet
ing. / thtnk the Importance OF the affair
fully warrants this move. an conf
dent that you both want 20 win solely
ard wholly on your merits. Neither OF
you can AFFORD 70 have the slightest sus-
pscion OF doubt cloud the title which VIII
belong to the victor. To that era here
with hand you the rules and certain in
corporations under which you are 10
battle"
A copy OF Marquis Of ou.ensberry rules
was sent with the letter. which continues
as follows
The first three rules need no comment
as they are plain, simple and understood
by almost everybody. Rule 4. however,
requires some analysis. as some Of the
points are often miSconssrued. The rule
says: If either man falls through weak
ness or otherwise. he must get up I'M
assisted. ten seconds 20 be allowed him
TO do so. the other man, meanwhile, TO
return 10 his corner
This. OF course. was intended 20 pre-
vent a man from standing over his fallen
opponent Ii probably never occurred 20
the Trainer OF the rules that at times a
man either falls down or IS knocked down
in his opponents corner. II. then. the
man on his feet returns 20 his corner. as
the rules direct ne viii be standing over
his fallen opponent and doing just what
the rules mean he shall not do. To avoid
all disputes on this score, ! viii simply
instruct you In case Of knoek-down. 20
retire at least ten feet from your fallen
opponent 10 give him an opportunity 10
rise.
Rule Il. which says: The contest IN
all other respects to be governed by the
revised rules OF the London prize ring,
is, ] consider one of the most important
OF the twelve rules. and appears 10 be
the bone Of contention in almost every
contest. Ii has been the custom of ref
erees. myself among them, to inquire or
the principals whether they choose 10 hit
in ciinches with one arm free. and also
on hreaka ways. Invariably the princi-
pals agree not to hit In the cinches or
on breakaways, bur they generally forget
all about their agreement. and frequently
violate f. This. then. causes not only
the seconds but the spectators. 10 cry
Foul" every time blow IN delivered In a
Clinch or on a bTeakaway. and causes
much trouble and argument. 1t makes
the duties Of a referee arduous and dis
agreeable. and keeps him continually IN
hot water Furthermore. IL gives the
referee an opportunity 10 decide the con-
test On technical foul which Is gener-
cerned. Neither OF you. am sure, desire
10 win the coming contest on n technical
foul. and. 70 avoid any such contingency.
through hitting in ciinches with free
arm and IN bYeakaways ] viii rule that
you be permitted 10 hit IN clinches with
one arm free. and also on breakaways.
With this Interpretation Of this rule an
nounced a week before the contest. YOU
viii both nave ample time TO pVctics
these important points. and VIII have no
cause for complaint should either of you
be caught OF your guard
Pivot blows. missing with either hand
and whipping back with the elbow. meet
Ing an opponent with or deliberately
any OF the above blows have any material
effect on the result Of the contest. shall
use my judgment accordingly. Should
any Of the seconds Of either principal en-
ter the ring during a round to render any
assistance to the fighters or prevent them
from committing a foul. or 70 throw wat
er on them. IL shall De deemed a foul
Coaching BY seconds during the rounds
il Objectionable 20 every body. and is apt
TO create discord and argument. Both Of
YOU have undoubtedly mapped out your
plans Of attack and defense. and need no
advice from your respective seconds.
These latter win therefore refrain from
making any comment during the contest.
Trivial fouls may be unintentionaily COM
mittsd by either Of you. which. unless
they have a direct bearing on the result
viii be overlooked by me At my discre-
This. believe. covers all the impor-
taut points Both or you are thoroughly
acquainted with the Marquis az Queens
berry rules not touched upon rs me. AMI
l hope 10 see you both 1--we strictly up o
them.
with a fair fed. no favors. no preju-
dice. / remain very truly yours.
GEORGE SILER. Referee"
Duplicate copies Of sler's letter were
made and a copy vas sent 70 both Cor
bett and Fitzslfnmons.
Coroeit read the letter through with
great care. he then folded Il up saying:
4 Go not care 20 make any reply -
this today. viii talk 81 over NTH ny
trainers tonight, and wlll write a formal
letter 80 SIR Siler tomorrow. Al I want
IS that We nghf under the Marquis Il
GbeensheFry rules such as I have always
fought under / carry those rules il nv
Ehen uDconsciOusiy while fighting II A
rev construction is put upon them J may
forget an about IL IN the heat O. The rRht
and commit a foul Internationally. Al
want X a fair show and nothing else
Nov Fitz has said that ne dtd not
want TO hit with one arm free. bat ev-
eryo0dg knows thar be wants just stat
very thing EveFS body comedies that Fits
l. ! harder hitter tna p ] am snd every
body co0ce-lcS that Z I'm better AZ long
range hgh3tuE ana more sclentiuc Il
stands 20 ason then That he - fhe gain
wfN ro1 sgrce 20 this as he wants 10 have
che 3 mzpe4raaEc Of making coueess luHs .
re ! arr glad h9Meyrr. THAI SlIer has
fsafe il clear that the p.vot blow and az
fhaf sort % thlns Is barred. that Is as L
should &c. We don't want any ains of
that sort
s.ler sal8. wheu giving cut his constr1c-
ton II the rules
u have made nv decision solely On tie
ground tAat ia a declared gn th@ MARQUIS
- e1seensberry rules tnat. v-nen not Or
vrtza T1ng sazA govern Now, fE@ Mar
ssstz ug SsaesFss1serry rules are silent on
sess subject q HfEstaE in hraas ways ard
w5th ole arm free. ha3 hoth aTe a .iow-a
nv she rates q, Ete l-Jution urise rlux
ara therafare Is seems 10 rae zaaf A.
tgtlaers feTrg rules shEt both h5tftaE wf-a
enc arm FREE ard hitting ta lsEeas IA svays
xEaatf ise allowed. suppose fhar sqEesa
Nj Z Hsr Eroua me. buf e really saoss .
ms as Though fEa tainS IS t8o plssn to
asaftg ~ aaY ether construction thze
nave psi 1E@D Il ho"syer. u C0roeft
Ard FS.ESlFnsncrs declare that they rre-
Ter to agst Inr stasT way. S. - aif rzhe
AZ Z want - for tseSn 20 agree 20 some
zEt1E