Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18


was to he seen anywhere aud white
the air was cool and sharp and there
was a covering OF white frost on the
streets. there was Noticeable moderation
in the temperature and it could be-
readily predicted that whom tho sun
was d few hours higher the day would
DO perfect one.
Tho town vas astir early and crowds
bagan to gather at the hotels and rail-
way stationa, waiting for incoming
trains and all were eager for any piece
OF rows or gossip in connection with
the fight.
Three special trains which came in
this morning brought tho last OF the
yisitors. They we're made up OF 20
sseepers from San Francisco, but the
last section had fur day coaches in
which wore few people from the East,
those who reached Reno last night.
The large delegation OF miners expected
from Virginia City did not come,
though the Lines are we'll represented.
The arrivals this morning were about
500, making the total strangers in town
between 1900 and 1900.
The demand for tickets to the fight
was very good this morning, Dan
stuart's headquarters. whera they were
on sale, being crowded. The demand was
SO brisk, indeed, that the price OF the
cheapest seats was doubled. The Last
few rows on the outer edge of the arena
bad been set aside for people willing to
pay only s. for admission. When it was
discovered that these seats were sell.
ing well, better than the $40 seats just
in front of them, there being little
difference between the two in desira-
bility, all were placed Mt $40 each, but
the increase did not interfere materially
With the sale.
The indications are now that there
will be larger numbers present than
Stuart lad bren hoping Tor since last
Friday.
John L. Sullivan was up early this
morning and attracted guod deal oil
attention. lie seems to be Just as hig
n man in the estimation OF the Car
s0nites and many others as Co bett or
FitzsimmonR.
ODDS REMAIN IN coHBETT's FAVOR.
Tho arrival Of another batch OF East
ern ard coast sports gave another start
to the betting. hut the odds remained
unchanged at sl0 to 81. 80. Jimmy Col
vile. Corhott's timtkeeper, laid $500
to ss}25 at Coleman d Corhott's pool
rooms before breakfast on the number
of rounds.
The talent are almost unanimous in
placing the limit at 10 rounds, and the
fayorite number is seven.
THE MORNING. BETTING.
The accessions to the crowd during
the morning increased the attendance
at the pool rooms, which were iammed.
The betting was very lively on all
hghts, though the most was staked on
the main battle. Tho odds on Corbett
are the same, most of the wagers rang.
ing between 81 to sl0 and SG5 to 500.
The aggregate put up was large. In the
small lights, Graen IS the faYorite at
e. TO SO, and FIaherty at 81 to 81.
The mutual combination at 0 O'Clock
showed that 4G7 tickets had been sold.
Corbctt, Green, Hawkins still being
the favorites, with 80 takers. while
Corbett, Smith, Flahsrty followed
closely with 49,
Ringsde. AS early as s O'Clock this
morning there was small gathering
at the gate Of the arena no one was
admitted, however, and the crowd
gradually increased.
AT O'Clock 800 people were gathered
in front OF tho gate. There was also a
procession of people along tho quarter
of milo of street leading to the grounds
and these constantly increased the size
of the crowd. 1t was given out that
the gates would not be opened until 10
O'clock and the crowd became i'm
patient. Cries of "Open up, - "Open
up" were heard, but they had no
effect.
GETTING READY.
Billy Brady has Just taken a seat.
Corbett is now in hie dressing room,
Jimmy Colvlle will be timekeeper
| for Corbett. l.. w. Housinan will he
timekeeper for Fritz. Billy Muldoon
timekeeper for Dan Stuart. Billy
Madden handles the gong.
The gates were opened at Q. 30 a. M,
and there was rush to get in. The
| pross was so great that il was i'm
possible for the gate keepers to take
| the tickets. Holders of nnsteboartls
| were required to hold them up above
their heads and in that fashion 500
| people rushed into the enclosure. There
| were three women in the first bunch
and they were as eager TO get in as the
! rest.
There were plenty of ushers on hand
| and there was no confusion in seating
| the people. Five dollar standing room
tickets seemed TO he the most popular
aud $40 unreserred seats were iI great
demand at first. Holders of reserved
seats and boxes wore leisurely III their
movements and came streaming IN.
| When tho crowd was first admitted,
workmen wers still busily engaged in
putting finishing touches on the arena.
Hall an hour after the gates opened
there were about LOCO comfortably
seated.
Sullivan is greeted with tumultuous
cheers. Next came George Siler. upon
| the turning Of whose thumbs depends
the fate of the modern gladiators.
| 1t is not expected that Corbett and
! Fitzsimmons will be in tine ring before
! II O'Clock or H. 30 O'Clock.
| Late this morning Mrs. Fiizsimmona
changed her mind about not coming TO
the fight, and decided that she uould
watch her husband battle for the
championship. She will be in a box
close to the ring.
AT 1879 a. m. the great arena is
rapidly filling up and tho streets ad-
iacent to it are black with people. All
| the notable sports of this continent are
gathered together to sac the battle of
the century.
John L. Sullivan has just appeared
resplandent in shining silk hat.
Billy Brady, Corbett's advisor. was
on hand early to test the ropes, Eo.
lilo did not find things to suit him and
under his direction tho ropes were
| tightened.