ATHLETES IN ARMS

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 874, 13 April 1877, Page 3

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 during 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 Selby fully dressed at the reserve gate. Selby then informed Sharp that he would not run, as the original agreement to run for £IOO a-side was off, and that he would not run for nothing. Sharp offered him £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 info silence when Selby mounted one of the upright of the reserve fence. VV ith a furious tirade of abuse against Sharp’s principal backer, Mr E. Williams, Selby volunteered to expose “a swindle.” The match, ho said, was made at the first: visit of the team to Ballarat, when he and Sharp had each deposited £lO. Then he had sent £4O 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, New Zealand, receiving no reply to his telegrams, and fearing that “something was up,’ he sent Mr Watson, through the Union Bank, the second £SO, making up his £IOO. At last ho received news that Sharp had forfeited his £lO, 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 £lO and a third of the gate money taken on the day of the races to run Sharp. He had been badly treated, for the original agreement, Ixllloll ivas ofl, 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 £IOO with Sharp’s £lO, he only received £lO9. Ho then in the hegt of passion used several epi - thets towards Mr Williams and Sharp, and made assertions as to the private character of the former that we cannot print. The speech was interrupted several times by cheers from the crowd, and Selby concluded with a challenge to Sharp to run for £SOO a side within ten days, putting down £2OO, or he would run Sharp lor £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 style as they had done Selby, and the “washing of dirty linen ” seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed. Mr Williams said that when the match was made they had thoroughly intended to go on with it. Several persons had offered to subscribe to make up the £IOO for Sharp, and accordingly the preliminary deposit of £lO was made. When Selby beat Montgomery, Sharp’s backers got frightened, and when Selby beat Ellis they refused to pay up their money unless Sharp consented to run to suit them. lie would not consent to this, and he was unable himself to risk £IOO on Sharp’s chance. Mr Watson had approved of his conduct in the matter, and he had forfeited Sharp deposit. After some difficulty he had got Selby to agree to run for part of the gate money, and Selby then asked him how Sharp and he wei’e to run. Ho told him straight that Sharp should 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 told him “ he was a fool, who would never make money unless his man were to run to lose.” He also told him that the Englishmen would win the next Melbourne cricket match, lie would give £5 out of his own pocket if Selby would only run Sharp. Mr Sweeney was here accused by Selby of being in with Williams, and a row arose. Ultimately £25 was collected on the ground to back Sharp, but Selby refused to run at once. High words arose, and continued until the partie dispersed.