Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-26
TAKES DEFEAT GRACEFULLY
Mitchell Admits That Oorbett is Bis
Superior.
What Was Said After the Jacksonville
Ffght-Arrest of Both Fighters
Talk Of a Foul,

The announcement of Pugilist Corbett'S
victory over Mitchell at Jacksonville yes-
terday was announced in a Star extra a
few minutes after news reached here.
shortly after 3;3O o'clock. A second extra
edition soon followed giving details of the
night up to the time Mitchell was knocked
out and carried from the ring.
The spectators were nearly as crazy with
excitement as the men on the platform.
and no one left the arena until after
Mitchelrs seconds had lifted him DID and
carried him to his corner. The lightning
like work of Corbett in the round had been
too rapid for most Of the spectators TO fcl-
low and understand. They saw Mitchell
knocked down three times in rapid success
sion, saw him stretched out senseless ard
bleeding, but how it was done was a ques-
ton which was asked by hundreds of men
who had been staring at the deed they ask
ed to have explained
The fight lasted nine minutes
Those whose experience at the ringside
enabled them to keep their senses and
closely watch the only contestant i'm the
ring who could act saw that Corbett lad
struck Mitchell that last awful blow to
not alone knock him out. but TO punish
him also. There was the hatred Of years
concentrated in that blow. and a rage that
could not be controlled by Corbett Kim
self. which urged him to strike mis- antag-
onist while he was struggling in the arms
of his seconds.
The particular friends of Corbett lid not
heed the barb-wire fence, but jumped over.
under and through it, regardless If rents
and scratches, to embrace and congrotu-
late the champion.
But the pompadour hero was brief in his
acknowledgment Of compliments, and soon
threw his bath robe over his shoulders,
Jumped from the platform and fought his
way out of the barn. He ran for his Dress
ing room. followed by a bowling mob of
whites and blacks. and in a few minutes
was dressed and driving into town.
Mitchelrs bruised and bleeding face was
washed and MADE as presentable as possi-
BILE. and he, too, half an hour after the
battle was on his way to his temporary
quarters in the Everett House.
The two men met in the court room.
Mitchell sending a friend to Corbett to ask
him IL he would not shake hands.
Corbett graciously compiled with The re-
quest, and the two pugilists exchanged the
stereotyped compliments about each other
being the best man the other ever met.
Corbetts wife Is at the ST. James. giving
naive interviews with the correspondents
all of whom she assures that Jim can lick
anybody in the world. Jim himself las
been pleased to say that he intended TO
let Mitchell night for five or six rounds. but
could not resist the temptation to knock
him out in the third.
Referee Kelly is mad as a halter, and
with good cause. at assertions that Corbett
fouled Mitchell.
Corbett would have done so sure enough
IL he had been allowed, but he was not.
thanks at times to the big referees quick
and powerful interference.
What They Said After the Fight.
Corbett after the fight looked just he
did before he entered the ring, except tbat
a nervous and rather anxious expression
was replaced by smile of serene sstisfac-
ton. He said: Il really did expect The
fight to last six or seven rounds, and went
into the contest willing that ii should. But
1 guess the fighting instinct got the better
of me, for i could not hold back my right.
Mitchell is a game man. No coward W Iuld
have come0ba back for his punishment as he
did. l EXPECT to return TO New York with
my party tomorrow, and have 4 special
train forSthat purpose"
Mitchell was seen at the Everett House.
He had laid aside his chatting spirit. 1t
may have received a severe shock in the
ring. Anyway, he said seriously: Il met a
man who is my superior i'm weight ana
height, and / now freely acknowledge that
he is also my superior in science. He
stopped me in three rounds. Does not that
tell the story"
When asked the question of fouls. Mitchell
Indignantly said that no friend of his would
make that kind of talk.
Al Smith said: ''Corbett could have gone
to a dozen barns and licked a dozen Mitch
ellis before he came home to 6inner."
Referee Kelly said he had done with refer
eeing fights. He declined to discuss the
question of fouls further than to say that
Mitchell was never struck when he had one
to know what was doue disputes the fair
ness Of Kelly's work i'm the ring
Bat Masterson did not conceal his chagrin
and disappointment He Is said to have lost
a pretty stin sum. but acknowledges that
Mitchell was really licked in the second
round. He said: THE first knockdown told
the story. Mitchell could not land on Cor
bett effectively: He slapped him in the
mouth once and landed on his ribs, but his
blows always found Corbett shifting away,
and did no damage
Referring to the talk of a foul Corbett
said II did not strike Mitchell a foul blow
ing this collapse of his In the second round
But had i seen fit to have done so. the
blow would not have been A foul one for
Mitchelrs knees were not upon the floor
and he was not. therefore. knocked down.
as fighting men understood it. He had been
knocked down, but was up of his knees
If not both of them, at least one. But
understand that Mitchell is perfectly salts
fed, SO 1 do not see why any question
should be raised about the circumstances
now. But as far as that goes Mitchell had
aiIedoy me py IohoNlnS me into my
corner and hitting me on my neck after the
gong had sounded at the end of the first
round. So that If there was any fouling at
ali, ne did it."
Editor Harding of the Police Gazette said !.
"Corbett proved he is a wonderful fighter
with gloves, AMI he outclassei Mitchell lust
like Bob F'itzimmons outclassed Jack Demp-
sey. Corbett has gradually improved since
he defeated John L. Sullivan and Mitchell
has grown stale and lacks the stamina and
hitting power which he demonstrated when
he fought Sullivan. Corbett is the greatest
pugilist that America has ever had during
the past three decades, barring none of the
many champions. The only pugilist who
would stand an outside chance of winning
with Corbett would be Bob Fitzimmons. and
his chances would only be a little better
than Mitchelrs."
At the Everett Hotel Billy Thompson de-
MED the story that Mitchell had offered his
hand to Corbett when they met in the ring
and that Corbett had refused it. 1T Is
customary. of course" said Thompson. for
the two contestants to shake hands. but i'm
this instance neither m IN made any move
ment In that direction. I wish to deny TIE
report that Mitchell had applied a vile epi-
tibet to Corbett few seconds before the al
legged foul No word was spoken by either
man and Corbetts exhibition of a vicious
temper was not the result of the insult from
Mitchell
ed that Mitchell had declared since the fight
that Corbett is the most finished fighter in
the world today. And as for myself"
added Thompson. st never IN all nv lif,
saw such a superb fight as Corbett nut nm
today. If he takes care of himself the cham
pionship will stay with him for many. many
years