The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-11-21
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING
BATTLES IN THE ATHLETIC
WORLD.
THE Wind OF BOTH MEN EXCELLENT
The Fight Fiercely Waged From Start
to Finish and Fitzgibbons Was
Knocked Completely Out in
the Twenty-second Round.

|
| friendly rounds with his manager, Ora
dy. After that he partook of light
breakfast and then spent an hour read
ing the speeches of Burke and Sheridan.
When seen by reporter he said: II
never felt better in my life. l believe
could talk all night You may say to
my friends that this report about my
not being in condition is all rot. I've
gone through the dictionary twice, and
besides I've got some new words fur
nished to me by the professor at Harvard,
and if 1 don't make that Australian look
sick l miss my guess"
At this moment the trainer interfered,
saying that Gorbett should retain his
strength for the combat. The cham
piOn therefore excused himself and re-
turned to his quarters, where he did some
| light work with a book of synonyms.
In the meantime all was activity at
the Fitzgibbons quarters. The Austria
| lian's manager engaged the auctioneer
| of Covington, Ky, to have a trial bout
with his man the first thing this morn
ing. After six rounds the auctioneer
had to feel his way back to his corner.
This showing was most gratifying to
Manager Joolen, who declared that Fitz-
gibbons never turned hair during the
bout and came out with his wind as good
as ever.
During the afternoon both men rested,
and there was comparative quiet around
the training quarters, but at the hotels
and resorts the excitement ran high and
there was much betting, Gorbett being
a slight favorite. This was due to a
report that Fitzgibbons had seriously
strained a submaxillary muscle while
practicing on the word "pusilanimous."
Manager Joolen denied the report with
great Indignation.
"There is absolutely no foundation for
the story" said he. my man is ready
to make the talk of his life" 1t was
learned today that Fitzgibbons had been
taking points on invective from the boss
canvasman of a circus. This fact did
not apparently disturb Manager Grady,
who said that his man was prepared for
any emergency.
At an early hour this evening the crowd
began to pour into the amphitheater, and
by $3.50 the place was packed with eager
and expectant men. 1t was at about
this hour that Gorbett left his training
quarters and started to the scene of bat
tie. That he was in excellent condition
is shown by the fact that just before
leaving the house he blew 935 pounds on
the lung tester. 1t is claimed that Fitz-
gibbons has never succeeded in blowing
more than S75.
Gorbett was the first to enter the are
ma, and was received with loud cheer
ing. Fitzgibbons came in few mo-
ments later, attended by his seconds.
The muscles of his jaw stood out like
whipcords, and it could be seen at
glance that all rumors as to his lack of
condition had been false.
When the men had taken their corners
and the excitement had subsidized, Prof.
Homer Jackson, the referee, explained
the terms of the contest. Neither man
would be allowed to use any foreign or
obsolete words, but there would be no
restrictions as to grammar or prOnuncia-
ton. The men would return promptly
to their corners at the ring of the gong.
If either contestant ceased talking until
10 could be counted by the referee, the
adversary would be declared the, victor.
"Are you ready?" asked Professor
Jackson.
A hush fell on the vast assemblage.
The expert shorthand reporters lifted
their pencils.
The gong sounded.
Round 1.-The men began talking at
the same instant, Gorbett using $50 words
minute and Fitzgibbons surprising his
most ardent admirers by doing 1856. To-
ward the end of the round he called Cor
bett a ''pompadour stiff" but Gorbett
crOss-countered and called him "a nut
headed kangaroo" thereby seeming to
have the best of the argument when the
round ended.
Round Both men came briskly to the
mark, but Gorbett was on the offensive.
He called Fitz coward, hound and
freak" no less than AZ times, and each
time with new combination of adj
jectives. F'itz was worried, but he man
aged to retaliate with cries of "fakir!
fakir! and also called his opponent
"dude." Both men were slightly winded
at the end of the round.
Round 3-Fitzgibbons began this time,
leading off with scurrilous denunciation
Of Gorbett's record. Gorbett kept his
head, and on three different occasions
branded Fitz as ''cheap guy" and told
him he had been chased out of Austria
liza.
Rounds 4 to 2O-Both men showed re-
markable versatility and endurance and
although the talking was incessant and
each man delivered strong epithets, there
was hardly perceptible advantage until
the 18th round, when Gorbett, changing
his tactics suddenly, assailed Fitzgibbons
with long words, calling him hydro
cephalous mOnstrosity, nebulOus icthyo-
saurus and downtrodden idiosyncrasy."
Fitzgibbons was taken by surprise and
seemed unable to reply. The referee
counted six aud then the Australian re-
covered sufficiently to say 'ratsv thus
saving himself. In the next two rounds
he talked gamely, but 1t was evident that
he had not entirely recovered from the
'iethyosaurus.o
Round 21-Fitzgibbons assumed the of
fensiye, calling Gorbett "a swell-headed
sissy" but the latter proved his wonder
full condition by .resuming at the rate of
100 words minute. designating the Aus
tralian as "lunk-head, chump, sucker,
bloke, gazaboo, tramp. bum, beggar and
wind bag" Fitzgibbons stood him off
with great difficulty, and when he re-
turned to his corner he was tired and
puzzled.
Round 22-Gorbett was quick to grasp
his advantage. He followed the Austria
lian around the ring. denouncing him as
a "long-iegged, pin-headed, knock-kneed.
double jointed, lantern-jawed, freak of
nature" Then as a climax he thun-
dered: you're nothing but an incom-
prehensible mass of imbecility, hon. |
ogeDeous cOnglomeration of maniacal &C.
centricities." With a low moan Fitz-
gibbons fell TO his knees and then rolled |!
over on his back. His lips moved, but |
no sound came forth.
Zone = two = three = four = five six |
counted the |
referee and the battle was ended. The |
defeated man was carried to his corner |
and fha roforoo eaid. ct doolara Mr.