The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-19
JUST ONE MORE FIGHT
CHAMPION CoRBETT THUS MEAS
UREs HIS PUGILIsTIo DESIRES.
Prize Fighter Fftzsimmons VIII Have
Until May 1 to Put Up or
Shut Up.


but I'm in love with the theatrical business
and expect to stick to it,
The speaker was James J. Corbett. pu-
gilist and actor The champions friends
sometimes call. him Gentleman Jim," a
title which he wears graciously enough
There is nothing dainty about Corbett
From the crown of his head TO the soles
of his big feet he is muscle and bone and
distinctly American all over. He does not
affect the English or the swell, but dresses
with fastidious taste and abhors cigarette.
Last night the champion came out of his
dressing room wrapped in blanket from
head to foot. Mrs Corbett was inside
perusing magazine and waiting for the
curtain to fab on the last act. The big
fellow seated himself upon trunk. crossed
his legs and asked for match. He held
long black cigar between his fingers and
nervously chewed the end of it,
I'D rather talk here he said, after a
critical survey of the stage, where his peo-
pie We're going with the drama, Gen
tleman Jack" when I go to the hotel
join Mrs Corbett at once and don't like to
talk be bothered. / am thoroughly do
nestle in my tastes and enjoy my chambers
as well as any man." Corbett spoke with
the air of man suspected of extreme Bo-
hemianism. He chatted about himself for
the expressive vernacular common to the
day. Corbett is never slangy, but is very
careful of his English. He is also char
table fellow, and dismissed his late enemy,
John l.. Sullivan, with kindly compli-
ment.
II suppose you want me to talk about
Fitzsimmons,' he continued, lodging an
immense wood scene that came shooting
back from the stage. We'll, the matter
stands just like this: Fltzsimmons will
have one more chance to fight, and that
SpDtGmDpr.
stands that he must put up the balance
Of his forfeit by the LIST Of May If he
don't, I'm not going to bother with him
any further. Peter Jackson is over in Lon
Claims cH l that Mans the le National sorting club
will arrange the fight, and it can take place
there. Now, I'm little fearful about go
ing over to England to fight I know well
enough, and does Jackson, that an
Americans won't stand much of a show
there, but rather tnan miss this one fight
there. Jackson led me a merry chase all
over America for several months. He
it didn't look as If he wanted TO-
couldn't get him to arrange a fight in the
South; and, of course there is no chance
it. The only Northern club that offered
anything wasn't able to arrange the affair
because jackson contended that l was in
terested in the club. | wasn't, but he
couldn't be convinced that | had no con-
land and wants me to come there. don't
want to go, but III say this, and want il
to go on record. If Fitzsimmons don't put
up his $1,000 by the 1st of May l will get
aboard a boat and 60 to London. III find
Pete jackson there, and III fight him in
else. / am tired Of all this foolishness. I
want to have just one more fight and that
body, either Fitzsimnnons Jackson or some
one else, then I'm ready to retire
do you think Fitzsimmons is acting in
f,ff Hrrl1f
''rm not doing any talking about Fitz-
c sp though s f don't believe che he's very
anxious to meet me. / heard something
to-day that puzzles me considerably. I got
my N.Y. bac s and i'd has 5000 of my money. /
heard to-day that Mr.. Dwyer declared he
would stand good for the money that |
looking for Fitzsimnlons to put up. | have
always considered Dwyer my friend, as
way. L can't understand just why he has
made this declaration, unless he wants to
Fitzsimmons to get out of it. Doubtless
he is acting out Of friendship for me-
At this juncture Corbett was called to his
dressing room to don his clothes, for, the
next act. Before retiring he introduced his
sparring partner, McVey, who was gor-
geously and wonderfully ,arrayed in the
caliber. Mr.. McVey enjoys some distinc-
ton wrestler. He saw Corbett whip
mirer of Gentleman jim" When Corbett
next appeared he came from the stage with
a genteel young woman on his arm. He
was doing the society swell in dress suit
that fitted his fine proportions. Afterward
he said:
doing well in it and expect to keep 1T up.
1 am interested with Mr.. Brady, my man
doing DONG Well Next TT year siIsv we have new piece
called THE Naval Cadet which is going
to Sa catch en- the hat pe1pe e OF wiz nase had ae my
last fight, and expect to continue to wear
the championship honors."
But suppose you get whipped your next
fight then now about the honors?'
ssOh, WELL if I get licked will wear the
honors Just as gracefuiy OF fn e4uEa na h ann
: The champion talked freely about sullivan
fellow 1--WE got a great deal of sympathy
for Sullivan" he said. He's the worst
enemy he has hate to see any man u throw tn Nv
pitied certainly Corbett was asked about
the coming pugilists of America but
IF / We're asked he continued. ION
whose shoulders my mantle will fall. I
wouldn't be able to say Iner and are o lotS
know who is going to be the man, OF
them ALL That's matter that will have to
be decided later
corbett,s wife travels with him all the
time. They have no children: Mrs. Corbett
is tall, gracefully formed 6londe. VINO
but usually remains in her husbands dress
ing room during the progress OF the play;
Corbett. was raised in California and until
a few years ago was bank clerk in San
Francisco II don't think | would ike to
go back to that kind of work again, ne
said although I liked the business once.
Poring over the books full of figures at
salary of fifteen week is too slow for
me- I left it because had too much
muscle and strength. I wasn't built for
that character of work. Corbetts mother
was born in ireland and two years ago he
visited the isle of her birth With his COM
pany he visited the large cities or IA ireland.
In commenting upon the trip ne sa1a :,,,;. -
az certainly got an ovation in Dublin IL
any man ever did The people went, wild
almost and the whole populace turned out.
NV wife and I started down the street
i'm a carriage one day. when our trip ended
abruptly. Men and boys gathered around
in thousands and taking the horses from
the carriage hauled us through the streets,
part of the time they picked up the car
along In England and France the enthus-
iasm was almost equal to that of the Irish