ARENA, Goldfield, September 3.

That part of Goldfield which  slept last evening awoke early this morning to the brightest and most perfect September day that can be imagined.. At 9 o'clock nearly every resident of the mining town was on the main streets to greet the throng of visitors that had arrived on the trains during the night. That busy artery of traffic; was soon congested, and at 9 o'clock, when the bands began to play, the various holiday sports started up and the crowd was fairly awake, the scene was one to thrill the most sluggish blood of strangers and “Old Timers” alike.

Every able bodied man in the state that could escape his business is in Goldfield today. Fully 3,000 from the east and west are also here.

At the restaurants and places of refreshment It is: impossible to get served without waiting in line. The crowd is of the most cosmopolitan character, Men of note in the world of literature, art, finance, mining, sport, and the other great fields of activity are rubbing elbows and struggling for places of vantage with the rough-looking miners and the most peculiar gathering of human flotsam and jetsam that ever added color to the lively scenes of a mining camp.

Goldfield is literally overrun. It is delirious with excitement . Judging By the large sales of tickets this morning the attendance at the fight will be in excess of 10,000. Nearly every sporting man In town believes that the fight will be fair, and it is generally believed that it will prove one of the greatest and most spectacular fights ever held in the world regardless of class.

The betting is strong with so much Gans money in sight that the odds are going to 10 to 6 on the colored fellow, and shortly before noon the deadlock that has practically existed in the betting for two or three days.

owing to both sides holding out for prices, was broken. 'Money began to change hands rapidly, and In most cases bets were made at odds of 10 to 8, with the negro favorite. The San Francisco delegation that arrived early this morning on special trains has a preponderance of Gans money to wager, and' It looks as If they will be accommodated by the short-enders.

The sports of the morning started off  with a rock drilling contest on the main street in front of the banks and the Montezuma club. At the word of the timekeeper two husky Miners, bare of arms and chest, leaped onto the platform.  One with a huge sledge hammer, the other with a drill.  With ponderous blows and unerring aim the man with the hammer drove in the  drill for five minutes, while the other held it straight with stoical indifference to the possibility of a false blow. Then they changed places, and the drill man swung  the hammer. At 'the end of fifteen minutes time was called and the men, perspiring freely from their efforts, desisted.

The hole was measured and found to be exactly  38 ½  Inches in depth. A second brace of miners Jumped on the platform and tried to beat the performance. They failed, as did a third and a fourth, and when after a fifth set of men had only made 34 Inches the referee handed $500 in gold to the winner. There was loud and prolonged applause that strained fully 5000 husky throats.

Immediately it became necessary for 'half that number to "licker up," and a rush set in for the Northern, the Monte Carlo, the Palace, the Texas and a half dozen other popular places of refreshment that can only be compared to the first great rush to the Klondike.

Thus it was that the festivities of the day, the greatest day this little town of the desert has ever known, started off.  Most of the crowd started to see the events which followed, the various races between contestants of both sexes, the burro race with Its laughable complications, and the greatest enthusiasm-provoking event of the whole morning, the race between the two Goldfield hose companies. But a large number, and among them many of the well-known sporting men, climbed into rigs and automobiles—any sort of conveyance they could obtain to save themselves a walk along the white, hot, duty roads of alkali and set off to see the fighters.

The training quarters of both men were thronged from 10 o’clock on to lunch time. The confidence of the fighters wrought their respective Admirers up to a fine frenzy of excitement, and their was continual running to and fro of  courtiers and betting commissioners. Wine flowed in the proverbial way and when under it’s influence men began to grow bold and brave, there was much talk of what would happen in the event of a “fake”. There was the usual amount of speculation during the morning of possibilities in this direction. Breathlessly it was passed from mouth to mouth that Gans had been offered $30,000 to “lay down”. Only the added statement that Gans had steadfastly refused all bribes allayed the feeling that flared up like a prairie fire in a gale of wind. The action of Larry Sullivan in severing his managerial connection with Gans at the last minute caused endless discussion and several suspicious ones were inclined to believe that there was “something behind it”.
     
ARENA, Goldfleld, September 3. 1-20 pm

Both nelson and Gans weighed in a second time at 1;30 o’clock. Neither one of them joggled the beam. They both wore the garb they will use in the contest. President Rickard has just announced that the actual size of the purse is $33,500 to be divided in the following manner; Nelson to get $22,500 and Gans $11,000.nelson would not agree to fight until this amount was assured him. This agreement has been kept secret until the present time as Rickard did not wish to interject any more angles than already had been “sprung”.

Among those around the ring are Nat Goodwin, the actor; Senator Nixon of Nevada; ChasClark of Montana; Jimmy Britt, Willus Britt, Harry Corbett Jimmy Coftroth, Eddie Hanlon, Frankie Neil, Tim McGrath, Jack. Grant and his brother  Peter;  Jack Welch, Eddie Graney, Col.Martin Brady and many other prominent men in banking and  social  circles In San Francisco.

Betting  is being freely indulged in at the ringside at odds of 10 to 7, with the negro favorite.

