The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-22
FITzSIMMONS WINS THE FIGHT.
ONE ROUND OF 95 SECONDS SET
TIED MAHER's FATE.

NIGHT Hand Swing Landed Full on
,be Point of Maher's Left Chin the
8lov That Landed Him Flat on
His Back-FIashing of Checks In
stead of Cash at the RinSside Be
fire the Fight Threatened to Cause
ROw-Fitz, However, Finally
Agreed to Go ON.
7anetrv. Tex, Feb. Alt took Robert
Fitzsimmons just ninety-flve seconds this
sf+ernoon to defeat Peter Maher, and be-
come the heavyweight champion of the
world.
-7be fight took place in the bottoms OF
che Rio Grande river on the Mexican side,
mile and a half distant from the Lang
trv depot. Even to his friends it was
evident that the Irish lad was not in it
from the start. Before the round had
nrogressed thirty seconds, Maher attempt
ed foul and was heatedly warned by the
referee. Fitzsimmons' coup was in the
form of one of his famous upper hooks,
with which he knocked out Hall and broke
The nose of Jack Stelzener, his trainer.
Naher made 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 de-
cision was awarded to the COrnishman.
When the train of sports arrived from
Ell Paso this afternoon at 2;3O o'clock
there was no evidence that anything out
Of the usual was about to occur. The
excursionists from Eagle Pass and other
points had been belated and only some
fifty residents Of the country about had
gathered at the depot. one company OF
the Texas rangers guarded the depot, but
not the slightest effort was made to in
terfere with the sports in any of their
movements.
When the word to move had been given
the visitors speedily found that although
they mad been on the road for over six
teen hours and JOurneyed 400 miles the
hardest part of the entertainment was
yet TO come. Following guides in a strag-
Cling procession, they Went across the
prairie for "a distance Of 500 yards and
then commenced precipitous descent OF
seldom-used wagon road that Went in
elrcuitous way down to the Rio Grande.
Then there was tramp of five hundred
yards more through sand and mud, full
ankle deep to the point where the rs foot
pontoon bridge had been stretched across
The Rio Grande river which, swollen by
recent rains, had been changed from a
sluggish stream TO a roaring torrent.
once across, the sports were on the bot
toms of the Mexican side, and the can
Nass that enclosed the ring was to be seen
In the distance. Five minutes more
brought the perspiring and sore-footed
pedestrians to the entrance stiles, where
Bat MaSterSon and Joe Nendig eXamin-
ed the past eboard tickets and passed the
holders within. A more ideal spot for
Such an event could hardly have been Sc
lected
The circus canvas, with which the hat
tie ground was enclosed, was 200 feet in
circumference and sixteen feet in hight
Inc ring was composed of white pine,
WI "a IL I, 4 ~
Eaton of four feet. over in the corner to
Inc west We're two diminutiVe tents for
me convenience of the principals in max
ing their final preparations F'itzsim-
mons and Maher with their attendants
IN the front rank of the procession, walk
ca down but a few yards apart, both
feachlng the enclosure in a prOfuSe state
OF perspiration. They were taken to their
tents and rubbed down.
At o'clock when Referee siler an
hounced that all was ready, 1S2 people
We're at the ring side, the remainder of the
visiting party, with the local contingent
having decided that a view from the Texas
mus was preferable to the expenditure OF
S-t Tor a ticket In response to Siler's
call Julian asked for ten minutes delay.
quinn consented, and it was readily
At S:15 o'clock Fitzsimmons, in a flannel
[ooe, emerged from his quarters, and
bounded up the steps of the ring, selected
A. a. ms corner the point to the west, with
ms back to the Mexican mountains. Ma
her appeared a minute later, and took his
SHalf IN the opposite corner, facing the
tofs on the Texas hill.
Maher had in his corner Jim Hall, Buck
connolly Peter Lowrey, Jack Quinn and
cd as time keeper.
Fitzsmmons had behind him Martin Ju-
IAN Jack EverharGt, Jack Stelzener and
Jack Mccoy, while Burt Sneed of New Or
4edns acted as time-keeper
1hen the hVe-Ounce gloves were pro-
o4Teu Tt from the boxes and fitted on.
me men were about to strip their over
IA t6Sa's When Julian called George Ailer to
Sne center of the ring, and the two con-
stIsed quietly for a couple of minutes
Al Its conclusion, Siler demanded i'm stren-
uo4s tones: rs Mr.. O'Rourke here?''
L am, responded the Bostonian, whose
ring floor
Have you the purse money!" Siler
dSaln demanded
1t is here" said O'Rourke, as he pro.
TICced ms wallet and waved two checks in
;rFHzsimmons was watching the proceed
lVsr 79 WIN Keen interest. AS the papers
o3 Ie produced his lips curled and he yell
~ mat stun don't don't go, Julian.
Wdnt cash. How do we know what those
lhlngs are worth?'
DID you cash these checks last night?'
~sheu Sl!er of O'Rourke While the crowd
pressed pressed in the neighborhood of the two
Yes, did," shouted the Boston man
Dul 20 you think l was fool enough tc
TIlhg $4,000 with me in such diggins as
llaeSe? 1t is the first time that my honesty
ras oeen questioned. I tell you that the
money is in the bank"
liz dltefs looked squally for time. Ju.
1a iiaa looked O'Rourke squarely in the face
e5 ee5Siantly ,ld,5 and said Nobody ever question
~ ~ you honesty, but we want the money
W VIII take no checks"
mn d5nen l.! addressing the crowd he contln-
SHeu: If there is any dissatisfaction, il
II Tdh not our fault. We notified the RESPONSE
ve We people several days ago that Fitz
lhe ring"
es, chirrupped Fitz from his cor
"T,, and they said it would be-"
~; arson Davies made q remark at this
4Uncture to the effect that Julian was
"a5tlng time on boy's nonsense, and sew
Ine fight"
Julian retorted that the crowd had
rpetter keep their mouths shut, as he die
sg5 ao6 stand any dietation from outsiders
aIu serious trouble seemed imminent
tmu5n like tiger the Cornishman leapet
ms feet and made a bound to tho
eller of the ring, and his face inhamec
,ntl1h passion, fairly shrieked: wen take
,Ss Hs checks. l give in to every bloody
1ns they want. Do you understand, We
sMe in to this, even if we don't get it. -