Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-03-25
Fought Fourteen Rouuda.


Robert Fitzsimmons defeated james j.
Corbett in the fourteenth round in the
contest ut Carson City, New, for the pu-
gilistic championship of the world. The
decisive blow was left swing on the
pit of Corbett's stomach. He fell on his
face in the center of the ring and was I'M
able to regain his feet in the specified ten
seconds. The Californian seemed to have
a shade the better of the battle up to the
last round. He had Fitzsimmons weak
in the sixth round, but failed to finish him.
Four thousand people were present. The
day was clear and beautiful and just right
for the kaleidoscope.
The result of the battle came like bolt
of lightning to Corbett's friends, who
deemed him literally invincible. The
kaleidoscope should net 100000 to each
pugilist, in addition to which Fitzsimmons
receives the purse Of $4,000 and Cor
belts side bet of 5000. There were
about twenty women present. Fitzsim-
mons weighed 1877 and Corbett 1SS
pounds.
Time was called at 1907. The lanky
pugilist refused to shake hands with Cor
bett The opening sparring was cautious.
but the Cornishman soon began to force
Corbett. trying a left swing.
For thirteen rounds the two men sway
ed and shifted pythonlike around the
white rosined floor, watching each other
like two great eagles. Then the bell clang-
ed for the fourteenth, and up they came
, again. iight-footed, wary and aggressive.
Fitzsimmons was bleeding badly at the
mouth. Four thousand spectators roared
around the ringside like troop of lions.
Hundreds of men became hoarse and hys-
terical with bowling.
Fitzsimmons' small. ferrety eyes twin
kled in his pink and apelike face like little
! bits of shin: glass as he swayed up to
Corbett for the final round.
Champion Ia Fallen.
Corbett darted forward and drove his
long left in Fitzsimmons' stomach. The
latter grunted and swung back with three
hard raps on the Californian's jaw. The
finish followed. like a thunderbolt. Fitz-
simmons sprang forward with great
right handed smash over Corbett's heart.
| The blow would have finished an ordi-
nary man. 1t only staggered the tremen'
dously muscular fighter. That mo1nen-
tary stagger. however, was sufficient.
| Fitzsimmons rushed in with a left flush
| in the Dit of the Californian's stomach.
Down went the big fellow on all tours,
like stricken beef. All his grand
strength had vanished. FitZsimmons,
with his face still contorted in that red
and featureless smile, stepped away at
| the order Of the referee. VII, sprang be
tween them. With roar like that of a
whirlwind 1000 spectators sprang to thell
feet, turning over chairs, crashing over
boxes and pouring Aood-like down the
yellow pine slope steward the ringside.
1t il estimated that not less than $500
600 changed hands all over the country on
the result of the fight. Most of this money
was wagered at Carson City. New York
and San Francisco. Corbett wagered
nearly 5000 on himself in addition to the
stake of $4,000 a side. Fitzsimmons did
not bet any money, for the reason that he
had none to bet. His stake money. even
was deposited by two New York and one
Detroit sporting men. Martin Julian. hi,
manager, is financially as bad of as his
brother-in-law.
The fight was for purse of $4,000 and
a wager Of $4,000 a side, the winner te
take all. 1t was announced for the cham
pionship of the world, but as the cham
pionship of the world has never been tech
nically held by one man, the title Is moi
generally looked upon as settled by thu
| fivht