The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-17
QUICK FINISH EXPECTED.
Experts Look For q Sh0ft Battle
Today.
EVERYTHING READY FOR BIG
PUGILISTIC EVENT AT CARSON.

| ponement-both Men Appear to Have
Absolute eoonfidence-Slseping Accomo-
dations At Premium At Carson Last
| Night.
Carson, Maroh 16.-The last day befor g
that on which the greatest struggle in
the history of pugillsm takes place waa
ushered in with lowering skies and
threatening atmosphere. The sun soon
appeared and its rays dispellsd all gloom.
The outlook had the etfsot Of making
Corhett and Fitzsimmo to do little
more work thaa they intended, fearing
to take any chances under existiag a.
mospherical conditions. eBoth msn sxef-
oised with view TO keeping their wind
up in case of a possible postponemsnt.
| Nothing short of rain or snow storm
will bring about such postponemeut,
anu all Indications tend to show that
fair weather will be vouchsnfsd tomor-
row. The long looked for specials f1om
the east and west arrived teday and dis
charged additions to the crowd which al
ready has severely taxed the resources Of
the town. The attendance at the ring
side will not be as large az anticipated.
Between 1000 ana 5000 people is perhaps
a correct estimate Of the number who
will sac the meeting Of the two men.
Visitors Kept arriving and departing
from Shaw's Springs and Cooks rancho
all day, and the roads between . Carson
and the training quarters presented q
busy scene with a constant stream 6f
vehicles OF all kinds. P. j. Corbett,
Jim's father, arrived by one Of the
Western specials shortly after noon. Vim.
A. Brady met him and drove him out to
the Springs, where they found Jim busy
entertaining number Of friends from all
over the states
Corbets has never seemed In better
| spirits since he hegan training than on
the eve Of the contest.
Fitzsimmon's visitors had to wait
sometime before Bob appeared at the
ranch. as he was making hay while the
sun snone, and taking advantage of the
bright spell, was doing some jogging
along the road. When he returned and
had a rub down he WAS in evidence. His
conversation showed just as much faith
In his winning star as mis- rival displayed.
This overwhelming confidence on both
sides Is biG of a puzzle to all the sports.
1t is undoubtedly genuine in the two
men and tends to still further shake the
ideas of any one who is inclinedssto waver
about picking winner. The prevailing
opinion seems to be that the duration of
the fight will be limited to fifteen rounds.
Judging by the netting this number is
the favorite, while under ten rounds
comes i'll second. No one il inclined to
think the battle will be long. The inter-
presation Of the rules, which allows
hitting in clinches and brsakaways, ap-
pears to account in great measure for
the popular idea of short fight.
Dan Stuart IL ia avidapt oorooc th
the majority, since he has put on the two
smaller fights to follow the big event.
The betting remained about the same all
day. There is plenty Of Corbett money,
hut Fitzsimmon's cash is not forth
coming in sufficient quantities to max q
the pencillers change the odds of 8 1-2 to
10 on the, Californian.
Paris Mutusls with Oorbett, Greer
and Hawkins as the pick of the oom bina-
lions, were very slow. There were scarce
ly any buyers for zsimmous, Smith
and Flaher ty.
1t was not quite the day for rest at the
camps that was anticipated, but both
men let up considerably and dispersed
with the sparring end Of the programme
entirely.
Corbett played three games of hand
ball and then took turn at the punch
ing bag in the morning. Light foot work
in the hand bnll court followed, and then
Jim was rubbed down. After he was
dressed he received callers and stood
chatting outside the court nearly half
an hour. Corbett was in particularly
cheerful humor and seemed much pleased
at the number of his visitors,
Later in the afterno0u Jim went for q
short walk and came home with a series
of sprints. At Cook ranch Rober had
to push and shove for few minutes
~ oh -
Bob then took turn at the bag and
spriuted arc und the yard few times. A
little road work wound up the prnceed-
inRs.
Both puxilists turned in early to get a
good long rest before the eventful hour.
According to tonight's arrangements
Corbett will perhaps take short walk
in the morning and then drive to the
arena.
OF course the weather will have great
deal to do with the plans Of moth men.
Prof. Walter Watson of the Olympic
club Of San Francisco, who is credited
with having brought out Corbett's box
Ing abilities, was probably the most well
pone visitor at the Californian s quarters
today.
"Come in and take fash at me,
Walter" said Jim. "Your opinion ought
TO SoUGl6 the qu0Sb1OH VI my CoOOlblOn.
Watson followed the champion's
father, P. J. Corhett, into Jim's cottage,
where the examination TOOK place. Jim
stripped to the waist and Watson thumped
him and kneaded every muscle ON his
trunk.
you're down pretty dne, Jim, pretty
fiue,'' said Watson. Not too fine,
understand me. but just about right. +
should think ! never saw your muscles
so hard. They show mp through the skin
more than ever before. Perhaps that's
why you appear to be drawn down s,
much. Your neck is bigger than 1t used
to he, think. Have you been saving
your rtghtP Your left seems to be bigger
than l ever saw IT, If you were a
stranger, should say you intended to
fight this battle with one hand. Your
right shoulder muscles strike me as
having just about the proper develop
nont. You are harder than you were in
former years and carry less heef on yor.
should say you were in absolutely rer-
feot condition for man Of your age a1d
development. The more I look at you the
I, 1:,.