The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-22
THE GLADIGTORS MEET
Concluded from First Page)

Concluded from First Page)
the floor, his head striking the canvas
with great force. He valnly attempted
TO arise but could not do more shan
raise his head. Ills seconds called OH
him to get up. but he failed TO respond
and sank back to the canvas. the fatal
tenth second was counted, Maher was
declared out and FHzSimmons announc-
ed the victor after one minute ana thlr-
ty-iive seconds Ia Their lively fighting.
Fitzsinmons' admirers cheercd him
to the echo. and Makers seconds carried
the defeated lrishman To his corner.
1t was several minutes before he realized
what had happened to him and FitZsim-
mons walked over 10 his corner and
shook him by the hand. Fitzsmmons
also shook hands with Quinn and the
seconds In Peters corner.
Barring the slight bleeding at the
nostrils, occasioued by the left-hand
jab of Makers, the Cornish man showed
no marks of injury and appeared as
fresh as ut the opening Of hostilties
Mnher showed no sign OF punishment eN-
ccpt slight break in the skin just above
the point of the left chin. where FitZ' $
master-stroke had landed.
When the cheering OF the people
around the ropes and the waving of
hnndkerchiefs by those upon the noun
tain summit had in I; measure subsidized
and FitHsimmons had tired of bowling
his appreciation, Julian took the center
of the ring and. clearing his throat,
made the following announcement with
theatrical effect:
Gentlemen. Mr.. Fitzsimmons has
worked himself up from the bottom of
he ladder and by the decision of the
referee he is now the champion or the
world. Ic Is ready to defend the title
q
place. No man is barred ana all corners
VIII receive recognition"
Then came shouts of warning that the
pontoon bridge was In danger OF be-
ing washed away by the strong currents
The fighters and assistants hastily gath
cred their traps together and the
crowd rushed for the Texas side All
got over safely.
Peter Mahcr and his following were
disappointed looking lot OF individ-
uals as they tramped their way back
across the rocks and sand to the train
netcr was unusually communicative.
| We'll II was chance blow that did
| the work" he said. II did the best I
could under the circumstances NV
! condition was net of the best, but as a
further postponemem was not TO be CON
sidered by the Fitzsimmons crowd, |
was ob!iged to go Into the ring. My eyes
were In worse condition than believed
them and found my gauge of dIstsnc.
AT fault. However. 1 still believe that
| am able to whip Fitzsifnmons or any
other man in the world If Fitzsim-
! mons proves himself champion. will
| u'aHchGe MN again and will be ready
| to meet him al any spot or at any time
| ! was not Il bit over-confident 7 lne,v
my condition better than any one else
ana fought Fitzsimmons only when his
arDiFary actions made it necessary to
do So or be proclaimed a coward"
Immediately after the fight, Mr.. Rec
tor on behalf of the kinetoscope nao
| pie offered FItzsimmons ana Nnbnr !,
purse OF $4,000 to be battlcd for to-mor
! row FftZsmmons declared that he
would agree to put Maher out i'm six
ROUNDS. but insisted on selecting his own
| time and place. He declared that nm
der no circumstances would he fight be-
iorc a kinetoscope unless for a purse Of
$4,000 and so per cent. of the profits lie
based his proposition upon the fact that
me kaleidoscope people had persistent!y
ignored him and now he was in posi-
| ton to dictate to them. Nothing came
or the proposition and the negotiations
are off for the present
At precisely o'clock the train heor-
| ing the victor and the vanouishcd and
their admirers and chagrincd friends.
| drew away from the crude railway sta
lion, leaving only representatives of the
press associations installed I'm the ham
let for the next twenty-four hours
The departure signal was a discharge
| OF carbines as salute from the Rangers
who from their point OF vantage in the
Texas mountains. had been willing spec
tators of the short contest The FitZ-
| simmons party had already twisted the
necks off half dozen wine bottles and
| everything gave promise of a nights
ride along the Texas and Mexican Dor
derS that would awake the echoes of
the mountains. Just before the train
started EitZsmmons created panic
| by rushing over TO an enclosure. in
which was confined a Mexican lion ana
attempting to pull down the bars The
crowd sought safety In a hurried STAN
| Dede to the coaches, but Julian finally
induced the hilarious Cornishman to
desist and return to his private car.
Dan Stuart appeared on the depot
platform. and after roundup Of the
party the signal "All aboard" was
given. Somebody called for three cheers
for Mexico and her fighting grounds.
and they were given with Will as the