The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-02
INGALLS, TALKS AGAIN.
Relates the Story of the Fight to
Leavenworth Reporter.

Leavenworth, April 2.-The Times to-
day prints the following:
Ex-senator John J. ingalls, passed
through LeavenwOrth yesterday on his
way to Kansas City. A representative
of the Times had the pleasure of rid
ing from AtchisOn to LeavenWorth with
the man whose open letter to Bishop
AIcCabe recently exclusively published
through the Leavenworth Times, has
again drawn upon him the admirlng
gaze of the whole United States, and
placed him at the head of the latter day
masters of the English language, and
the peer of all in its sarcastic adapta-
ton.
Senator Ingalls, said that he had been
in receipt of hundreds of cOngratula-
tory kilograms which began coming in
soon after the publication of the open
letter in the Times Speaking OF the
now ceIebra ted letter the senator said:
THE letter I wrote was general and
not personal in its nature. The blunder
OF the Kansas City Times, which paper
probably used Bishop McCabe's name
in order to give more force 10 the &c
clesiastical utteranceS against me, cauS-
ed the address to the bishop. My re-
marks were broad enough TO cover the
guilty preacher, and shall allow them
to stand, although shall write Bishop
McCabe privately.
''The assemblage at Carson was as
orderly and respectable in its make up
as that which attends a horse race or
a political convention. Not one obscene
word did I hear at the ringside and as
perfect order and decorum was OBJ
served as you will find on Delawafe
street in Leavenworth-
Il was sent to Carson to give my
opinion of the contest whether in ten
lines or in ten columns. Not in pro-
feSSiOnal way, but as 1 actually saw It.
I have fulfilled my assignment to the
best of my ability, and no doubt have
disappointed some of the ministers and
the very good people who thought my
account not sufficiently ree6ing with
blood and brutality. But as matter
of fact the big fight was not a brutal
affair The press reports of it were
greatly exaggerated. It was scien-
tific athletic encounter, absolutely de-
void of animalism. The only blood
which flowed was when brother Fitz-
simmons got a whack across the nose
and bled like a school boy. One needs
but to see one of these modern prize
fights to realize the immense strides
which civilization has made. People
still seem to associate in their minds as
their idea of prize fight. the deScrip-
tiOnS they have read Of the encounters
of Roman gladiatOrs who fought each
other to the death with iron spikes on
their fists and the cestus on their arms
to the fierce plaudits of the Roman
mob.
mons bOisterOuS and AnaZonian ac-
tiOns at the ringside is every particle
false. Just before the fight commenced
Martin Julian placed Mrs. F'itzsimmons
in the box just in front of mine and
laughingly put her in my care. She is
a very handsome, fine looking woman
and not the least bit loud or sporty in
appearance. Her conduct during the
progress of the fight was as quiet and
dignifed as could be expected from a
woman whose husband was engaged in
a struggle for the possession of a quar-
ter of a million dollars, directly in her
sight. Of course she was interested and
excited too, and once during the pro-
greSs of the fight she arose to her feet
leaning toward the ring. This Obstruct-
ed a f he
said to her: Mrs. FitzsimmonS, it will
be better for US behind you if you re-
main seated At this she apOlOgized
and sat down. She spoke but once, and
that was to advise to put some liniment
on FftZ's face during an intermissiOn.
Both men were extremely nervous, but
I ascribe this TO the large amount of
money they had a stake. Brother Cor
belts face was particularly serious. His
color was bad possibly he was over
strained. The lines in his face were as
deep as the furrows time has left on
mine He appeared weighted down with
the vast financial responsibilities which
rested upon him.
"A great deal has been said and written
about the blow which ended the fight.
Brother Fitzsimmons' hackers have
claimed that Fitz was simply waiting for
an opportunity TO deliver the blow and
when the opening came, socked it in. But
such, was not the case. AT the beginning
equally good condition, in fact twenty SO
gold pieces were then passed across my
box to cover htteen similar coins of Fitz-
simmons money. This shows that the
sporting men had yet seen no change in
the men. The interest in the fight had
Jagged the men were exchanging light
blows 7 turned my glance from the ring
for an instant and upon looking up
Brother Corbett was seen to be upon his
knees with his face contorted in great
pain. His hands grasped the lower rope
and not the upper as the dispatches
stated, and there he strained like a lion
to get upon his feet. But the gong slow
ly counted him out. In a moment he was
on his feet as full of fight as ever, and in
my judgment as strong as he was at any
time during the fight. OF course he was
mad and he swatted FGtz a blow on the
back of the head the winner was led
off to his corner.
THAT evening I talked with FTtz and he
owned up to me that the blow with which
he Knocked his opponent out was an in
voluntary one on his part, and one de-
liveLed at random. a chanca blow won