Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
Fitzsimmons' Sparring Partner Sue
cumbs to His Injuries.
NEVER RECLAIMED CONSCIOUSNESS
Bob Insists That He Struck Only
a Light Blow.
OVER COME AT THE AFFAIR

SYRACUSE, NJ Y, November 17.-"Con" +"
Riordan, Bob Fitzsimmons' sparring part
ner who was injured last night in a spar
ring contest with Bob Fitzsimmons died at
the Candee House at $3.50 this morning.
At 2:15 Riordan was still In an uncon-
scious condition. A consultation of physi-
clans was called at o'clock, and they de-
clared that unless the man returned to
consciousness in a short time there could
be slight hope Of his recovery. DR.. d. M.
Totman. the physician who attended Don
ovan, the pugilist who was killed in Sight
with Dunfee, the same man who floored
Fitzsimmons here was one Of the council,
and he expressed the opinion that the man
would die.
Fitzsimmons was arrested and taken to
police headquarters at 2 o'clock. He SEEM
ed in low spirits at the outcome of the &C.
cident, and implored the officers that he be
not required to go to the bedside of he
dying man. When explaining the fight to
the police, he said that Riordan was only
taking his evening nap" and that he
thought that he would come out all right.
He said that Riordan had been drinking a
good deal during the day, as he had been
for a long time
The company were about to discharge
him, as he was not lively enough when he
came upon the stage with Fitzsimmons,
and he could not make the bouts interest
ing for the audience.
Il did not hit him hard" said he. II
only tapped him like that" striking an
officer lightly on the cheek, when he fell
to his knees. He said, Call time /
thought that I had hurt him, and sup
posed he only wanted to escape punish
ment.
1--WE had only been at it a few minutes
when l made a pass at him. l hit him on
the right cheek with the back of my right
hand"
At about 8 o'clock Riordan was in the
same state of Inconsistencies which he
had been in all evening when the laborlous
breathing and nervous twitching of the
muscles Of his face and body warned the
physicians that his death was approaching
At 3:15 o'clock his breathing had almost
entirely stopped. and at $50 DR.. D. NJ.
Tolman pronounced him lifeless.
AT his bedside at the time of his death
were three physicians and about twenty
members of the local sporting fraternity.
Fitzsimmons, when informed of his death,
was much affected and burst into sobs.
The coroner was notified of his death at
3:45. Fitsimmons has been locked up
awaiting the action of the coroner
What FitSsimmOn's Says About 1t.
The fatality which occurred in Jacobs
Theater, in this city, last evening, and
which resulted in the death of Con" Rior
dan. five hours after receiving blow from
Bob Fitzsimmons in a sparring exhibition,
is the second sparring fatality in this city
within two years.
"Yank' Sullivan brought the news Of his
sparring partners death to Fitzsimmons.
MY God! You don't mean to tell me
Connie is dead" said the pugilist. Il can
not believe 1t. l did not hit him hard
enough to injure a child"
Fitzsimmons was completely broken up
over the occurrence. He did not sleep at
all last night and refused to eat anything
this morning.
You can have anything in the world
o-lr FA,,s
said the officer in charge Of the police sta
ton.
That's the way they all treat me; you're
very kind" was Bob's reply.
To a reporter, titZsimmons said: do you
suppose l would strike my sparring partner
with any force? 1 knew he had been drink
ing hard, but did not know he was In such
condition. Invariably when I spared
with him he turned blue around the mouth
and 1t was sign for me to let up. never
struck him hard. Last night / noticed
after the first exchange of blows that he
was not right. The blow that I delivered
that caused the trouble was as light as 1
could make 1t, merely slapping him with
the back Of my hand. He fell down. and
then rose and staggered round. l put my
arm around him to assist him off the stage
when he fell headlong 1 thought he was
taking, and was thoroughly disgusted
because somebody in the house. thinking
1t was a fake, hissed me. l was never
Kissed before. 1 began to comprehend q
few minutes later that something was
wrong with my sparring partner, and
was horritied to find him still unconscious
/ attributed this to his drunken condition
and thought he would revive from the
stupor In a few minutes.
II have known this man for eight years
and he was always hard drinker. Being
In poor condition. l presume he had some
heart difficulty that brought on the dis
aster.
Not in Any Fear.
IT am not fearful of my position Every
BODY in the opera house was aware that the
blows which l struck Riordan were light
az I could possibly make them. Naturally
II makes my blood run cold when 1 think
of the condition of my friend; not because
I have any fear Of the results to me- but
do not want that mans death laid at my
door,"
Capt. Glori, Fitzsimmons manager, said:
"RiCrdan had been drinking heavily for
months I advised him several days ago
to stop drinking and go to work and train.
He promised me he would. ana yesterday
started out and walked ten miles, causing
swelling of the feet. He was accustomed
to fortify himself with whisky before his
performance each evening, and last night
he probably took an extra large amount,
as he felt more than usually out Of sorts.
am convinced that had we known more
of Copny's condition we would never have
let him go or the stage"
Joe" Dunfee who boxed with Fitzsm-
mons last night after the mishap to Rior-
dan is the man who knocked out Dan
Donovan, at Maple Bay. near this city,
about eighteen months ago. Donovan died
under similar circumstances as did Rior-
dan last night P. Jay Donohue, who died
In New York yesterday, was the referee in
the Dunfee-Donovan fight.
Capt. Glori has engaged Corporation
Counsel Charles B. Ide of this city as
counsel for FitZsimmons.
Charged With Manslaughter.
Fitzsimmons was arraigned in the police
court at IL o'clock, or the charge Of man
slaughter in the first degree.
When Fitzsimmons appeared before
Judge Northrup for bail II was discovered
that his attorney had failed to waive ex-
animation in his behalf. This formality
was necessary before he could be released,
and he was locked in the court house cells
until the police justice could be found
An autopsy was held on Riordan's body
at IL am. The certificate Issued gives as
the cause ,of death, "hemorrhage within
the cranial cavity. causing compression
of the BRAIN"
Riordan was found to be in perfect
health. DR.. D. NJ. Tolman, who conducted
the autopsy, says that Riordan must have
been struck a terrific blow on the chin.
which communicated direct with the base
Of the brain. The depression on the right
side OF the brain was very deep and re-