The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-02-22
ONLY ONE BRIEF ROUND F.!
FitzSimmOns Wins the PugiliStic Cham
piOnShip Easily.
FOUGHT A MINUTE AND A HALF.
And Then Maher Went Down Under Bob &
Pavorite Knockout Blow-The Con-
test Took Place on the Mexican
Side, Near Langtry, Tex.


LANGTRY, Tex, Feb. 22-Peter Mahe1
Was knocked out by Bob Fitzsimmons
yesterday in the first round after one min
ute and thirty-tive seconds of actual fight
ing. Fitzsimmons played the same old
game he has so often played before lead
ing on his opponent until he had him
where he wanted him, and then landed
lightning right hand swing on the jaw and
it was over. 1t was the identical blow that
knocked out Jim Hall in New Orleans.
For the first part of the round MaheT
had the better of it. He led often, ana
forced the fighting In his eagerness to
get at Fitzsimmons he committed palpa.
BILE 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 one of the
crafties5 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 to defend the cham
pionship against any and all comers.
The train arrived here at about 1880,
central time and over a rocky road wind
ing about the precipitous 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 Thursday night,
after working hard all day upon q road
way down from the bluff. A narrow
wooden foot bridge had been put up
across the swiftly flowing stream. The
crow stumbled over the stony path and
waded ankle deep in the sand, guided by
little Jimmy White, "A boy who came from
Toronto to be ut the fight.
The battle ground was a sandy fiat upon
q 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 a
canvas wall about 200 feet in diameter 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 kineto-
scope of the pictures of the fight as 1t pro-
ceeded. On the opposite side of the ring
were two little tents for the principals.
Fitzsimmons was the first to leave the
train. There We're following Martin Ju-
liam Jack Everhart, William Mccoy and
Jack Stelzner, who were in his corner.
FitZsimmons took the first tent when he
entered the canvas enclosure. Maher took
the second Maher arrived five minutes
after Fitzsimmons. He was followed from
the train by a crowd, as well as his sec
onds, bearing his effects The seconds
were Jim Hall, Buck Connolly, Peter
Lowrie, Jack Quinn and Peter Burns.
Little time was lost in getting ready
Before he doffed his street garb Fitzsim-
mons stepped up and took look at the
ring Soon thereafter he came into the
ring wrapped in a striped bath robe. He
was applauded by 200 voices vociferously.
Fitzsimmons sat down in the corner near
est the steps leading to the platform. A
man near him offered 500 on him. AS
Maher climbed into the ring near the
corner he occupied voice near by offered
500 to $75 on Fitz. There were no takers.
George Siler climbed upon the platform
almost at the same time as Maher. With
Julian and Hall he examined the five
ounce gloves. The gloves were of differ
ent makes and different colors, Fitzsim-
mons being light green and Maher's
dark brown AS the seconds tied on the
gloves Siler announced that besides the
official referee, Louis Houseman, Bert
Sneed, of New Orleans, would act for
Fitzsimmons and Parson Davies, of Chi
cago would hold the watch for Maher.
Siler gave notice to each man that House
man would sound a whistle five seconds
before call of time for the rounds as sig
nal to get ready.
At this juncture Julian asked Siler if
the money was up in cash. Tom
o. Rourke handed up two certified checks,
saying: "Do you think l would bring
$4,000 in cash down here!" Julian in
sisted on the cash, but Referee Siler reit-
Grated that the checks were certified and
therefore all right. Then Fitzsimmons
won applause by saying: "Oh, let it go.
We have given in to everything, and will
give in to this
The referee called the men to the center
of the ring and said: "By the articles of
agreement this is to be fair up and up
fight. When there is clinch and a call
for breakaway each of you take step
back. ! don't want to be seizing you and
getting between you. If there is knock
down the man must be on his feet before
be can be assailed. Be careful about fouls.
Get ready"
Fitzsimmons went to his corner and
dotfed the bath robe. Julian and Ever
hart removed Fitzsimmons remaining
raiment, and the Australian stood forth
In short thigh trunks of dark blue, with
a belt showing the American colors. He
had on black hose rolled down upon the
top of his ring shoes. When similar Of
flee had been performed for Maher he
showed up in black trunks half way to the
knees, with green belt. His hose and
shoes were similar to. those of FItzsin,
mons. The Australian throughout the
preliminaries had shown the utmost CON
fidenoe, Maher's lips seemed parched, and
he moistened them with his tongue and
took deep limitations, as if his mouth and
throat were dry.
"Shake hands, Referee Siler said. The
men advanced, Fitzsimmons with the air
Of confidence still showing plainly, Maher
promptly and with more of a familiar air
than he had yet shown. They retired TO
their corners. In an instant the whistle
of warning sounded, five seconds later the
Continued on Fourth Page.)