The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-25
CORBETT Is WILLING.
Anxious to Do Anything to Get {
Chance mt Fitxsimmons.

Anxious to Do Anything to Get n
Chance mt Fitxsimmons.
CLEVELAND, Feb. 24.--James ]. Cor
bett was shown the dispatch from London,
stating that the Bolingbroke Club, Of that
city, would give a purse of $1,000 and $500
each expenses for a match between HIM
self and Fitzsimmons. Corbett read the
dispatch carefully and then said: II will
accept the proposition. You may state
that If the Bolingbroke Club will forward
the articles of agreement / will sign them
without delay. AS to the bluff made by
that second-rater. Slavin. who has been de-
feated about fifty times, more or less, i
shall pay no attention to him. as do not
deem his idle talk worthy of any notice.
In fact, 1 will listen to no proposition from
now on except one that will result in a
fight between Fitzsimmons and myself.
He Is the man the people want me to meet.
and he is the only man 1 am after. 1 will
deposit as much money as the Bolingbroke
Club desires to guarantee my sincerity in
this matter and shall anxiously await
some further word from the officers of that
organization"
Corbett added Mark what 1 say, that
man Fitzsimmons will never meet me- He
is simply bIuffing for the sake of the little
advertising he expects to get out of it,"
In reference to the cablegram in which it
Sporting Club would offer a purse for
match between Corbett and Fiszsimmons,
provided the former would apologize for his
sae ths evening" f % s will
agree TO meet me before the National
Sporting Club l will make ample apology
to that organization, although / do not
think 1 have ever done or said anything
for which / should apologize. However, ]
am determined to leave no stone unturned
in the endeavor to bring about contest
between Fitzsmmons and myself There is
one provision, however, that L shall insist
aha sana resdV o eoss De
show on two weeks notice, and viii go
into active training just as soon as articles
are signed for the fight There are some
people who. right from the start of my. ca
reer in the ring, abused me and doubted
that was honest in everything that / ever
said or did. These same people are the
ones VINO are sneering at my present stand
ing challenge to fight Fitzsimmons, and say
that will never fight IL Fitzsimmons gives
challenge because he wants to. but the pub
lie will force him into it eventually.
Il don't know what Fitzsimmons's plans
for the future are. but wherever he goes
1 will go, and he will finally have to meet
me. There will be no f1ukes then. You can
6e5 on for ac wan to- Beat tSs
| imitation, whether there is a cent in 1t or
| not. My forfeit money Of $1,000 is up in
Chicago. and it will stay up until Fitzsim-
There is a whole lot of gossip in circula-
ton" continued Corbett, about my con-
dition. l am as good i ever was, and
| could get into as good condition as / ever
| was in any fight. The yarns about dissipa-
| ton and the marks of it being left on me
are all buncombe You can see for your
self that / am looking pretty good for a
man that will never fight again.
Corbett certainly does look to be in good
| condition His color is good, his eyes are
| bright, and he seems to be as active as
ever.
ssBOb" Won't Fight "Jfm."
| NEW ORLEANS, Feb. A.-Robert Fftz-
simmons and party reached the city this
| evening over the Southern Pacific road
| from IT Paso, and were 10 leave mmedi-
ately for New York, but. owing to the fall
| ure to secure sleeping berths in advance,
| stopover for the night was necessary. A
reporter referred TO the offer of
the Bolingbroke Club of Lon
DON to both Julian and F'itz-
| simmons, and both said that they would not
| think of the offer as il too small, and.
| besides, Corbett must get some sort OF rep
| utation before daring 10 issue a challenge
| or even think OF being taken on by the
| Champion Fitzsimmons suggested that he
| beat Choynski, Maher and Slayin first, and
| if Corbett does well with these men he will
| give him a chance
settled with Dan Stuart.
| Ell PASO. Tex, Feb. ei.-The citizens
COMMITTEES maid over TO w E wheelock