The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-22

Iangtry. feNaS, EeD. Il.--1ebef
Maher was knocked out by Bob Fitz-
simmons to-day in the first round after
one minute and thirty-five seconds of
actual fighting. Fitzsimmons played
the same game he has SO often played
| before, leading on his opponent
until he had him where he wanted
him and then landed lightning right
hand swing on the jaw and it was all
over. 1t was the identical blow that
| knocked out Jim Hall III New Orleans.
For the first part of the round
Maher had the better of it. He led of
ten and forced the fighting. In his
eagerness to get at Fitzsimmons he
committed palpable foul during a
clinch and was warned, by Referee
Siler that its repetition would cost
him the fight.
Maher fought well, but he was no
match for his red-headed opponent,
who proved himself to-day one Of the
craftiest men that ever stepped into
the ring Fitzsimmons is now, by
Corbett's action in presenting the
championship to Maher, the champion
OF the world and after the fight was
over he declared, through Julian, his
willingness 10 defend the champion
ship against any and all corners.
SCENE OF THE BATTLE.
The train arrived at about $3.50, Cen
tral time, and over rocky road, wind
ing about the precipitons cliffs along
the Rio Grande, the crowd wended its
way To the sandy beach of the river.
Forty-two Mexicans had carried the
ring material down to the river bank
last night, after working hard all day
upon the roadway down from the
bluff a. narrow wooden foot bridge
had been put up across the swiftly
flowing stream. The battle-ground
was sandy fat upon a big bend IN
the Rio Grande river on the Mexican
side. 1t was just two miles from the
village of Langtry. In the center Of
q canvas wall, about 200 feet in dia-
meter, the ring was pitched. The
| board floor was covered with canvas
over which rosin was sprinkled At
one side was the frame compartment
for the taking by the kinetoscope of
1 the pictures Of the fight as 1t pro-
ceeded. On the opposite side Of the
| ring were two battle tents for the
! principals.
About 325 spectators witnessed the
fight, which was held in an ideal spot.
It is all but inaccessible from the
| Mexican side and cannot be reached
except by coming up or down the
stream for long distance. Once the
banks were reached the troops could
i fire from the cliffs upon those who
might be beneath. Two hundred
Mexican troops were at Eagle Pass
ready to move upon advice from the
Governor Of Coahuila, in which State
| the fight took place, but it would have
taken them two days force marched
to reach the spot of the fight.
| The general opinion among the
sporting men who witnessed the fight
| was that it was a most brilliant and
unqualified victory for Fitzsimmons
| Maher may not have been in as good
condition as the Australian but hi
could not have been out-fought Sc
quickly no matter what his condition
had been had he not been badly out
classed in point of skill. The genera
feeling was that Fitzsimmons is fully
capable of giving Corbett or any othel
| man on earth adeseperatel7 hard fighta
any time No weights were announced
at the ring-side, but Fitzsimmon'
weighed about 165 and Maher aboui
| $50.
The crowd disappeared from Langtay
almost as quickly as it had come ant
it was in the neighborhood not ovel
two and half hours all told. Ths
west-bound regular train for FL Past
was held until o'clock and when i
went it carried with it the pugilists
and spectators and the great fight was
over and done.
BOTH IN FINE CONDITION..
Both men slept well and were in fine
condition to-day for the match. Mahel
showed some evidences Of the trouble
with his eyes, two blisters, one on
either temple. bore evidence Of his salf
, fering Stuart notified them both III
the road to be ready to get into ths
ring promptly on the arrival of thu
train, SO that when the brakes were
put on at Langtry at 3:35 they, witt
their trainers, got off very promptly
and in less than a half hour were cross
, ing the river.
III took some little time arrange
| details, and it was not until nearly