The San Francisco call., 1898-01-19
The Heavy-Weights Will Fiqht Before the En-
 pire Club.
Solly Smith and George Dixon Are Also Matched to
 Do Battle.
The "Spider" Kelly and Spanjer Contest May Be Declared
 of

The Empire Athletic Club. managed by Messrs. Lanigan, Lynch and FL linghouse, has secured permit from the Board of Supervisors to hold fistic entertainment in February.
 Lynch had an idea for some time that the Empire Club, which was formerly the Knickerbocker Club, would be looked upon favorably by the City Fathers when it applied for permission to give a pugilistic contest.
 He guessed right, for at the last meeting of the Health and Police Con- mittee of the Board of Supervisors the City Fathers, who had so strongly op posed professional boxing contests week or so ago, grew suddenly good of heart and discovered just when the Empires applied for a permit that a good scrap between two hard punchers was not so very horrid after all and they granted the request.
 A match was immediately consum- mated between Tut" Ryan, the Au- stralian, and Joe ChOynsh, to take place on the evening of February 5 at Mechanics Pavilion. Tom Lansing and Henry Baker, heavy-weights. were also matched to fight ten rounds on the  nary to the big event. Choynski has been notified and will leave the East for this city right away.
 Although the Empires were refused a second permit for a second contest in February, they nevertheless are san guine of getting it when the proper time comes At any rate, the director general of the club notified Solly Smith that everything would be O. K, and that he could prepare for twenty round "go" with Sammy Kelly of New York or George Dixon, the colored wonder to take place in the latter part of February or early in the month of March. Smith left the city yesterday with his trainer. Tim McGrath. for Hagerty's training quarters near the Cliff House, where he will remain until further orders.
 The National and Occidental Athletic Clubs will apply for permits to give ex- hibitions in February or March, and should the Supervisors refuse them recognition, 1t is expected that there will be a hot time in boxing circles, as the managers contend that "the powers that be- should not discriminate be- tween clubs, as they are all out-just for the love of the sport.
 It was stated last evening by a sport who Is pretty close to one or two of the City Fathers who are blessed with powerful arms that the National Club need not expect to pull off its long pending match between Tom Sharkey and Jim Jeffries- When asked for an explanation the sport said that the sailor pugilist was on the black books of Danny Lynch simply because Thomas gave Lynch 'the cold shake" and as a consequence the turfman won't stand for Sharkey. Lynch has a bit of a pull with Colonel Lanigan, and when the last named gentleman +r,1 time with those who are in a position to rule the destinies of pugilism in Frisco.
 Therefore the bold sailor boy may have to look to some other city where less opposition will be shown by the powers to his prowess as a knocker out of pugilists.
 If the National or Occidental club Is so fortunate as to secure a permit from the Supervisors Jeffries may be pitted against Peter Jackson. the colored heavy weight champion, who is at present in training at Croll's garden in Alameda. Jackson Is getting along splendidly, and he has numerous friends in this city who will back him strongly against any man in the world, not barring Bob FitZsimmons, the champion of champions.
 Frank Burns of the Empire Club of Vallejo has announced that the Casey and Stelzner fight will take place in Vallejo on the evening of February 1. Casey will back himself to the tune of $500, and Stelzner is now looking up @ packer. Burns also states that in case anything should happen that may cause a postponement of the contest, coupons will be issued to each person who purchases a ticket and by pre- senting them to him. the admission money will be returned.
 Spider" Kelly was seen last even ing relative to his proposed match in Sacramento with Spanjer. He said that he had written to the secretary of the Sacramento Club that unless the club guaranteed him purse he would not meet Spanjer.
 'I do not go much on this percent age business" said Kelly. You know that if the house should happen to be coming to me and if the club is so pos in, why don't they offer purse? They can stand a loss better than I can: don't you think I'm right?"
 A dispatch from the secretary of the club which was received here last even ing stated that the Sacramento club members are disgusted with 'the Spi7 der's" ways of doing business, and that they strongly believe Kelly is afraid to | meet Spanjer, and now seeks a loop | hole to crawl out of the match. It will | match Mcconnell to fight Spanjer in 1 case favorable reply is not received from Kelly to-day.
 Dal Hawkins, who Is Kelly's partner !