The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-17
In Which the Worlds PugiliS-
tic Championship
Is Decided at Carson City, Ne
Vada.
CORBETT is CHEERED
By the Crowd on His Journey
to the Arena.
Both Men Supremely Confident
of Victory.

Carson City, New. March 17.-Dawn
of the battle day in Carson City was all
that could be desired by the several
thousand people who have Travelled
many miles to this snow bound valley
to see the great Corbett-F'itzsimmons
fight.
Late last night the weather was Bit
terly cold. the sky was overcast with
clouds and light fiurries of snow fell sew
eral times with every indication that
daybreak would find the prospect for a
cold, cloudy day ahead, and perhaps
several inches of snow on the ground,
and in such case there would have been
great disappointment in this section of
the world, for it has been officially sta
ted that the battle would not occur un-
less the sun was shining so that the
verascope could be worked at the ring
side, but the reputation of Carson
weather at this season of the year as
serted itself and a little after o'clock
the sun rose over the snow covered
mountains and in short time the
whole valley and white mountains on
all sides of it were glistening in bright
ness.
Not cloud was to be seen anywhere
and while the air was cool and sharp
and there was a covering of white frost
on the streets there was a noticeable
moderation in the temperature and it
could readily be predicted that when
the sun was few hours higher the day
would be a perfect one. The town was
astir early and crowds began to gather
about the hotels and railway station.
waiting for incoming trains and all
were eager for any piece of news or
gossip in connection with the fight.
Three special trains which came in
this morning. brought the last of the
visitors. They were made up of %
sIeepers from San Francisco. but the
last section had four day coaches in
which We're a 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 mines are we'll represented. The
arrivals this morning were about 5O0
making the total number of strangers
in town between 5000 and 1000. The
demand for tickets TO the fight was very
good this morning, Dan Staurt's head
quarters where 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
the out edge of the arena had been
set aside for people willing to pay only
So for admission. When it was diScoV-
cred that these seats were Selli--g WELL
better than the $40 seats just in front
of them. there being little difference be-
tween the two in desirability all were
placed at $40 each. The increase did
not interfere materially with the sale.
John L. Sullivan was up early this
morning and attracted good deal of
attention. He seemed to be just big
a man in the estimation of the Carson
ties and many others as COrbett and
F'itzsimmons
AS early as o'clock this morning
there was a small crowd gathered at the
gate of the arena, no one was admitted,
however, and the crowd gradually in
creased. At 8 o'clock 500 people were
gathered in front of the gate. There
was also a procession of people along
the quarter of a mile street leading to
the grounds, and these constantly in
creased the size of the crowd. 1t was
given out that the gates would not be
opened until 10 o'clock and the crowd
became impatient, cries of open up
were heard, but they had no effect.
About o'clock Il wagon containing a
nice zinc bath tub drove up and as the
tub was for the of one the
heroes of the day the gate was opened
The crowd tried to follow in but burly
special policemen pushed the hasty ones
pack. The crowd, in which were one or
two women. amused themselves by teas
ing an old cat in a cage near by and by
going against the roulette game in a
tent close to the gate.
GATES OPEN.
The gates were opened at $50 and
there was rush to get in The press
was so great that it was impossible for
the gatelkeeperS to take the tickets.
Holders of the paSteboardS were re
quested to hold them above their heads
and in that fashion 500 people rushed
into the enclosure. There were three
women in the first bunch and they were
eager to get in as the rest. There We're
plenty of ushers on hand and there was
no confusion in seating the people. Five
dollar standing room tickets seemed to
be the most popular and SO unreserved
seats were in great demand at first.
Holders of reserved seats and boxes
were leisurely in their movements and
came strolling in up to the moment of
calling time. When the crowd was first
admitted workmen were still busily
gagged in putting the finishing touches
on the arena Half an hour after the
gates opened there was about 200 peo-
pie comfortably seated.
They put in the time gazing with in
terest on the platform where Corbett
and E'itzSimmons were to fight for su-
premacy. The floor of the ring was of
inch pine boards closely drawn togeth-
er and sprinkled literally with rosin
The boards were unpadded and COM
mentS on the prOba bility of the fighters
knocking their heads on the hard sur
face in case of a knock down were fire.
quent.
Billy Brady. Corbett's adviser was on
hand early and carefully tested the
strength of the ropes and the padding
of the posts. He did not find things to
suit him and under his direction the
ropes were frightened. Tom SharEey,
ready to challenge the winner, ambled
in early and examined the ring with the
air of a connOisseur. Sharkey was re-
| splendent in boiled shirt, square top
derby hat, a gorgeous diamond, a green
tie and an enormous green badge in
| honor of the day
At 10 O'Clock the crowd was still fill
tering through the gates and the spec
| tators had but small effect in covering
| the yellow boards
MRS. FITZSIIMONS ATTENDS
Carson City. March 17-Late this
| inc zSiTnn70nS ohanood Io,