Evening star., 1902-01-16
FITZ WILLING TO FIGHT.
Ready to Meet JehRries, Winner to
Take All.

FITZ WILLING TO FIGHT.
Ready to Meet JefTries, Winner to
Take All.
Bob Fitzsimmons has at last come out
with a positive offer to fight Jim Jefrries.
Nettled by the champions latest talk,
which Fitzsimmons takes as an imputa-
ton on his honesty, Fitz. who is in New
York. yesterday issued a formal statement
offering to fight Jeffries winner to take all
the purse as proposed by the champion ten
days ago. Fitz makes the proviso that
there be side bet of $4,000. He asks
some sportsman to put up the money for
him, so that he can show Jeffries that
he is mistaken as to his honesty and fight
ing ability. 1870 .1E
1t now ought to be an easy matter to
bring Jeffries and 'Fftz together. Jeffries
announced in New York city last Sunday
and fight Fitz for the purse. He has since
repeated this in Phnadelphia. AS Fitz ap-
pears to have some difficulty in raising
$2OOO0 for a side bet 1t would seem that he
ought to be willing to- do like Jeffries and
waive the side bet altogether: That would
bring the whole matter down to the win
ner take all'' proposition. which jeff has
frequently said was his ultimatum in re-
gard to a fight with Fitz
''1n reply to Jeffres' statement that he
has used every honest means to induce
me to fight" said F'itz yesterday, II can
say that l have never~heard personally
from either Jeffries- or, his manager. 1
never asked JEFF for any inducements.
'If any sportsman will back me for s20.-
900 will fight him, winner to take all. All
1 will ask If / win is the purse. 1 didn't
intend to re-enter the ring, but if JEFF
thinks l am dishonest or a buffer / will
show him who Is quitter."
Western League Meeting Adiourns.
Tba 7 1xyno bav
been in session in Kansas City, adjourned
last night to meet at Denver on or about
February 10. They decided to make the
league season five months Ten per cent
of the gate receipts of each series of games
is to be placed in general fund with which
to defray league expenses and establish
sinking fund, and each club is to deposit
$500 as a guarantee to carry out its obli-
cations. The selection Of umpires and the
fixing of their salaries was referred to
President Whitfield with full power to act.
He received instructions to call the Denver
meeting when the seasons schedules shall
nave been arranged
Lawson Posts His FOrfeits.
Thomas w. Lawson Of Boston yesterday
sent to New York two checks Of 5000 each
to close the two races between his trotter
Boralma and E. Z. Smathers Lord Derby
and The Abbot, owned by ex-Fire Commits
sioner Scannell. This is the outcome or
Mr.: Lawson's original challenge to trot
Boralma against any horse in the world.
The arrangements for the two matches
now stand as follows: The Beralma-Lord
Derby race and the Boralma-The Abbot
race viii be trotted some time between
Jufy 10 and September 1, and will be for
$4,000 a side. The club offering the larg-
est stake will get the contests, and the two
matches will be decided in favor Of the
winner Of the best three out Of five heats
IN each case. Mr.. Lawson says In his let
ter accompanying the checks: "In regard
to this race, l do not want to split any
hairs Whatever is fair and right will suit
me- Or the remainder of the side stakes,
s9.0oo Is to be posted on the signing of ar
ticles. 5000 on July and the remaining
$o,Vo on the night before the race.
Cans May Box Erne.
There Is good chance of Joe" Cans
meeting Frank Erne again In the ring
Walter Schlichter Of Philadelphia, who
went to Buffalo to get Ernes consent to
match before the Penn Athletic Club of
Philadelphia, seems to have landed his
man.
He telegraphed last night to Maurice A.
Herford at Baltimore to sign Cans for Feb
ruary 10. adding. II shall send articles OF
agreement tomorrow"
cans mas been anxious to get this match
ever since he lost to Erne in New York the
night Cans was blinded by cut over the
eye.
The battle in Philadelphia will. OF course.
be for six rounds only according to law.
Following the Chevy Chase Hounds.
The beautiful weather yesterday brought
out many followers Of the hounds in the
meet of the Chevy Chase Club. The pack
was cast in the orchard adjoining the club
house shortly after 8 o'clock and started
on brisk pace along the bride path which
encircles the golf links. For a short while
those who had remained at the club house
could see the pack and it's followers for a
good distance until it was lost to sight In
the surrounding woods. After this short
gallop they came to some low hedges which
were easily taken by the more skillful rid
ers. They then started in an eastwardly
direction and traversed the Chevy Chase
Land Company. thence over the Dunlop
1arm. Ihe run was ended in the opening
at the Chevy Chase Inn.
The next meeting VIII be held at the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Montgomery Blair on the 7th
street road, Saturday afternoon at
o'cloc'..