ATHLETES IN ARMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 783, 20 April 1877, Page 4

ATHLETES IN ARMS.

At the Eastern Oval races at Ballarat a 100 yards race was to have been run between Sharp, a local man, and Selby, of the All-England Eleven. The Star says that daring the progress of the handicap it was. more than hinted that there would be no 100 yards spin ; but when the starting bell rang Sharp emerged in tights and screens, meeting Se'bv fully dressed at the reserve gate Selby then informed Sharp that he would not run, as the original agreement to run for LI 00 aside was off, and that he would not run for nothing. Sharft offered him 1,5 to run off for honor, and met with the same reply, the crowd, which very quickly gathered, cheering Sharp loudly. An uproar arose, the mob jeering one of Selby’s companions, who shouted back a challenge to Sharp’s backers to bring their “sugar,” as their (the Englishmen’s) man was not going to run for nothing. The shouts of false play and cheers continued for a time, but sank into silence when Selby mounted one of the uprights of the reserve fence. With a furious tirade of abuse against Sharp’s principal backer, MrE. Williams, Selby volunteered to expose “ a swindle.” The match, he said, was made at the first visit of the team to Ballarat, when he and Sharp had each deposited LlO. Then he had sent L4O to Mr Watson, solicitor, and telegraphed from New Zealand on three occasions to ask if Sharp’s money had been posted. The cost of these telegrams he had borne himself, and at Christchurch, receiving no reply to his telegrams, and fearing that “ something was up,” he sent Mr Watson, through the Union Bank, the second LSO, making up his LIOO. At last he received news that Sharp had forfeited his LlO, and found that Williams and Sharp had conspired to deceive him. Hearing from Ballarat people that Williams was not reliable, he had got a Mr Cooke—a sporting man—to arrange matters for him. Williams had offered him LlO and a third of the gate money taker} on the day of the races to run Sharp He had 1 een badly treated, for the original agreement, which was off, had been used to draw people to the Oval. The cost of his telegrams, and even of one from Mr Watson to himself, he had to pay ; and instead of getting back his own LI 00, with Sli.- r >’s LlO, he only received LIO9. He then, in the heat of passion, used several epithets towards Mr Williams and Sharp, and made a sections as to the private character of the former that we cannot print The speech was interrupted several times bv cheer’s from the crowd, and Selby concluded with a challenge to Sharp to run for LSOO a side within ton days, putting down L2OO. or he would run Sharp “ for 1.25, if he’d a mind.” When Selby had finished, Williams addressed the crowd from one of the seats in the reserve. The fickle crowd cheered him in much the same stylo as they had done Selby, and the “washing of dirty linen” seemed to be thoroughly enjoved. Mr Williams s«id that when the match was madd they bad thoroughly intended to go on with it. Several persons had offered to subscribe to make up LIOO for Sharp, and accordingly the preliminary deposit of LlO was made. When Selby beat Montgomery Sha>'p’s backers got frightened, and when Selby beat Ellis they refused to pay up their money unless Sharp consented to run to suit them. He would not consent to do this, and he was unable to risk LI 00 on Sharp’s chance. Mr Watson had approved of his conduct in the matter, and he had forfeited Sharp’s deposit. After some difficulty

he had got Selby to agree to run for part of the gate money, and Selby then asked how Sharp and he had to run. He told him straight, that Sharp would run to win ; that Sharp had run under his training for the last five years, and he had never yet won a penny on him, nor had Sharp run a cross. Selby had told him that “he was a fool who would never make money unless his man were run to lose.” He would give L 5 out of his own pocket if Selby would run Sharp, Mr Sweeney was here accused by Selby of being “in ” with Williams, and a row arose. Ultimately L 25 was col lected on the ground to back Sharp, but Selby refused to run at once. High words arose, and continued until the parties dispersed.