The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-04
EARLY SCENES At COSkF Island.
Ru1ors Regarding Jefriss's Condition
SHAKE His supporters' Confidence.

Rusors Regarding Jedries's Condition
shake His supporter Confidence.
Consy Island Is duh enough everybody
knows whom the sum inner ssason IL over. BUTT
10 the gloomiest place on earth during storm
such As prevailed last night. The rain and
chilling winds acted as a severe obstacle to tho
thousands who. had II been clear would prob
ably have surged about the entrance to tho
Consy Island Club. merely out OF curiosity. At
all big Affairs OF this kind tho public
10 attracted to the scene OF action 10 such large
crowds that the number OF persons who
usually can be found inside the building is
doubled or 1uadrupled by those who hover
around on tho outside for informal ion, no matter
how meagre. and for glimpse Of the big pug-
lists as they enter for the fight Such q gath
erng around the doors Of any club is annoying
to the managers. for they are inevitably be-
sieRed by requests from friends and deadheads
for free admis 80 when the managers OF
las. nights fight looked out through the ONCE
windows and saw the rain beating down. they
howled aloud and congratulated themselves
upon the prosr ect OF having an easier time
than usual They were prepared for heavy
rush upon the box office. and 60 were tho po-
lice. but with the loungers ont Of the way. very
little OF the usual confusion was looked for.
The sports came down to tho Island from tho
city as early a. noon. They did not come then
In large nun bers, but they Just struggled In and
sat around the various resorts where sporting
mon are In the habit OF congregating. To hear
them talk one would not believe that there was
any other event in the world Of any i'm portance
except this much talked OF encounter between
Jefrries and SharIey
As both lighters we're at neiehboring road-
houses where they had arrived early in the day.
It was natural for those who came 20 the Island
to look for tho very latest Information. The
news that Jefferiess chief trainer. Billy De-
laney. had made a public statement to the
effect that the champion had not prepared
himself for this night according to Delaney's
instructions. created more than mild sensa-
ton. 1t was regarded by almost every sport
ing man OF prom inence as a case OF weakening
on Deansys part.
Delaney IL simply getting ready" said the
sports. TO save his reputation as a trainer In
case Jetfriss Is licked. He wants TO he able to
say I told you So IL Jsfiries had trained &C.
cordng to my ideas he would have won"
This was the construction put upon
Delaneys words and there was no devil
alton from 1t. The most enthusiastic
| supporters OF JsffrIss. however. said that
Delaney was merely blunng In order
| to influence the betting. But they were con-
fronted INN sdiately with the argument that IL
Jefrrics won. Delaney. because OF his own re-
marks. would receive no credit. while Tommy
Ryan would get all the glory for preparing tho
champion for tho battle. Later on In the day
word was received that Delaney denied max
Ing ths statement. But the denial came at a
time whom the report had 30 thoroughly psr-
meated everybody that 1t did not carry very
much weight.
Billy Brady. manager Of Jetfri-s, who was
around the clubhouse oil the afternoon. was
frequently asked about this matter and he
| admitted that thers had been some little fric-
ton between Delaney and Ryan over tho
| handling OF the boiler-maker. but Brady in
| sisted that II amounted to nothing and that
Jefries would enter the ring ft to nght for
a kingdom. Delansy's statement prompted
| others that came from persons who were un-
| authorized to make them, but who profes..d to
| know what they wore talking about.
RuMoRs ABOUT JEFFRIEs's CONDITION
There were 80 many rumors regarding the
poor condition OF Jeffries that many began to
| feel convinced that there was something
wrong with him. There was a general belief
that he was overturned and all the arGu-
msnts that Brady and the other intimatos OF
Jenries offered. could not change tho opinion.
Predictions were freely made that by tho
time tho men entered tho ring. confidence in
Je1ries would have been so severely shaken
on account OF these wild rumors. that Sharkey
would be installed n slight favorite. or pos
sibly the betting would be at even money.
There were many inquiries as to the amount
Of money Jsffries and Brady had Nagered on
the contest. but from the best authority OBJ
tanabe II was learned that Brady had not bet
a dollar. while the report concerning the plac-
ing OF $1,000 belonging to JefIres was all
myth. That was taken TO mean that there
waa not Gamma cnnadanpa N Jaf rias ana,