Sporting Gossip

Charley Mitchell admitted at the Hoffman House last evening that before Jack Dempsey's propositions to him were announced in The Evening World's Sporting Extra he had told a friend that he intended to meet Dempsey in the Spring and settle their differences. When he read Dempsey's statement he said to the writer of this column: "That is the most sensible offer Mr. Dempsey has made to me. I am pleased with it, and although I do not wish to commit myself now, I will say that Mr. Dempsey has struck the right track at last. There would be money for us both in such an arrangement as he proposes, and I repeat that I like it. It would give both Eastern and Western people an opportunity to judge of our merits, and not confine our exhibition to one place." Charley was entertaining a number of his friends royally in the Hoffman café, but he himself indulged in nothing but milk, apollinaris water and cigars.

Jack McAuliffe may intend to retire from the ring after next March, but he certainly will have his hands full until that time. He spars with old Sam Collyer Monday night at Palace Hall, Brooklyn, and then goes into training for his go with Jack Hyams, which takes place Dec. 26 at the same place. Hyams is working hard on the grounds of the Pastime Athletic Club to get in readiness for the event. After it is over McAuliffe will start immediately for St. Louis with Billy Madden, and there train for his battle with Wily Myers, the Illinois Cyclone, for the championship of America.

One of old Sam Collyer's hardest battles in his varied career was the one he fought with Billy Edwards Aug. 24, 1868, over twenty years ago, for the championship. It occurred on the Potomac River, about thirteen miles from Baltimore, and was as desperate as could be wished for. In the forty-seventh round, when both men were unrecognizable from blood and blows, Billy hit Collyer the cut that made him champion and knocked out Sam. The crowd that were carried on a boat to the fighting place brandished pistols and knives, and once they were used on very slight provocation and several men were severely injured, while many were hurt. Those were stirring times in the prize-ring.

Negotiations for a match between Dave O'Leary and Johnny Griffin, of Boston, to a finish, are now in progress and will probably be completed by the end of next week.

People in this vicinity will probably soon have an opportunity to judge for themselves of John L. Sullivan's condition and appearance in the ring after his illness. Sullivan has telegraphed Prof. Mike Donovan that he is willing to act as Master of Ceremonies at Mike's tournament in Palace Hall, Brooklyn, Dec. 28, and he says he will wind up the entertainment with about [...] with the Professor.