The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-18
THE BIG FIGHT
AS Viewed in Wichita-Many Farmers In
the City to Hear the Results


The greatest prize fight ever known in
the history of pugilism is over. Lanky
/ Bob FitZsimmons is the victor The ex-
! citement in this city was intense; bust
ness was seemingly suspended until the
result was known. Every pace where
| the news was received by rounds was
thronged with those eager to hear the
latest word from the riagside
The late presidential campaign sinks
into insigniflcance when compared TO
the interest taken in the fight Business
men, clerks. farmers, boys, girls, women,
men, old and young, jostled, pushed and
showed each other in their anxiety to
hear the news. 1t was intimated on good
authority that there were one thousand
farmers in the city yesterday, having
come into town for no other purpose than
to learn the result of the fight. Every
livery stable in the city was crowded
with out Of town rigs and horses
Merchants and their clerks who could
not leave their places Of business used
the telephone every few minutes. In
many places one clerk would undertake
another's duties for few minutes in or
der that the other could go out and get
the news.
There was considerable worriment on
the part of the enthusiasts early in the
morning on account of the cloudy weather
AS it had been given GU officially that the
big fight would not come off unless ''Old
Sol' made his appearance. They did not
seem 20 realize that a Carson the sun
might be shining in all his glory. When
it was announced over the wire that the
weather twas bright and Gear at the
seat of contest great load seemed to be
lifted from their minds.
Prize fighting may be degrading, but
this great physical contest was watched
with as much interest by the cultured
and educated man as well as by the IN
educated bully. A high school professor
was so anxious 70 learn the result that
he craned his neck so as to look over the
telegraph operators shoulder. Two
prominent physicians were on hand when
the first word was received and did not
leave until Corbett was knocked out. One
of them asked reporter if ne would tele-
phone the result of the two lesser fights
as soon as known. Deacons Of the church
interested as any school boy. One we'll
known divine called a reporter aside and
merely asked who whipped?"
Pools were sold al only one place in
the city, which was at Jack Davidson's.
On the three contests there was about
81 200 changed hands. the major portion
being wagered on Corbett or Fitzsim-
mons. The crowd was so dense in the
pool room that once in it was nearly i'm
possible to get out. There was probably
not over a score of Fitzsimmons men in
the city prior 10 the fight. and they did
not make much noise. But after the re-
suit was known there was a thousand
who said Il told you So" The two most
prominent Fitzsimmons men in the city
were Jack Davidson and John Clayton.
Davidson is probably the best posted man
on pugihstic matters in the southwest.
AS he has followed the career OF all the
big fighters he was better acquainted
with the methods Of the two men than |
anybody else in the city. He was an ar
dent admirer and hacker of Fitzsim- |
mons from the start and as result he |
is financially considerably better of. /
He picked Fitzsimmons as a winner be- |
cause X took Corbett seventeen rounds |
60 defeat Sullivan. And Corbett landed /
on Sullivan no less than los times. which |
demonstrated 20 his mind that Corbett |
did not have the strength 10 deliver a
knockout blow.
There were any number OF iisappoint- |
ed sports in the city ,asc evening. They /
were 50 disappointed that they even /