St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-27
coRBETT OR FITzsIMMoNs.
HE CAN WHIP ANY
BODY.
HE WON A BATTLE IN ST. LOUIS,
And Added Another Nick to His
Razor in West st.
Paul.

Owing to the fact that it seems unlikely
that the two champions. James j. Corbett
and Bob Fitzsmmons. can be brought to-
gether in the ring / hereby challenge either
Corbett or Fitzsimmons to a fight to finish
for any amount they desire to name, at any
&C. Edward Lee. 1O2 East Fourth street.
st. Paul, Feb. rs, 1886.
When the G o b received this i'm
portant document last night a reporter
went to see if c. Edward appreciated
the humor it contained. The prospective
champion regarded it as devoid of any
joke. Mr.. Lee is a barber and col
ored man. His shop is at 102 East
Fourth street. Mr.. Lee said that he
had been very much dissatisfied with
the manner in which Corbett and
Fitzsimmons had delayed their pro-
fessional engagements. He had fully
expected that Gentleman Jack would
meet Mr.. Fitzsimmons promptly. when
the appointment was first suggested,
and knock the latter into speedy in
sensibility after a neat and gentle
manly fashion. Instead of the func-
ton being thus pulled off in proper
form, the two gentlemen had delayed
each other needlesSly in order to ex-
change language the coarseness of
which had shocked Mr.. Lee. More
oFcl, WI. Icc Hdu INTENDED TO cndi-
lenge the winner and secure the cham
pionship before the close Of the theat-
rical season, but "'pears now" said
Mr.. Lee last night, elf he'd done
hev to wait" till next season before
he could tread in the footsteps of Ed
win Booth. Mr.. Lee is not satisfied
by Bob's knocking out Pete Maher
Corbett and not Maher was the cham
pion, and Mr.. Lee will not be content,
as it is, until he has sent to grass
James j., the champion de jure, and
put to sleep Fitzsimmons, the cham
pion de facto.
Mr. Lee has a record When the
splendor Of this record has burst upon
the sporting world all will realize why
a st. Paul attorney and a physician
expressed willingness to Mr.. Lee
yesterday to deposit $4,000 today with
the sporting editor Of the G O b as
forfeit The only possibility is that
Corbett, not having won any purses
for some months, may be unwilling
to fight for $4,000 side and the gate
receipts. Yet these are the figures de-
termined upon by Mr.. Lee.
Mr.. Lee was born in Sedalia. Mo
Twenty-Five years ago, and has always
been an Afro-American. When he be-
came old enough to handle razor he
mastered the art tonsorial, and has
been employed as barber during the
Intervals between his professional en-
gagements. He has resided in the
Northwest for the last ten years. In
1887 Mr.. Lee encountered the cham
pion heavyweight of South Minneapo-
lis. The latter was knocked out in
three rounds. He fought at 1853 and
the winner at 15S pounds.
In 1893 Benson White, a man of that
color, and scrapper Of reputation
among ST. Louis roustabouts was
knocked clear over the ropes after
seven rounds of the scientific feinting
for which Mr.. Lee is famous Weights
were 173 for White and 1913 for his OPP
ponent. year ago Mr.. Lee entered
into mill with Charles Farr. colored,
of this city, alias 1.-The West Side
Pug. At the end of the fourth bout
in lumber yard on the West side the
Pug was unable to come to the
scratch, and Lee made another nick
in the handle of his razor Farr en-
tered the ring at 1873, Lee at $50 pounds.
Mr.. Lees last triumph was at the
West Side rink, Chicago, about eight
months ago. William P. Collins, wide
ly known as "Brazen Faced Willie"
colored pugilist Of many victories in
and around the Windy City, was put
to sleep on this occasion in three
rounds. Collins tipped the beam at 1876
and Lee at 161
Mr.. Lee is tall and why, being five
feet ten inches. He is slightly out Of
condition at present, and weighs 179
pounds But he has a we'll appointed
gymnasium in the cellar Of his resi-
dence, and with the assistance of his
trainer, VIII E. Collins. is prepared to
train down to his fighting weight at a
moments notice He will enter the
ring at about 16o pounds. Mr. Lees
best points are his long reach and his
firmness and agility on his feet To his
feet indeed is due much Of his past sue
cess. They are extremely muscular
enabling him to make most effective
use of 1.-The side step wing His agil-
ity and sure-footedness have brought
him the title Of STEADY Edward"
His arms are enormous and of a
length proportionate to those of a gor-
lila. His head is small, round, and in
vincible to the human fist. AS soon as
an answer to his challenge is received
Mr.. Lee will make arrangements for
pulling off the great fight, if possible
next month. Then st. Paul will add
another pinnacle to the temple of it's
fame through the triumph of that mas
terpiece Of pugilistic science-the mi
raculous African twirl.'