The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-01
Widespread Interest in the Battle
of the Kangaroos, Set tor
March s.
Two Men More Equally Matched
Never Entered the Ring to
Battle.
They Will Contest for the Most frincely
Purse Ever Hung Up for Suoh
Contest.

have given attention TO matters puRllls'lo
during the last decade. and, who have fol-
lowed with interest the vicissitudes OF the
scores of men prominent in hstic circles. 1t
ia doubtful if any match. with probably one
execution, since the days of Heenau and
Savers has created 30 widespread concern
as has been occasioned by the fight which
ia 20 take place on March 8 between the
two Australians, Jim Halt and Bob Fitz-
simmons, in this city before the Crescent
CITY Athletic club. Aside from the fact
that She men are as evenly matched "a ever
mortals we're in skill and other perquisites
essential to fistio success, the match has
been one which has been looked forward to
with al unusual degree OF interest by the
patrons of the manly art. Another item
which adds to this feeling is the amount Of
the purse for which the men are to contest.
Forty thousand dollars. a fortune in itself,
il the sum offered by the club. and OF this
sum S., 500 will go to the loser OF the battle.
leaving a margin sufficient TO allow the
winner considerable spending money and
car fare. The purse is the largest bona
fde purse ever put up by any club. and this
fact alone, il unsupported by the merit OF
tho men, would make the match one calcu-
lated to arouse no little excitement.
The purse money and the big side bets
will. with the heavy betting which is sure
TO be INDUCED in by those with a desire to
back their respective favorites. make the
fight one of the most important events in a
financial way that has ever been contested,
and the sums which will change hands on
the event may DO put down in advance AZ q
p~rincely fortune.
Since the day when Bob Fitzsimmons
landed in this country a %penniless immi-
grant who. for want OF funds. worked his
way to San Francisco from his native soil,
the land Of the kangaroo, the American
pablo has been interested in his doings in
the ring. His easy victory over MCCARTHY
on the Pacific slope. his moro easy defeat OF
Upham in this city and the record which be
had made for himself on his native heath,
attracted the attention of the sporting
world and the famous match witt Jach
Dempsey followed in no long time.
The history of the defeat OF the
Nonpareil is too fresh in the public
mind to require q repetition Of the phases
Of the contest. Fitzsimmons' victory
stamped him as a wonderful fighter. Demp,
sey had all along been noted for his quick
moss anu 0uIItlUooS, Dus ZIG OIoVoA4aoSo ~
Fitzsimmons SO far exoelled his ability in
this respect that the contrast was strongly
marked. Fltzsimmons next fought Peter
Maher, the heavyweight who was he'aldee
as the champion of Ireland but who only
indiferently we'll represented his country
with remarkable strength, stiffness, clev
erness at long and short range, and tina
more essential requisite GOODNESS in tn
ring. He is as quick as a cat in his every
movement and his p~iston-like jabs will
both right and left have III no small degree
tended to give him that eminent position
which he has 80 long held.
Jim Hall, the equally tall and strong op.
ponent of the champion, ia n foeman wor-
thy of the prowess which Fitzsimmons has
proven himself to be possessed of. As
boxer he is F~itzsimmons' equal, and in thu
skillful use of his feet, his ability to Re
away at the proper moment, and qulcknesl
to take advantage of the slightest opening
Jim Hall is credited with being able to ex.
eel the present holder of the title of cham
pionship at the middle-weiRht limit. Hit
remarkable victory over Ted PIitchard. tn,
conqueror of Jem Smith, who was for year,
the lido of the English puRilistic world
won for him renown which Fltzsimmons
gained by his victories.over Dempsey apC
Maher. Hall whipped Eitzsimmons on one
occasion, but it is a matter of history tina
the fight was p~rearranged, and therefore
can not be Justly taken as a criterion o.
what the men can do when they con-
test on the square, which will be dom
at their approaching meetings if they
hope for any of the purse money. The men
are enemies-not deadly enemies, however
as some people might have the public be
lieve, but nevertheless they are enemies
Fitzsimmons has been stung to the quicl
by the widespread publication of the fac
that he gave in to Hall in years gone by
He is proud of the reputation which he ha
won in this country ana fully realizes tina
he must whip Hall before the stain whicl
rests upon his escutehson Is removed. Hail
on the other hand, is jealous of the honor
which his countryman has won. Fitzsim
mons stands in his way to fnme and tn
possibility of possessing a fortune, and
is safe 10 say that he will exert himself t
the utmost to make Fltzsimmons stan
aside from his path end leave clear his wa
TO pugilistic glory.