Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-22
HOW RlORDAN DIED.
rrzslmmoNs WRITES ABOUT THE
DEATH or No Spanning PARTNER
I'm ssys he ssrssk Dst ose@ end Thea
Lightly with uis Len Hssd' and 10
Net Rsspesslbls for the HssuisA

A Boston special TO the New YORK
| world says: Bob Fitxsimmons 10 playing
| this week at the Lyceum Theatre, IN
this city. Tuesday he handed the follow.
ing communication to your correspondent
| I would like to explain to the public
through the columns Of the World the
circumstances connected with the death
Of my sparring partner. Con Riordan. al
Syracuse last week. Nobody can depiore
the unfortunate result more than i. But
30 many garbled accounts Of the anair
have been published. many OF which con-
denim me for using too much force, tnat
must, In justice to myself, correc'
some Of the misstatements.
In the first place. I did not strike MIN
with my "right-arm blow" which 10 said
10 be such q terrible blow. When the
time came for me to 90 on the stage that
night I noticed that Riordan had been
drinking, blt he seemed to be able 10
take care OF himself. Captain Giori intro-
duced us, and we shook hands and went
TO work. / hustled him across the stage,
feinting with one hand and then the other,
but not touching him. He made pass
at me. and jumped back. Then closed
with him again. and touched him lightly
with my left. The glove rested partly on
his Jaw and partly on his chest. II was
very light blow, indeed. He reached LOT
me with his right and left, which
avoided by jumping back. That was aiter
I had touched him. That Is positive PROOF
that Il was not my blow that knockeu
him out, for man does not feel much
like leading twice for me after nave
landed a knockout blow.
After he had led for me ] was first go
ing to close IN with him again. when 1
saw him scowl and press his hands 10
his chest. at the same time doubling over
as II In pain. He turned his head TOWARDS
Captain Glori. and said. call ume.
nut my hands down in disgust, for l knew
he was taking. Then he Strengthened up
again and was putting UP his hands, when
his legs began to wabbla. and he sat
down on the stage and then fell over
backward. He looked up at me ana
smiled. The spectators began to hiss ana
veil "Fakev' I was very much disgusted,
and picked him UP and carried him out
into the wings. ! thought he was fooling
all the time. for knew had not hit him
hard enough to hurt a flea. / sat him
upon a chair and went again upon the
stage and had round with Dunfee.
While / was sparrlng the property boy
began to take off Riordans gloves, but
he showed him away. saying: Don't take
them off. I've got to go on again. Any
way. I'm no more good for this business
While / was sparring my second round
with Dunfee Riordan fell of the chair
and began to frOth at the mouth He
died five hours later. He died from apo
plexy. Truly can say that was not In
the slightest degree responsible for his
death. touched him but once. and that
lightly, with the back OF my left hand. !
did not punch him at all. and surely did
not strike him with my right hand. l
tented with 1t once. intending to draw
him out and cross-counter. but did not
strike him.
That IL the true story Of what occurred
that night Since Riordan's death we have
learned that ne was drinking at the bar
ten minutes before he went on the stage.
Then he went to the theatre. and was
vomiting Just before we were called.
did not know that at the time. He COM
planned of pains In his heart that after
noon. and when he went on the stage his
face had blush tinge. II was either
heart-dsease or apoplexy that caused his
death. ROBERT FlTZSIMMONS.