The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-01
THE GOTHAM SPORTS
HAVE PRIZE FIGHTS
ON The QUIET
Ingenious Methods Employed
by Promoters in Dissem-
mating Information to
Prospective Spectators
Blind Invitations Are Pop
ular.

NEW YORK, Feb. 28.-"Pugilism,
IKE truth, once crushed to earth is sure
to rise again" This is the way a sage
sport put it the other night, and he
probably had Greater New York In
mind when he made the remark. AL
though the game was abolished in this
state almost three years ago, prize
fights have been held and will undoubt-
eddy be held as long as there are box
ers to furnish them. Naturally most
of the tits have been ION the quiet"
but they are the real article, well pat
ronized and with enough gore and ex-
element to suit the most fastidious.
Attending fights in private nowadays
IN q vastly different proposition from
the old days. A little over a decade
ago, before Coney Island became the
Mecca for fistic bouts to finish in the
old iron pier building, it was worth
ones life to go to see such mill. In
the first place, most OF them were pull
ed off in the outskirts of the city. Long
Island was the popular stamping
ground and travelling to and fro was
not as easy as 1t IS at the present
time Despite this, whenever a big
"ring'' event was announced there was
usually a large out-pouring of sports
of high and low degree. They had
money to spend, plenty Of time and
thirst for blood and liquor that was re-
markable. They were willing to pay q
handsome sum and endure lot to wit
ness a good scrap. They had not been
spoiled by the fin de seicle athletic
club with padded post and floor, cleo
trio lights, etc. They were satisfied
with fight under any conditions and
did not mind the hardship and trouble
that were part and parcel Of the fun.
Instead of a we'll ventilated arena
with a number Of exits, they were glad
to congregate in barns, old stables,
dilapidated halls or broken-down shan
ties. 1t made no difference as to
whether there was a ring, etc. All they
cared to see was a good, slashing fight
with plenty Of blood, and they inVaria-
bly, got what they went for.
Dixon Fought in Cellar.
Billy Ernest, the "Bushwick Dutch
man." Jack Downey, George Dixon,
Frank Craig, the Harlem Coffee Cool
err" Eugene Hornbacker, Jack Demp-
sey, Jack McAuliffe and lot Of other
pugtlists who made q name in the ifs
tic world received their first expert
ences. Dixon fought in a cellar be-
fore he was known prominently, and
Dempsey won number Of fights amid
vaults and tombstoneS in Laurel Hill,
L. I.
Within the past few years, when the
bruiSers were. compelled to go back to
former days and fight in private, condi-
tons have changed materially. The
pugilists do not have to go to remote
places in order to settle their grieV-
ances. They have it out right in town.
There are plenty Of resorts where bouts
can be held and the proprietors of them
do not seem to be timid about taking
chances. But the promoters are care
full and all the negotiations are con-
Quoted in the utmost secrecy.
After the Tip" is circulated to a Sc
lect few at so much per person, the
prospective spectators are told to meet
at a certain place. Usually it is in a
saloon. From there you go to another
spot, probably ten or twelve blocks
away. Then two more stops are made
before you finally reach the battle
ground. When you arrive you are sub.
dected to the minutest cross eXamina-
ton, and if you fail to pass muster you
are not admitted. The admission fee
is less than in former years, the pre-
vailing price being 81 to So. This is
probably due to the fact that during
the Horton law days the sports wera
able to see rafting mills at a cheaper
sum. Many of these fights are we'll
conducted and are decided according
to schedule. Light attendance is no
barrier, as some of the principals
usually go on for the side bet alone,
which varies from 500 to as much as
$500. This money is, as q rule, fur
nlshed by the contestants hackers.
who are either saloOnkeepers or gam
blers. One well known proprietor of a
large saloon on Columbus avenue made
as much as $4,000 alone backing fight
ers in this manner. The man on whom
he Staked his cash was we'll rewarded,
and earned nearly $4,000 himself out
side Of his share of the gate receipts.
"Brins Your Own Ice"
Ingenious methods are employed by
promoters Of these fights in dissent
mating information to prospective spec
tators as to what to do and where to
go to witness the fray. For instance,
the appended is a sample of one of the
invitations received recently by bus
mess man who dotes on fights of this
nature:
Your kind Indulgence is requested
at meeting Of the - club, at which
installation Of officers will be the chief
early and bring your own ice"
Or another:
Mr. and Mrs. Flannery, of
request the pleasure of your presence
at the christening of their son, James
Jr. The happy event will be held at
o'clock p. m. Don't forget to at
tend"
Or:
ut is our sad mission to inform you
that our beloved friend and pal and
college chum, -, died yesterday,
and in order to pay our respects to his
memory we will wake him at his late
residence, -. If you ever cared
for or respected him in life, be on
hand. Yours truly, "
Naturally, to the uninitiated, these
invitations appear vague and common
place. But the regulars" realize at
once their Importance and make hasty
preparations to attend. Sometimes