The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-17

Jack Dempsey's Gsmeness-Bob Fitx-
simmons' Kong, Hard Arms.
New York sun


Jack Dempsey's Gsmeness-Bob Fitx-
stmmons' 4ong, Hard Arms.
New York Sun.
There were many very dramatic incl
dents and scenes at the fight. The prin-
cipal one, to the writer's mind, was when
Dempsey lay on his back gasping for
breath, after being knocked down by his
powerful opponent, his face, which was
covered with blood, looking vacantly at the
electric lights which streamed down upon
him. Zone, two, three counted the
tlmekeeper, and the sound of the voice
-Four" and Jack rolled over on his
stomach. Five. six" and Dempsey got
upon his knees while his friends held
their breath. "Seven, eight" and the van.
pushed but thoroughly game man stag
gered to his feet, and as ''nine, ten" was
counted in the same sonorous tones,
Dempsey, although he had scarcely suffi-
Gent strength to raise his hands and arms
to level with his waist, faced Fitzsim-
mons for continuance of hostilities.
Time and again was this scene enacted,
and old ring-goers who had seen the great
est battles of the day gave vent to their
applause in the most liberal fashion, de-
claring that in all their experience they
had never witnessed such gameness as
this. But the time came when Jack was
beyond the voice of friend and foe alike,
and he could not hear Tuthill's entreating,
"Get up, Jack. Come on, old fellow"
Fitzsimmons excited everybody's admit
ration by his gentlemanly conduct while
in the ring. He was all courtesy, and treated
Dempsey with the utmost consideration.
he hat so vUa IA
refrained from furnishing Dempsey un-
necessarily until compelled by force of
circumstances to put bis opponent to
sleep. Then he did the job effectively, as
though the task was q disagreeable one
that he would fain finish with all expedi-
ton. While there was chance to get Demp-
sey to give up without being knocked
Gus opponent to stop, saying: Come
now, Jack, you're weak, while I'm strong
and able to fight on. don't want to pun
ish you any. more" Dempsey's reply was
characteristic of the man. He had prob
ably faint glimmer of hope. the feeling
that there was remote chance of landing
a stray blow such as the Marine got home
on him some ,ponths before, when victory
was within IA. Jacks very grasp and he
punch you 1 would" Then as Fitzsim-
mons would avoid his wavering onslaughts
he remarked more than once: You're
clever, Fitz; you're mighty clever"
Fitzsimmons' confidence in his ability to
win his battle was overwhelming. When
he did his work on the shell road two days
before the fight he besought the reporter
OF the Sun who accompanied him on his
fourteen-mile jaunt to bet on him. His
chief argument was that no man of Demp-
sey's height or reach would have the re-
hottest chance of defeating him. and he
urged that he was as clever as Jack, and
could in addition hit much harder. Every
thing he said on that occasion was fully
borne out by the fight, and the victor
must be regarded as nothing short Of q
phenomenon.
Readers of the San are no doubt familiar
with Fitzsimmons' physical build by this
time, but there is one feature of his make
up that will bear emphasis This is his
wonderful arms. They are of unusual
length. longer than Sullivan's, or even
Peter Jackson's, whose length of reach is
remarkable, and they are of almost the
same size from shoulder to wrist. As hard
as bars Of steel, having been developed
by years of constant labor at the
forge, they were a formidable bull
wark against Dempsey's blows, and
that gallant fighter, who had heard
the shouts of victorious hackers on more
than twenty occasions, soon realized that
ne was powerless to beat down such a
guard. Dempsey's arms after the fight
were bruised and bleeding, and the Nom
pareil said the day following the hattie
tnst they panied him more than any other