The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-04
tBy Harry B. SMITH

What will come OF the Battling Mel
ss-l-Packcy Mcfarland controversy
and what will happen to their fight
that has been scheduled for July 9Th
III San Francisco, Is an open question.
Just how the discussion started is
more or less OF a mystery, but now
that the two lightweights have allow
ed themselves to become entangled I'm
newspaper war OF words there Is no
telling where they will stop.
The trouble seems to have arisen
over the fear OF Harry Gilmore and
Mcfarland that Nelson did not really
propose to stand by his match, The
Dane compelled Packey to post a S.
600 forfeit before he would even CON
sent to discuss terms When the
match was made it was with the un-
derstandlng that the $4,000 put up by
Mcfarland was to be transferred at
once to the San Francisco stakchold-
or, Jack Welsh, and that Nelson was
to osput up like amount.
The Battler, who is land Door as
the story goes. was slow in coming
forward with the necessary cash. and
the first thing he or any one else
know was that Gilmore made a COM
plant. He said that he would give
Nelson until certain date to post his
forfeit or the match wonld be called
of Nelson retorted in kind declaring
that the match was of and that he
didn't care TO have anything more to
do With the Chicagoan save at 133
pounds ringside, Two days later the
Dane modified that statement. but in
sisted that he wished to postpone the
match until September 9Th.
And now Harry Gilmore has replied
that In case Nelson prefers a fight
on September 9th it can easily be ar
ranged. In the meantime, Coffroth
has been endeavorIng TO stralehten
out the affair. He has partially sue
ceeded. but has evidently decided to
await Nelson's arrival on May Sth be-
lore making any announcements.
l can see no reason why, II Mel
son Is willing to meet Mcfarland that
he should prefer the one date as
against the other. Perhaps he wants
10 punish the stockyards lightweight
1or his presumption in questioning the
forfeit money, If that is so. he will
likely be brought to reason as soon as
ne arrives In San Francisco.
The whole thing seems to be a tenn
pest In teapot. Mcfarland, who Ger,
tainly has much reason TO hope for
tnis chance at Nelson, was trlfle has
Iy In his statements, but Manager Har-
Ty Gilmore has not been noted for
thinking before he acts, In any event
there are other fighters who can be
secured to fill their places, In case Mel
son or Mcfarland remain obstinate.
The heavyweight situation seems to
nave faded away to a mere nothing.
A week ago and there was consider
able OF Juror. Today YOU scarcely
hear the subject mentioned on the
streets The answer to this is doubt
less that the heavyweIghts who have
been matched or who are talking OF
matches Will listen to nothing short of
next October. That Is too far off for
the average fight fan to burden his
mind with the details, and In conse-
quence he talks about other matches
that are more In the limelight.
Jenries will have to do something
TO stir up matters in theatrical way.
The dog days are coming for the fight
ers who are in vaudeville and Jeffries
VIII need far more than a mere prom
ise that he may fight Jack Johnson to
pack the houses IN which he is ap-
pearing
johnson is evidently determined to
make the trip to Europe and Will
leave the first of this month for his
tour According to reports, he has
been promised good money for his ap-