The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-09
READY FOR THE BIG FIGHT.
The Fltzsimmons-Jeffries Bat
tie Tonight.
The Betting stin Favors the Champion
but There Is Plenty of Jenries
Money.

Money.
New York, June 6.-Evsrything is in
readiness for the big fight tomorrow
night between Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim
Jeffries and with the possible exception
Of police Interference or an uni ooked for
accident TO either one Of the principals,
the bout viii take place as scheduled, in
the arena OF the Coney Island Sporting
club. The statements emanating from
police headquarters to the effect that
Chief OF Police Devery intends to stop the
bout In case hard blows are exchanged
or knockdown occurs. willis taken
seriously by the large mum ber of sporting
men, are not treated wi tn any amount OF
apprehension by those most interested and
outsiders who have keen knowledge Of
the Inside of affairs. The pugilists them
| selves claim that they are too much en-
crossed in their preparations for the event
to take any stock In the reports of iu-
tended interference and Managers Brady
and Julian seem to be confident that the
contest will be permitted to reach decis-
lon without any untOward incident so
AA<A 1e tAo AoB04 NatnOFAboH hfb bOncEEUtQ.
Fitzsimmons 10 still prime favorite in
the betting but there Is still plenty OF
Jeffries money in sight, and while no
| large wagers have as yet been recorded
| there Is no doubt that with growing son.
ndence in the ability of the promoters to
pun on the mill successfully, the betting
viii assume large proportions by tomor-
row.
Carpenters were at work in the big
| club house all day today and late tonight
| and every detail in arranging for the
comfortable seating of the expected
throng OF spectators has been closely at
tended to by the management.
Everything was practically at stand
still today at the training quarters of
| both pugilists. Both men did very light
work. Jeffries punched the bag forIa few
minutes and after brief bit of practice
with the medicine ball, skipped the rope
q couple hundred times. Quite a large
number Of visitors called on the Ca1ifor-
nian and wished him success During the
day Jeffrtes was the recipient of number
OF kilograms from different parts OF the
United states, extending c0ngratula-,
tions, as we'll as encouraging the big
boiler-maker with hopes OF victory in MS
bio for championship honors. George
Siler OF Chicago, who is to referee the
contest, was one of the most noted yisi-
tors at the cottage by the sea, today.
hefsree Siler was accompanied by his
wife, who told Jetfries that she had bet a
new bonnet on his chances. When asked
with whom she had made the bet she
laughed and said: "a very dear friend
Of mine who win pay for the bonnet in
Mr.. Siler said his visit was simply q
social one, but In conversation with
Jeffries and Trainer Billy Dalany hs said
that Fitzsimmons had agreedato olean
break. Delany claimed that o clean
NTRnk means n Un0d deal Kife1i MN, ,nfta
and showed that Bob isddafraid of
Jehries's driving maohinery.d some of
the experts of the Loeb ArboF cottage
claim that Bob will sndeayor to make, it
long drawnout battle. Tgua a.,
Jetfries and fis trainer, Billy Delaney,
and bis snarrfng partners. Jim Aaly,
Iommy Ryan, Jack Jetfries and Marty
McCue, will leave .Allenhurst, N. ~
shortly after 'nineXs.o clock tomorrow
morning over the 9Q- Penna railroad
by the train whiehsds due at Cortlandt
street ferry at about eleven O'Clock. They
| VIII be met in this city by w. A. Brady
and other friends and driven TO a Coney
Island hotal. 1t is understood that a CON,
ference win take place between Brady
ana Julian. the two principals, and ksf.
cree Siler, some time tomorrow afternoon
ut whioh the rules governing tho co ntest
VIII &c discussed. Jeffries was in the
best. OF humor tonight before rat iring
He seemed to be In good spirits, showing
no nervousness whatever and convsrsed
freely with those around him in reference
TO the possible outcome of the bout. All
the members of the Jeffries party, inolud-
ing tine big Fellow himself seem confident
of tha Californian's victory and no ne of
them looks for the battle 20 last over ten
rounds.
Fitzsimmons took short walk during
tha forenoon but took no further exercise
Late IN the afternoon he drove to the
Coney island club house, accompanied by
Yank kenney, Jack Everhardt, 0an
Hickey, Martin Julian and Kid Mccoy.
By the time the party reached the club
house they were surrounded by crowd
OF several hundred persons, none Of
| whom was permitted to follow the cham
| pion and his companions into the big
| building. As soon as Fitz reached his
dressing room, he and Kenney stripped
and donned their lighting togs They
entered the ring anp spared three fast
rounds, only exchanging slight taps.
The work of both men was closely
| watched by a number of experts, the
most prominent of whom was Kid Mccoy
who has posted $1,000 forfeit in the
hands of George Siler to bind match
with Fitzsimmons.
The carpenters and other workmen in
the building stopped work while the big
| fellows pummelled each other and when
| Martin Julian. who held the watch,
called time at the end of the third round
the champion was generously applauded
he Is in perfect condition and showed
| wonderful lot Of speed. His foot work
was remarkably clever and on the whole
| his performance clearly demonstrated
| that ne was never in better shape for
| a bout in his entirs ring career as he is
at present. After the men had retired to
their dressing, room, Mccoy declared that
t1szsimmons was a wonder but the
Kid" would not say positively what
his impression was as to the outcome of
the mill tomorrow night. As soon as the
party Left the building they re-entertd
the wagon with bitzsimmons handling
the ribbons. As the champion drove
along Surf avenue on his way home to
bath Eeacb, he was cheered by the hun
dreds OF prolnenaders many of whom
shouted to him that he was bound to
win.