The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-09

GIadiatOrs Do and Say the
Eve of the Meeting.
NEW YORK, June S.-Everything is in
readiness for the big fight tomorrow be-
tween Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim Jeffries,
and with the exception of police interfer-
ence or an unlooked-for accident to either
one of the principals the bout will take
place as scheduled, in the arena of the
j. Coney Island Sporting club
The statements emanating from police
headquarters to the effect that Chief of
Police Devery intends to stop the bout
f hard blows are exchanged knock
Town occurs. while taken seriously by a
-arge number of sporting men, are not
treated with any amount of apprehension
by those most interested. The pugilistS
themselves claim that they are too much
engroSSed in their preparations for the
event to take any stock in. the reports
of intended interference. and Managers
Brady and Julian seem to be confident
that the contest will be permitted to go to
a decision without any untoward incident.
so far as the legal authorities are con-
cerned.
Fitzsimmons is still prime favorite in.
the betting. but there is plenty of Jeffries
money in sight, and while no large wagers
have as yet been recorded there is no
doubt that with growing confidence in the
ability of the promoters to pull off the
mill successfully the betting will assume
large proportions by tomorrow.
Everything was practically at a stand
still today at the training quarters of
both pugilists. both men doing very light
Al, for fxaVxy
minutes and after brief bit of practice
with the medicine ball skipped the rope
a couple of hundred times. Quite large
number of visitors called on the Califor
MAN and wished him success. During the
day Jeffries was the recipient of a number
of kilograms from different parts of the
United States, extending congratulations,
well as encouraging the big boiler
maker with hopes of victory in his bid
for championship hOnors.
SILER SEES JEFFRIEs.
George Siler, of Chicago. who is to ref
cree the contest, was one of the visitors
at the cottage by the seashore today.
Referee Siler was accompanied by his
wife. who told Jeffries that she had bet
new bonnet on his chances When asked
with whom she made the bet she laughed
and said:
"a dear friend of mine. who will pay
for the bonnet in case Jeffries wins"
Mr.. Siler said his visit was simply a
social one but in conversation with JEFF
fries and Trainer Billy Delaney he said
FitZSimmonS had agreed to clean break.
Delaney claimed that a clean break
means a great deal to Fitzsimmons, and
shows that Bob is afraid of Jeffries' driv-
ing machinery. Some of the experts of
the Loeb Arbor cottage claim that Bob
will endeavor to make 1t a long drawn-out
battle
Jeffries. with his trainer, Billy Delaney.
and his sparring partners, Jim DAILY,
Tommy Ryan, Jack Jeffries and Martin
McCue, will leave Allenhurst, N. J., early
tomorrow morning over the Pennsylvania
railway, and will go direct to Coney ISL
and.
1t is understood that a conference will
take place between Brady, Julian, the
two principals and Referee Siler some
time tomorrow afternoon. at which the
rules governing the contest will be dis
cuSsed.
Jeffries was in the best of humor to-
night before retiring. He seemed to be
in good spirits, showing no nervousness
whatever. and conversed freely with
those around him in reference to the pos
sible outcome of the bout. Every one OF
the party. including the big fellow HIM
SELF. seems confident OF the Californian's
victory, and none of them looks for the
battle to last over ten rounds.
FITS REHEARSAL.
F!tzsimmons took short walk during
the afternoon, but took no further eXer-
else. Later in the afternoon he drove
to the Coney Island club house, accom-
panied by Yank Kenney. Jack Ever
hardt, Dan Hickey, Martin Julian and
Kid Mccoy BY the time the party
reached the house they were surrounded
by crowd of several hundred persons
none of whom was permitted to follow,
the champion and his companions into
the big building. AS soon as Fitzsimmons
reached his dressing room he and Kenney
stripped to the buff and donned the fight
inS toys. They entered the ring and
SPARED three fast rounds. only exchang-
ing light taps. The work Of both men
was closely watched by a number of ex-
perts. the most prominent of whom was
Kid Mccoy, who has posted a $1,000 for
felt in the hands of George Siler to bind
a match with Fitzsimmons
The carpenters and other workmen in
the building stopped work while the big
fellows pummeIed eoch other, and when
Martin Julian. who had the watch, called
time at the end of the third round, the
champion was generously applauded He
is in perfect condition and showed a won
derful lot of speed. His footwork was re-
Invariably clever. and. on the whole his
- performance clearly demonstrated that
he was never in better shape for a bout in
= bis entire ring career than he is at pres
ent.
After the men had retired to their
dressing room Mccoy declared that Fitz-
simomnS was wonderful man. but would
not say positively what his impressions
were as to the outcome of the mill tomor-
row night. AS soon as the party left the
building they entered the wagon Ftt5-
simmons was a wonderful man, but would
champion drove along Surf avenue, on his
way home to Bath Beach, he was cheered
by the hundreds Of promenaders. many of
whom shouted to him that he was bound
to Win
CHIEF DEVERY'S POSITION.
If Chief of Police Devery makes good
his words the Fttzsimmons- Jeffries fight
at Coney island tonight will be stopped
In one of the early rounds, perhaps in
the first
exhibiting a sudden spasm of virtue at
this time-and it Is explained in many
ways. none of which is COMPLIMENTARY
the chiefs action will have the effect
of diminishing the attendance and send
ing principals and spectators to the
fighting ground In state of lamentabIe
uncertainty.
The decision to stop the fight after the
1irSt hard blow comes late and is wit hout
any healthy precedent, and it has caused
plenty Of comment, which, If half of n
be true, proves that the prophets wore
right when they said Brady would he
dead one after his testimony before
the Lexow committee In which he re-
hected upon the police, and more espe-
cially when he thought he could hold an
important fight outside this borough,