New-York tribune., 1899-06-08
DEVEPV WILL BE THERE.

A nor,, e,en,ent Of interest has suddenly been
added to the entertainment with which the man
ayers OF the Coney Island Athletic Ciuo nave
long been diligently preparing to elevate 'iie
prize-ring tomorrow night Chief Devery lately
introduced by himself to the public or New-horK
through the kindly offices Of the Mazet commit
Tee as the fearless and incorruptble protector Oh
Iifo nroperty. order and morality. announces
that the first heavy blow will mark the end OF
the massage of fists between Fitzsimrnons ana
Jeffries and warns intending spectators not 10
he swIndled by antcipatons of anything re-
sembling a fight to a finish. The Chief Will pe
there In an official capacity, his searching gaze
will be fastened on the combatants from the
moment when the bell rings, and at the faintest
indication of purpose to do more than spar ior
points in an urbane and purely scientific man
ner he will arise in his majesty and declare the
incident closed. This is what Devery says, and
he particularly desires the community 70 uhoer
stand that what he says goes
In view Of the solemnity with which tne
Chiefs intentions have been promulgated 1t Is
somewhat painful to remark the leVity WIFI
which they are regarded in some quarters and
the symptoms Of wrath which they nave pro
duced in others. Above ALL 1t is depressing to
encounter here and there intimations that tne
Chiefs unforeseen zeal is not wholly unrelated
TO the circumstance that the distinguished pro-
prietor of rival pugilistic institution considers
himself insutcd and despoiled by the selection
of Coney Island as the scene of the coming en-
counter Those who take this cynical view OF
the case are enabled to point to the fact that
Mr. Devery has frequently witnessed with great
iov and contentment In the arena provided Dy
that eminent statesman and reformer the Hon
Timothy D. Sullivan, contests which in the mat
fer of disbursement and bloodshed left abso-
lutely nothing to be desired by the most fastid-
ious devotee of the prlze-ring This is consid-
Grafton to which persons of suspicious nature
would be sure TO attribute large Importance but
we cannot regard ii as conclusive. On the con-
trarv ve gather from the Chiefs proclamation
that there are special circumstances entering
into this case which completely protect him
from the charge of inconsistency. Thus he points
ont that whereas one of the prospective com
batants weighs 210 pounds the other cannot
boast of more than 15S, and therefore the very
mature Of things tends 10 an out-andou prize
fight" The dellcacy Of his feelings and po-
stiou dsincllnes him TO partculaflze, but ne
evidently thinks that the tender and fragile IN
fant FitzsimmOns is In danger OF being lncon-
venlenced and possibly hurt by the well-grown
and lusty Jeffries. and that the former has III
tie or no chance of making consOlatory reprisals
Such an experience would wound Fitzsimmonss
susceptibilities and might even break his spirit,
which would be extremely unfortunate, espe-
cinlly If il should turn out that Tammany had
put its money on the wrong man.
For our part, we cannot understand why
people take pleasure in cultivating Qdous sus-
picions. Deverys motto is live and learn.
Through attentive observation Of the operation
OF the Horton law he has become convinced that
there are occasions on which it ought to be con-
strued as forbldding prize-fghts. and he enter
tains no doubt that tomorrow nights engage
ment under the auspices of the Coney Island
Athletic Club is going TO be such an occasion.
The fact that AT the LenOX club, for example,
good men and true are constantly put TO sleep In
their own gore amid rapturous applause from
those who have had the fOrethought 10 procure
the straight tip has nothing to do with the case.
The only nfalllble standard of lawfulness and
propriety is planted in the Chiefs prophetic soul.
In this instance he is convinced that the law
might be stretched TO cover multitude Of sins
If he were not on hand to interfere, and that
settles II.