The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-31
BEFORE THE FIGHT.
Gossip About the Pugilists, and How
the Betting FIuctuated.

NEW YORK, Aug. 3O-No matter where
one went in Greater New York to-day the
Corbett-McCoy fight seemed to be the only
thing talked about Early in the day a re-
Port was circulated that Corbett was suf-
fering from rheumatism. but James c. Ken
,edy. the manager of the Twentieth Cen
fury Club. as we'll as Corbett himself sent
out reassuring messages saying that Cor
bett was well and sound and had only COM
rlained of little stiffness when he arose
this morning at his training quarters at
Bath beach. The report of his indisposition
spread like wildfre Throughout the city. The
contradiction did not travel nearly so fast,
and for time the betting was influenced I'm
certain quarters.
Odds of 100 to so, and i'm some cases
100 to 10, with Corbett the favorite had
been obtainable at the several sporting
resorts, but when the rumor spread the
odds receded and even money was the rule
Corbett bettors soon regained confidence.
however, and when the Twentieth Century
Club opened the doors of Madison Square
Garden they were Offering 100 10 so on the
former hsayyw Ell C champion Within
the hackers OF Mccoy put on some good
bets at these odds.
McCoy's people were very well pleased
morning He looks every inch a perfect
specimen of trained athlete and his having
taken on weight during his training was
said to he greatly In his favor He said
he weighed 169 pounds when stripped. and
he certainly looked to be every pound of
IL. He said himself that he was fiji to fight
for his life and was confident of beating
Corbett.
Corbett came to the city i'm the afternoon
and said he had no doubt that he would
down the kid" He assured EVERYONE that
he was in tip-top condition. and his words
were the cause of his hackers increa sing,
the odds on him in order TO get the Nc
Coy money.
The s. and $40 seats were soon filed I'm
after the doors opened, but the reserved
seats and boxes did not fill up very rapidly.
This was because the choice seats had
all been purchased beforehand and ,ha
holders of the costly pasteboards were
in no hurry to get into their places.
where they would have to wait and
perspire for couple of hours before
the big event would be i'm order BY
3 o'clock there were fully 5000 people in
the house. Wall street was We'll repre-
sented and many members of the exclusive
clubs. who are not usually seen at a
two acknowledged masters of the art of
how TO hit. stop and get away. face each
other In the squared circle.
AS a preliminary to the heavyweight bout
Whitley Lester, of Philadelphia, and Jack
Gushing, of BROOKLYN. were put on for a
twelve-round go at catch weights. Lester
proved to be much too good for the Brook
lyn man and put IL all over him I'm the
opening round.
In the second Cushing went TO the floor
twice and was willing To quit. He went
down third time with very slight provo
cation and refused To get up. He quit In
the most miserable manner and Referee
Charley White declared Lester the winner.
The betting Just before the men entered
the ring was tn | on Corbett.
corbetts seconds were George f. Consi-
dine. Spider Kelly. Leo Pardello and Fred
Some. McCoys handlers were his brother,
Homer Selby. Harry Harris. Jack o Brien.
OF Philadelphia. and Bobby Burns Cor
Detts weight was not announced. but Mas
ter OF Ceremonies Joe Humphreys said Me-
Coy weighed l10 pounds. Dick Bernard held
the watch for torbett. and Col. Mike Pad
den was McCoy's tinnekeeper.
AT m:2 Mccoy entered the ring accom-