The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-23
THE PRIZE
Corbett shows no IN Effects of tho Fight
Fitzsimmons Complain. of Aching Arms
and sore Joints-He i'll Retire From
the Ring.

"a 80.
San Francisco, Cal, March Is.-Cor-
bett arrived in this city on a special
train last night There were very few
| people at the station when the ex-
champion alighted and he at once en-
tered a cab and was driven to his home.
This morning he shows 7. il-enects OF
his contest with Fitzsimmons. lie Is
up and around and appears TO be in his
normal condition. 1t is said that he
has no plans for the future and that he
has cancelled all engagements.
Carson. New. March Establishments
retired at midnight last night. He did
not sleep well. His muscles twitched
and his arms ached. He got up at Z
o'clock this morning and took a rub
down. He complained OF sore Joints.
but otherwise never felt better. He
dined at the p~enitentiary today as the
gust OF the warden. II accommoda-
tions can be secured. Fitzsimmons and
party will leave tonight for the coast.
After showing in San Francisco, he will
work his way to New York. living ex-
hibitions, and settle down in Gotham
and retire from the ring. His wife in
sists upon this concession, and Fitz-
is willing to give in for the
sake of his family.
The town is forlorn this morning.
There is a driving Snow storm from the
southwest. Nearly all of the visitors
have departed. The kinetoscope ap-
paratus has been taken down and
Grated for shipment, the chairs remov-
ed from the arena and all traces of the
battle disappearing. By tomorrow Dan
Stuart's staff will be the only strangers
left in the city.
a umbe of sensational rumorS
which We're telegraphed to the effect
that FitZsimmonS was dangerously i'll
caused a little excitement in the town.
When they became current there was a
scurrying for the hacks to transport
inquirers to Cooks ranch and the
jaded liverey horses were robbed of an
hours rest by these ignorant vapor-
ings. When Fitzsimmons' quarters
We're reached and the visitors mission
made known the champion and his
family expressed their Indignation free
ly at the cruel canards. The fact is
that FitzsimmonS at no time after he
stepped out of the ring suffered any
physical pain beyond that caused by
a slight fracture of his right thumb
joint which he received in the second
or third round of the BATH. 4 piece
of ~flesh-colored court plaster over his
split and swollen upper lip. a heighten-
ing of his ordinary rudy complexion
and a white linen band wrapped around
his thumb were the only external evil
dences of the conflict.
Martin Julian was deputed to answer
cO~ngratulatory correspondence. a task
which kept him glued to the telegraph
counter for hours.
Stakeholder AL. smith turned over
1ha n11rcn nn1 Sifn IntS tn Jt1iovo thir
morning in Dan Stuart's office. Will
liam A. Brady, Secretary Wheelock
and a few reporters We're present when
the transfer was made. After the
checks were handed over TO Julian
Brady renewed his offer, made last
evening, to back COrbett against Fitz-
simmons for $40, 600. Julian's reply was
evaSiVe. He ina that FitZSim-
mons would soon retire from the fistic
arena, and, judging by expressions ut
tered by the champion, it is not i'm
! probable that this will be the pro-
gramme. All along Fitzsimmons has
asserted that this was the last time
that he would undergo the ordeal OF
| training.
Fitzsimmons' reply to Corbett after
they had shaken hands in Bob's corner
yesterday indicated that the Australian
was thinking of retiring.
you've licked me fair and square,"
said jim. Nov l want you to give me
another chance"
The champion replied coldly: Il will
| not fight you again"
Then l will punch you in the head
| the first time l meet you on the street. -
| was COrbett'S retort.
IF you do" answered F~itzsimmons.
with a bitter smile. and in an even
tone, L will kill YOU
l Brady. however still Thinks that
| COrbett is the best man of the two and
he is willing to back his judgment.
The Corbett party, including Brady,
McVey, Woods, Delany, White, Egan
and Jeffries deserted Shaws Springs
this evening. Brady and White will go
east from Reno to New York tonight
and the others return to San Francisco.
Martin Julian was disappointed at
not being able to secure the Mechanics
pavilion in San Francisco for an ex-
/ hibition tomorrow evening. He has ac-
| copied an offer On behalf of the cham
pion for his appearance at Sutro's
baths and the Haight street chutes on
Sunday.
According to his present programme
FitZsimmons will leave Carson tOmor-
row with his wife and child Martin
Julian, Roeber, Hickey and Steiner
will accompany them. 1t is thought
that as to the future Fitzsimmons will
accede to his wife's desire of making
their home in New York city.
1t leaked out this evening that Dan
Stuart had offered a purse of SO, 900 for
a meeting between FitZsimmons and
Joe Goddard, to take place in Carson
three months hence. Billy Madden,
representing Goddard, jumped at the
proposition, and Julian is linking it
over now. 1t will be left for the
| champion to decide whether he will de-
fend his title. Mrs. Fitzsimmons is
violently opposed to the idea, and 1t is
possible h a Bob will heed her advice.
a Francisco, March 1s.-'Mr. Cor
bett is in bed and is feeling very badly
over the result Of the fight. He would
rather not see anyone just now, as he
does not feel able to discuss it. He
wishes to say, though, that he was
defeated fairly and squarely and has
no complaints to make; but he is not
hurt, and is willing and anxious to
meet FitZsimmons again."
This was the message which Mrs. J
j. Corbett, wife of the ex-champioD
| gave to callers at the St. Nicholas to-