The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-07
A PROMISE TO- HIS WIFE,
so SACRED THAT NOTHING WILL
EVER INDUCEl7 HIM TO
BREAK 1T.
uNwRITTEN CARSON HISTORY.
Victor Went to the Battle Deter
mined to Win His Last Fight
or Die.

able affair here, several newspapers
have been making a pretense of en-
deavoring to again drive him into the
ring. Corbett's manager has been tax
ing advantage of this condition of af-
fairs to boom Corbett and his schemes
by insisting publicly that Fitzsim-
mons must again meet the ex-cham-
pion, though no doubt knowing such
a meeting is out of the question. Fitz
writes as follows:
when. I wrote at Carson City on
March L. upon which occasion l de-
feated James ]. Corbett for the heavy
weight championship of the world, Il
have fought my last battle,'" says
F'itz in his letter, 81 had an idea that
| the public generally would take it that
knew what I was writing about and
meant every word of it. Subsequent
events however, have dispelled that
belief, and l see it is necessary to go
into details in justification of the posi-
tion 1 took and which / still maintain.
| Cannot man shape his own course
| in life and run things to suit himself
without the population at large under
| taking to force him into a renewal Of
an occupation that he has unqualified
! ly and distinctly renounced? And why
| did [ renounce it? For what reason
did 1 cast aside the five-ounce gloves
! and leave the laurels for another cham
pion to pick UP and wear them as
have worn them? Solely, singly and
| only for my wife. That answers all
| the questions that can be put to me,
and no man of honor or heart or con-
science can misunderstood me. 1 sup
pose, however, that such a reason is
| beyond the comprehension of some
| prize fighters; but the thinking pub
| lie will thoroughly appreciate the stu
alton Perhaps had better take your
readers into my confidence and tell a
little of the history of that last affair
at Carson which has not heretofore
seen print, in so far as it was in the
and would at that time have been out
of place. But l have since come 10
| the conclusion that it is we'll to tell
| the story just as it occurred.
con the morning of the eventful day
| I got I'D at 6 o'clock and took my
morning exercise, Mrs. F'itzsimmons
preparing my breakfast of broiled
chicken, coffee and toast, just as She
had done for at least a week preceding
the fight ] walked around the yard in
| the crisp March air of the Sierra Ne
vada mountains, and each lap passed
| the kitchen window, nodding to my
wife en- route. Once or twice [ came
upon her so suddenly ard peeping
| through the window caught an expires
sion of care and anxiety on her face.
She tried to dismiss it with smiles and
covered her real feeling with an air
of light t-heartedness, but to me it was
clear that the woman whom I loved
and who is the mother of my boy was
in trouble She had passed. through
the same conditions many times before
and had been to me my most strength
ening external influence. How heavy
the past sat upon her heart 1 had never
before observed but that day she cou d
not hide it, although she told me with
smiles and assurance that she knew
| T would win. After the meal she drove
me along the country road from my
| training quarters to the ring. The day
| was perfect, and she put on an air OF
buoyancy that was intended to com
| fort me. She laughed at the queer Old
rigs that had gathered around the
arena, nodded pleasantly to those VINO
cheered as we passed, and talked about
the triumphant trip back to New York.
She had too much tact and intelligence
to even suggest any kind of misfor-
tune, and to all queries replied that
she had faith in me and knew that
victory was to come before the day was
| over
81 went, with my wife on my arm,
! Immediately to my dressing room, ana
| stretched out on my couch, with my
| wife sitting beside me. Bob, SAID she
| to me, tucking my overcoat around
NV neck to keep me warm, how much
| longer do you intend to fight for l1V-
! irg?' 4 guess this will be my last
| fight. Rose, if win,' 1 replied, as l
| looked at her anxious face. ana IL
| you'-she couldn't say it if her life
! depended on the word, because she did
not believe such a thing possible. Al
| though, perhaps, something mlSht nap
| pen, and even she could not dismiss
| such a possibility. But 1 think I'll win,
| Rose. I'll do my best for your sake
| Her only answer was pressure OF her
| hand on my arm Just at that mo-
ment Dan Stuart knocked at my door
| and said: Get ready, Bob. It's ten
| minutes to II. You are expected to be
| in the ring at noon Mrs. Fftzsim-
mons got up, kissed me, and with a
few encouraging words, went to the
door, where a friend was waiting TO
| escort her to a seat at the r1ngslde.
During those few seconds, between the
time she left me and put her hand on
| the doorknob, the whole situation
rushed upon me, and l felt that it was
! my duty even if it was the last act of
my life, to win that fight, and to quit
! for good and for her. I knew her
heart was heavy with anxiety anu
that she was going to her seat with a
burden that few women have had to
! bear. Then I decided to send her away
at least happy with promise that l
will never break.
Rose 1 exclaimed, come here for a
moment She returned quickly and
bent over me again. I took her hand
and squeezed it sincerely. 1 want to
| tell you that intend to win, even If I
| die for it. This is my last fight. I
give my word for that, Rose. Be brave;
| I will win She kissed me once more,
and 1 did not see her again until I
came into the ring. But her face was
radiant with joy at my promise to re-
tire 1t was that, expression that gave
me the strength to win that fight, and
! the promise I made to my wife on the
| eve of the battle IS sacred to me, and
will be kept until Robert Fitzsimmons
goes out for good. When the fight was
over she came to me, and her eyes
filed with tears Of joy. 1t was ample
payment for me, and T am satisfied.
| know, and other men know, there is
something beyond the approval Of the
| masses, and it can only be found at
| home Perhaps not many men who
have fought their way to pugilistic
fame know what it Is to have their
| own hearthstone and a devoted wife.
But I do. and I will not wreck it and
| leave a legacy of lies to my children. /
have made my promise to her, and I
will keep it.
| robert Fitzsimmons,
Retired Middle and Heavy Weight
u II, @.<>~o q r., TT<,.l1