The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29

slightest feeling as far as the champion
is concerned. Corbett, as well as John l.
Sullivan, Peter Jackson. Joe Choynskt
Jim Hall, Bob Fitzsimmons and other
champions have all at one time or another
been treated by me in a medical way and
] have made a thorough study Of them
all.
It is only necessary here TO consider
the mental and physical attributes Of
two OF these renowned gladiators and 1
will confine myself TO them. This twain
are James ]. Corbett. heavyweight cham
pion of the world. and Robert Fitzsim-
mons, challenger Of Corbett and middle
weight champion OF the world
When 1 say believe Corbett to be
coward I do not take into any cOnsidera-
ton whatever the unmanly assault he
made on FitzsimmOns when backed up
by number of adherents in Philadelphia
a few days ago or his timorous conduct
when dared to an impromptu battle by
Charles Mitchell at Miners theater two
years ago. These. with other incidents OF
a similar nature, which have come to
my knowledge, merely form links in the
chain of argument which go to prove
the theory / have enumerated.
1 have made a study of Corbett, the
man; put him through a physical and
mental diagnosis. so TO speak, and through
this means and this alone have arrived
TO the conclusion given above. Corbett
came to me for treatment few months
before his contest with John l.. Sullivan.
am violating no confidence when ! say
that among other things he was possessed
OF an abnormally high strung nervous
system which discovered to be the
source Of his greatest power and al the
same time weakness. This nervous en-
ergy gave him a wonderful qulckness
OF hand and eye and nimbleness of foot,
yet Il detracted from his physical strength.
AS crisis Of any kind would approach
Corbett would become so nervous that
he actually seemed on the verge of pros
tration. he reminded me for ali the world
OF that Herculean oarsman, Charles II.
Courtney of Ithaca, n. Y, late trainer or
the Cornell College crew. Courtney, who
was at one time inVincible, il VIII be
remembered, would be overcome with
nervous prostrauon as the hour approach
ed for a contest with a fOeman worthy
of his steel This was notably the case
in his races with Hanlan at Chautauqua
lake and at washington. With an app
Versary whom he knew positively he could
defeat he would not experience these pros
trations. So with Corbetu When he was
going up against Joe Brady, the Port
Costa giant, Dave Campbell and clumsy
chaps like them Corbett would never be
nnduly nervous, but the moment he faced
al opponent whose courage ana skill he
had reason TO respect he would be overs
whelmed with extreme nervousness. Hx-
cessive nervousness causes cowardice,
and COrbett Is certain aniicted with this
disagreeabie malady.
l am told on the best authority that
Corbett became so nervous ana fright
eneu as the train bearing him and his
party approached the scene OF the pros
pective battle between Sullivan and him
self that he was overcome with diarrhoea
ana fell away in his trained condition
from n mt
YOU, when he knew that Sullivan was a
physical wreck and in no shape to do bat
tie. The formidable name of Sullivan
alone terrified him. At the opening OF the
battle he was painfully nervous and had
TO be braced up by mysterious "tonics"
II was only after he discovered that Sui
Ivan was slow as cart horse and could
not possibly hit him that he picked up
courage and went at his man. This was
after the third round. lie was very brave
then and hammered the half-dead old lion
numerically, the same as he did that
other dissipated, broken down old man,
Charles Mitchell Of England
l will mention three well authenticated
instances OF Corbett's cowardice and in
two of them can bring abundant testi-
mony to prove the truth of what i say.
When Corbett fought Joe Choynski in Cal
ifornia he wanted TO quit" in the worst
way in the 2lst round, saying that his
hands panied him so that he could 90 no
further. He was even about to pun his
gloves sofr when his trainer and second,
Billey Delaney, who is still with him.
said: My God, Jim, don't quit now; see
you've got him all but finished few
more punches will do the trick; 1t was
true Game joe was nearly gone and
Corbett saw ii. Corbett stayed and Choyn-
ski was knocked out in six rounds more.
But for Billy Delaney he would not have
won that battle ana would never have
subsequently had the chance to meet two
old physical wrecks like Sullivan and
Mitchell and become champion of the
world. Arthur T. Lumley, editor of the
Illustrated News. who is in close touch
with the principals of the affair. could If
he would tell of some spicy incidents of
the affair.
one thing Lumley does tell which he
saw with his own eyes. When Peter Ma
her the Irish champion, whipped Jim
Daily, Corbetts sparring partner, at Phil
adelphla, few years ago, the twain
had some hot words. Friends separated
them and efforts to make match fol-
lowed. Corbett, however, wanted no part
of the IrIshman. He was too young and
strong for the man who favors old men.
Corbett, however, spoke bitterly and
disSparagingly of Maher behind his back
The lrtshman threatened to whip him
on sight. one day, while Corbett and
Lumley were chatting in the latter
office, they espied Peter Maher and his
manager, Billy Madden, across the street
and making Tor Lumley's office. Imme-
diately a cold sweat broke out over Cor
bett, and, despite Lumley efforts to
restrain him, he rushed preciptately
down toward the back entrance to the
sanctum so as to avoid meeting Maher
coming up the front steps.
Pretty nearly every sportsman viii re-
call the last incident 1 will relate, the
meeting between Charley Mitchell and
Corbett at Miners theater, on the Bow
cry, a few weeks prior to his battle with
Sullivan. Corbett had, as Mitchell
thought, beat Paddy Slavin and HIM
self out of a weeks engagement at that
theater by clever management Mitch
ell dropped in at the theater one night,
accompanied by Slayin, and meeting
Corbett in the barroom promptly called
him down for his '.ungentlemanly" con-
duct. Mitchell and Slavin were alone,
while Corbett had an army OF adherents.
Mitchell used language towards Corbeti
which even a cripple would resent, but
Corbett, pale with fright and trembling,
in every limb had not the manhood To
fell the Englishman then and there. He
had every encouragement, too, for he
was in the house of his friends, and 'Bie
Fiorrie" sullivan, the ward detective, a
cousin of Senator Timothy Dry Dollar
Sullivan, urged the Californian to go al
tho Britain, and that he would look after
slaVin. IN an officer, said Florrie
and If the police pop in III arrest Mitch
ell for disturbing the public peace and
You won't be bothered
Il was all in vain, however, Corbett had
not courage enough left to whip a sick
woman He beat an ignominious retreat
He was gentleman and would not
fight A month later, however, he forgot
his gentilty so far as 10 threaten 10
punch Dominick McCamery, a sickly
in