Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-27
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
WINS TIE TITLE IN
TWENTY-FIVE SECONDS.
Flight Took place in an Almost Inaccessible
Spot-Naher Was Not In Good Condi-
tion and Was no Match for Titz-A
Challenge From Corbett.

from the Langtry depot. Even 10 ms
friends 1t was evident that the Irish lad
was not in it from the start. Before the
round had progressed 30 seconds Maher
attempted q foul and was warned by the
referee.
Fitzsimmons' coup was in the form of
yne of his famous upper hooks, with which
he knocked out Hall and broke the nose
of Jack Stelzener, his trainer. Maher made
a gallant effort to get upon his feet when
time was called, but after getting half
way to a recumbent position, he fell back
and still had his head on the floor when
time was called and the decision was
awarded to the Cornish man.
When the train of sports arrived here
from I'll Paso at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon
there was no evidence that anything un-
usual was about to take place. Parties
of excursionists from Eagle Pass and
other points had been belated and only
some so residents of the country about
Langtry had gathered at the depot. One
company of the Texas rangers guarded the
depot while the remainder went down TO
the bottoms on the Texas side, but not
the slightest effort was made to interfere
with the sports in any of their movements.
When the word to move had been given
the visitors speedily found that although
they had been on the road for over l6 hours
and iourneyed 400 miles, the hardest part
of the trip was yet to come. Following
guides in struggling procession they went
across the prairie for distance OF oOO
yards ana then commences Precipl,ous
descent oil a seldom-useu wagon rodu 'Ii1'
runs in circuitous way down the Rio
Grandc. over rocks and boulders, now
slipping on their backs. now clutching at
bramole 10 save themselves from d IAN
ana broken ankle anu now Stuppiiis
their toes against huge coppiestoheS, ., III
cavities OF the rocks Vhe sports toilcu III
double and single file until the bank of the
there "A
tramp OF ooo yards more through Sanu anu
mud ankle deep to the point Where Il 90
foot pontoon bridge hau Deeh stretcheu
across the river which swollen by recent
rains had been changed from a SLUGGISH
stream to "A roaring torrent. once across,
the sports were on the bottom of the Mex
lean side and the canvass enclosure about
the ring was to be seen in the distance
Five minutes more brought the perspiring
and sore-footed pedestrians to the en-
trance stiles, where Bat Masterson and
Joe Vendig examined the tickets and pass
ed the holders within
Az rDr,r cpor
"
more ideal spot for such an event could
hardly have been selected.To the west,
slipping down to the enclosure was
,,ou,Is"l,, NV 1 ,vo. ~ ISL.
the river on the Texas side was its coun-
terpart, and fringed along its summit,
commanding a full view of the ring. were
some 300 men and women. who looked like
pigeons to those below. Between the two
mountains and within a stones throw of
the ring the river rushed with a duh roar.
Heavily laden clouds overhead and occa-
sional drops of rain completed the picture
The circus canvass with which the bat
tie ground was enclosed was 200 feet in
circumference and 16 feet in height The
ring was composed of white pine covered
~ ,i,tt Oh bod aln 90
four feet In one corner We're two dimnu-
tive tents for the convenience of the prin-
cipals in making their final preparation.
Fitzsimmons and Maher with their at
PENDANTS in the front rank of the process
sion, walked down but few yards apart,
fboth reaching the enclosure In 'profuse
state of perspiration. They were taken to
their tents and rubbed down.
At o'clock when Referee Sier an
nounced that all was ready 1872 people were
at the ring side, the remainder of tho
visiting party with the local contingent
having decided that view from the
Texas hills was preferable to the expendi
ture of 500 for ticket. In response &c
Silers call, Julian asked Tor 10 minutes
delay. Quinn consented and 1t was readily
granted
,r1Ir, ANIMALS Howl
At S:13 Fitzsimmons, enveloped in nan
mel bath robe, emerged from ms quarters
and bounded up the steps of the ring. H'
selected as MS corner the point 10 th'
west with his back TO the Mexican noun
tain. Maher appeared minute later aht
took his chair IN the opposite corner, rae
Ing the Mexican side ana his back TO th'
spectators on the Texas NIL. Manner hat
In his corner jim Han, Buck connolly
Peter Lowrey Jack quinn ana Petei
Byrnes while Parson Dawes acted az
ms ume-keeper, f1tzsimnons haa PENN.
him Martin Julian. Jack EVerhart' Jacf
Steizener ana JACK Mccoy whiie Bur
Sheed or New orleans acted as 'ihe keep
er. The gloves We're produced from inc
boxes ana ntted on Inc men We're apou
TO strip their overcoats when Julian call
ed George Sller to the centre OF the rims
and the two conversed quietly ior couple
OF minutes Then Sller asked
rs Mr.. ORourke hereE
u am responded the Bostonian.
"Have you the purse money! Siler de-
manded.
~ 10 mere, salu " i'ouIhe, do ne pro
$3.50 '' , wa.tIs orr 49, - s"o -
- Ill So 80, 49, 80. ~
."N,, '..er VIZ ,,S'd ~, .,,,,
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s,Ioh Gu. % o,ponr,,o Ia 10
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u,u' NC - o.. -" =, -
hrina too 900 u,t,h mo mt s,,eb d,a'sin9rs ~
.h TT ~ hra, 49, ,t'o ,,,' o.
has been questioned. ! tel you that tn,