There will be a ten-round preliminary between Bob Lundie of San Francisco, and Jack Clifford of Montana for a $1000 purse. The men will fight at. 133 pounds ringside. The preliminary started at 2 p. m., Pacific time. The main event will be pulled off promptly at 3 o'clock.

GOLDFIELD,  Nev., Sept. 3, 2:55 p.

The timekeeper selected by the club failed to respond and another man, had to be selected. Nelson's manager protested against any California man to act.

Bert Ulmer of Goldfield was finally chosen to act. The deputy sheriffs, of whom there are about a score, lent a picturesque western  tinge to the scene. They stood around In slouch hats, unbuttoned vests corduroy trousers. Occasionally the breeze lifted a vest and showed the able-bodied 45-callbre
protruding from a holster.

Message From Gans' Mother.

Gans' timekeeper is Jack Welch of San Francisco and Charlie Dixon of the same place is acting for Battling Nelson. The betting is now 100 to 60 on Gans with no takers.

The following telegrams were read : by Announcer Larry Sullivan. Gans received this from his mother:

"Joe, the eyes of the world are on you. Everybody says you ought to win. Peter Jackson will tell me the
news and you bring back the bacon."

Sullivan Sends Regrets.

Another from John L. Sullivan reads as follows: :

'Regret that I cannot see fight. It ought to be a corker. Regards to all my friends at the ringside."

Another from Sullivan said:

Please announce that I will match Neary with the winner for $10,000 a side bet, the men to fight in Goldfield.

The Manhattan Athletic Club wired from Manhattan, Nevada, offering a $15,000 purse for a fight between, Jimmy Britt and Jack Clifford. The club will pay  the training expenses of the men.

Gans Makes Address.

Gans' seconds are Frank McDonald, Bob Turner, Kid Sims and Eddie-Hanlon. Nelson is looked after by Billy Nolan, John.ny Reid, Jim Griffin, Young' Kid McCoy and Tim McGrath.

2:54 p. m.—Battling Nelson entered the ring first. He was closely followed by Joe Gans. Both entered the ring clad in heavy bath robes. The Gans people object to Ulmer as official time keeper on the ground of inexperience.

Gans addressed the newspaper men, saying that he wanted them to understand that he did not want any of his men to enter the ring or throw up the sponge for him. The only thing that would go would be if Siler asked him If he had enough or was counted out.  He did not want to take chances on a foul by any of the men in his corner , or anyone else. Gans won the toss for corners. He  selected the southwest corner, by which  the sun will be at his back.  Gans wore short blue trousers and  shoes. He wore no socks. Nelson, was  clad in light green trousers entwined with white, red and blue ribbons.

Men Within Weight.

Both men weighed in at 3 o'clock, and came within the requirements. Sullivan announced that the men, weighed 132 1-4 pounds each. Nolan contradicted this, saying the weight was not made public.

Gans had $2000 in bills in his hands that he will bet Nelson at any odds the latter chooses.

Nolan Still Kicking

As usual Nolan was there with more objections. He claimed Gans should have weighed in with bandages. Gans then said “ I don’t want any tape anyway” the crowd cheered. Nelsons arms were bound with white tape.

Spectators warned.

Announcer Sullivan addressed the audience saying;

“Ladies and gentlemen, this battle will be for the lightweight championship  of the world. There are
about 300 deputy sheriffs in town to preserve order and be on the lookout for trouble. I warn you all against
jumping into the ring during or after the fight.

Teddy's Son at Ringside.

"The club has sent a telegram to President Roosevelt, but has received no reply, although the Presidents son is now at the ringside." The announcement that young Roosevelt was at the ringside was received with cheers and someone yelled out "show yourself and turn your face toward the moving pictures."

Sullivan then introduced President Tex Rickard of the club to the crowd and told in a humorous manner how the great lightweight battle had been finally brought to Goldfield and reviewed the club presidents career. He asked for three cheers for Rickard and the audience gave them in a vigorous manner.

It is now announced that Jack Welsh of San Francisco- will be the official timekeeper. Jimmy Britt was dragged into the ring and presented to the spectators. Britt said he wanted another  chance at the winner.

Eddie Hanlon and Eddie Graney were then introduced in order. Graney shook hands with Gans and Nelson and wished them both luck.

Frankie Neil, the bantamweight fighter was next introduced. George Siler the referee was then presented.


Nelson asked Sullivan to announce that he shared Gans views in respect to throwing up the sponge and other matters as per Gans' announcement when he entered the ring and stated that the same thing would apply to him.

 Both men were cheered. The cheering was pretty evenly divided. The ring was cleared and Nelson and Guns posed for the moving pictures .

Sullivan announced that the fight would be to a finish for the lightweight championship of the world.

At 3:22 p. m. Siler called the men to the center of the ring to give them their Instructions.

Nolan Refuses to Bet

Nolan would not take Gans'  bet of $2000. Gans offered Nolan $2000 to $1200.?
Time called at 3:25 p. m