The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30
FIGHTERS WHO FAKE.
THEY ARE sHORT-LIyED WITH
THE PUBLIC WHEN ONCE DE-
TECTED IN THEIR WORK
SAME APPLIES TO wREsTLERs

Also to All Branches Of American
sports-FoOt Racing Regarded ms
Shell Game - How the Public
Often Does Injustice to Principals
trOversy in st. Paul q Sample.
The American patrons of sport will not
forgive the fakir This applies to all
branches of sports. Robert Fitzsimmons
would be far moro popular with the
American public but for the barney
with Jim Hall. In Australia. In his earlier
days The taint OF It remains, though
Fitz has redeemed himself in many a
hard-fought battle since. The story that
Fitzsimmons permitted sharkey to go six
rounds In their famous bout in San Fran
cisco is also black mark against the
champion that he would fain erase, II
he could. The excuse offered is that
Fitz knew he was to be "Jobbed." and
30 sent his commissioners out to wager
in the pool rooms that the sailor would
be on his feet at the end Of the sixth
round. The affair looked decidedly sus-
picious, for sharkey was not even dis
tressed up to the sixth. whereas In the
following rounds Fitz went after the sal
lor. and the termination of the contest
Is well known. From that day to this
San Francisco has had a soiled reputa
tton as a sporting town. 20, that was in
San Francisco-crooked sure" is the
comment upon anything that happens
out there to which clings the least bit
of queer look.
DEFEAT OF JIM HALL
There are many followers of ring
sports who contend to this day that the
defeat of Jim Hall by Fitzsimmons at
New Orleans was fixed affair. That
is because of the Australian incident III
which the same men engaged. and which
both admit to have been prearranged
for F'itz to lose. The further fact that
FitZ was to have received $4,000 for win
ming that battle. and did not protest over
vigorously when he failed to receive 1t.
is commented upon. That may or may
not have been a barney" yet suspi-
cion will ever attach to It, In boxing
the clever artist can deceive the best Of
to fake a wrestling match. That is the
reason the public grows suspicious at the
least appearance Of collusion between
principals. Jim Hall is as clever man
at "going OUT as there Is In the world.
I have seen him sham defeat for the en-
tertainment Of club members cleverly
as to arouse the sympathy Of the novice
to the pitch of calling for a physician
to revive him. There are others almost
as clever as he in that line Of work.
Al. sPINK's ENTERPRISE.
AL Sphinx is one of the best known sport
ing authorities in the Southwest. AL is
good fellow, and a good citizen, but he
was guilty on one occasion of working
up wrestling match in st. Louis Of
which he delights to tell to this day.
Two Of the most famous wrestlers in the
world We're in the Mound City. They
were Short So was AL. He bethought
him of scheme to raise the dust" One
bright evening there sat at table In
Tony Faust's restaurant, in st. Louis, a
big athletic fellow, who was a stranger,
yet attracted much attention because Of
his massive build He was a wrestler.
Faust's is headquarters for the ''bloods"
of ST. Louis. The place Is crowded at the
supper hour. That Is why the wrestler
was there. Al Sphinx was also there. He
did not recognize the wrestler. but sat
at another table, near him. Suddenly
there was a great commotion In that part
of the restaurant. Another big fellow
had entered the place, and, glaring at No.
/, he shouted:
What are you doing here?"
''Whatitstoyou?' beloved giant No. l..
'Il1 show you, you lunkhead," yelled
wrestler No. 2, and then he started for
No. 1. But Al Sphinx ran between the
men and counseled a cessation Of hostili-
ties.
That fellow says 1 am no wrestler"
said No. !.
''And he amt" murmured No. 2. (An-
other hostile demonstration.)
MEN ARE MATCHED.
The crowd in Faust's grew interest
ed Al Sphinx told who the big fellows
were. and a match was at once pro-
posed. That would be a great event
why" said one lover Of the sport, ''gei
those men together In a match. and they
will break each other in two. I'd give
flyer to see that bout
He was accommodated. The men met
in Masonic hall, week later The
place was packed to the doors Never
had such great crowd assembled In
that city to witness a wrestling match
The men came out looking fat and
wholly unfit to wrestle anything save
stein of beer They wrestled. And 1t
was the tamest affair that ever came of
anywhere. Afterward 1t was learned
that the meeting In Faust's was pre-
arranged Those who paid 81 seat to
see two big wrestlers tear each other
to pieces were disgusted with them
selves. They would not have given ;
cents to see a genuine match after that
WHERE CROWD WAS WRONG.
To illustrate the possibility of mis-
taking a real effort for a barney" Billy
Woods and the famous Costello met at
the Columbian Athletic club, at Roby
near Chicago. The men pranced about
the ring after having fought an hour
or so, and neither seemed to care to
go to the other. The spectators sized
1t up as a fake" They began to give
cat calls, and sing I'VE Won't Go Home
Till Morning" George siIer, who was
referee, threatened the principals that
If they did not fight he would declare
the bout mo contest" and give the
purse to the poor, that they should not
have a cent. The walking match con-
tinued Finally, in despair. Sller called
halt, and then the cause of the trouble
was soon made apparent. Joe Choynski
who was Costello's second. asked the
Indulgence Of the spectators. He the,