THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9387, 10 April 1896, Page 2

THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

The American mail to hand this week brings full details of the contest between Bob Fitzsimmons and Peter Maher for the heavyweight championship of the world, $10,000 aside, and a purse of $10,000. It was originally arranged that the fight should take plROe on February 14th, but on the evening on February 13th, a notice was posted up at El Paso, Tex. reading thus :—" Owing to a temporary affection of Peter Maher's eyes, the contest will have to be postponed a few days." This caused bitter disappointment to tho assembled sports, and especially to those who pinned their faith on the Celt, but a postponement was agreed to after Julian and Fitzsimmons had examined the eyes of the Irish lad, who arrived in the city from Las Cruces early in the evening. Hia eyes were tightly closed, and he wore a green shade over thorn. Over the green shade was a travelling cap with the visor pulled down close uoon the nose to preveut the light from striking his eyes. He was compelled to allow Connelly and Hall to guide him to the carriage, as he was unable to • opan his eyes. The carriage was ] i quickly driven to a little brick building on an alloy just off the Piaza. The newspaper representatives were sent for by Connelly, and Maher's eyes were inspected. They were swollen alrao3t shut with fluid from the corners. A raising of the lids showed that the eyeballs wera greatly inflamed. Maher has been training in an old adobe Ting at Las Cruces. The dust was so thick when he was going through bis training that visitors complained of it, and warned Maher against continning Work in an atmosphere of dust. On Sunday February Sth/ona of his eyes began to pain him. On tho Tuesday both eyes were affected, and the condition of the fighter kept getting worse until ho could not see. Maher's trouble is not uncommon to that region. The alkali duat creates an irritation that results in blindness and great pain, but it usually passes away in a week of ten days. An army surgeon who examined Maher's eyes said he thought they would be well in a week. A conference of the supporters of ths men was held, and the Fitzsimmons party agreed to wait until Monday February 17th. A further conference was held on the Monday when it was announced that Maher was skill unable to fight, and after a long and heated discussion, it was decided to bring the contest off on the following Friday.

On the evening of February 20th, the sports who had remained in El. Paso, and desired to witness the contest, were informed that by paying twelve dollars and taking a train that left over the Southern Pacific Railroad at a certain hour during the late evening they wodW be sure to see the fight; that was all the information vouchsafed to inquirers by Manager Stuart, the location of the field of battle being kept a profound secret. Along with the excursionists went a division of the Texan Rangers, from each of whom the regular tariff was demanded. It was well understood that there would be no interference by them, providing the men did not attempt to fight on the soil of the Lone Star State. The train started from El Paso at 10.05 p.m. and arrived at Langtry, Tex., at 3.30 pro., Central time, on February 21, where

the order,- "All out," was given, and the train was quickly emptied. After leaving Sanderson there had been indications of a rainstorm, and it became certain that the kinetcscope could not be operated during the fight. * The management, in consequence, proposed to postpone the meeting till next morning. but after due consideration, it being found that there was decided opposition to such delay, owing to the danger of interference thereby incurred, it was finally decided not to procrastinate. Upon the arrival of the train at Langtry one company of the Hangers was stationed to guard the depot, while the remainder of the command went down to the bottom of the Rio Grande, on the Texas side, but no attempt was made to interfere with the sports. Following guides in procession, the crowd now began a tedious, tiresome tramp of about five hundred yards across the prairie, the descent of a precipitous waggon road down to the river, and then travelled through d»ep sand, mired with mud, to the point where a pontoon bridge had been constructed across the swollen and swift-running river. After reaching the Mexican side a short walk brought the party to where the canvas enclosure, within which was erected the ring, had been put up. The canvas enclosure was about 200 ft in circumference and 16ft in height. The ring was made of white pine, covered with white duck, and was elevated about four feet. The small tents provided accommodations for the pugilists whilemaking their toilets. Less than two hundred persons were gathered about the ring, the others of the visitors, together with the local sightseers occupying positions of vantage on the heights on the Texas side, which afforded a good view of tbe ring. Malier and ~ Fitzsimmons. together with their seconds soon appeared in the ring and went to their corners. The former's weight was given as 12st 51b and Fitzsimmons as list 81b. Fitzsimmons's expression of countenance as he sat in his corner, eyeing his opponent, . was much more indicative of confidence than was that of Maher, who betrayed symptoms of nervousness. At 4.25 the referee called the : men to the centre of the ring, gave them the customary instructions and warnings, and for the first time the spectators were afforded an opportunity to judge of the condition of and contrast the appearance of the championship aspirant*. Fitzsimmons never appeared in better condition, if, indeed, he was ever in so good fit in "any of his previous engagements since his arrival in America. Maher, on the contrary, was not trained down as he should have been to face such a lithe, wiry, quick, hard hitting an opponent as the lanky lad from the land of the bush. THE FIGHT. Round 1 and last.—Fitzsimmons led with, his left, aud Maher backed toward his corner. Fitzsimmons landed with his right, and a clinch followed. Maher struck Fitzsimmons with his right hand while they were clinched, and the referee warned him that if he did so again he would give the fight to Fitzsimmons. After a breakaway Peter landed his left on Fitzsimmons' neck. Close in fighting followed, and Maher succeeded in landing his left on Fitz's upper lip, drawing blood. Fit? landed the left on Maher's head and followed it with a right. A clinch followed, Maher feinted, and Fitzsimmons led with his right, but fell short. A mix up followed, in which Maher landed both right and left on either side of Fitz's head. Maher again led with his left, and another clinch followed. Fitzsimmons seemed a bit bothered, and broke ground on Maher's leads. Maher followed him up, and led with his left, when Fitz side stepped, and swinging his right, landed full on the point of Maher's left chin. Maher measured his length on the floor, his head striking the canva3 with great force. He vainly attempted to rise, but could not do more than raise his head. His seconds called on him to get up, but he failed to respond, and sank back to the canvas. The fatal tenth second was counted, Maher was declared out, and Fitzsimmons announced the victor, after one minute and thirty-five seconds of lively fighting. Fitzsimmons's admirers cheered him to the echo, and Maher's seconds carried the defeated Irishman to his corner. It was several minutes before he realized what had happened to him, and Fitzsimmons walked over to his corner and shook him by the hand. Fitzsimmons also shook bauds with Quinn and the seconds in Pater's corner. Barring the slight bleeding at the nostrils, occasioned by the left hand jab of Maher's, the Australian showed no marks of injury and appeared as fresh as at the opening of hostilities. Maher showed no signs of punishment except a alight break in the skin, just above the left side of his chin, where Fitzsimmons's master stroke had landed.

Immediately after the fight., Mr Rector, on behalf of the kinetoscope people, offered Fitzsimmons and Maher a purse of $5,000 to be battled for next day. Fitzsimmons declared that he would agree to put Maher out in six rounds, but insisted on selecting his own time and place. Ho declared that under no circumstances would he fight befdre a kinetoscope unless for a purse $10,000 and fifty per cent, of the profits. He based his position on the fact that the kinetoscope people had persistently ignored him, and now he was in a position to dictate to them.