The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-31
.c)RB[TT GUSH[S
NTHGENEROS|TY.
.0leIH|hIe|lls FIIzs|nROnS win
Tempting Offers Of Money.
STYLES HIMSELF CHAMPION OF AMERICA
ClltIclzes the Australians Language as
Reported In the Papers.
James Reminds Robert of an Inser>
view They Had soon after TheIr
MeriinE Mt Carson City-Rirm In
tho Beiier That He Ia tho Better
Mnn, Corbott Makes Lavish offers
OF rThousands-WiIi own mp If De-
feated Again.

Cincinnati, O., Dec

Cincinnati o., Dec. 30, 1897.
James j. Corbett to-day gave to the
ATimes-Star for publication his chal-
lenge to fight Robert ]. Fitzsimmons, as
follows:
Robert j. Fitzsimmons. Champion of
the World:
Your published declaration, Mr..
Fitzs!mmons, that you intend re-enter-
Ing the ring pleases me more than I
e can .at present express to you, for T
know that the public esteems me TO be
the only candidate for the honors you
thus place within reach
L am sorry, however, to note that in
wording this declaration you give me
the impression that since we last met
you have become unwisely forgetful.
s9}F'or instance, you say that before I
can claim a return match with you
must prove myself to be worthy of It.
You certainly intended this as Joke,
z forsy no o,le,sF in 3ithe world knows 1as>y
bility better than yourself. You can
not SO soon have forgotten your re-
mark to meEat Carson, just after the
battle. Jim you said, in your simple
earnest way, I'll never fight again.
y You've given me a bloody good licking
You, the winner, uttered these words
with face and body so battered as to
leave no doubt of your sincerity, while
/, the loser, listened with never a
bruise or scratch from head to foot
which could contradict you.
Hs rs this consistent with ynur nov,
requesting me to prove to be a worthy
opponent? You will find the confidence
OF the public in my ability to entertain
you still unshaken. You will find that
tne pubic VIII Insist upon your rccog-
nlzlng my claim that you must meet mo
again. But surely you have been mis-
represented. refuse to credit you with
the Jane memory, broken Judgment.
poor taste and entire untruthfulness
which the printed remarks alleged to
have been made by you would imply.
= prefer to think that those who have
entered the ring with me were men,
honest, brave and incapab BILE of vulgar.
lying and cowardly language in which
the newspaper version of your remarks
was couched. However, well I know
that the great journals try to be and
usually are accurate to the letter in
reporting utterances made by important
men upon important subjects, prefer
error has been made somehow. some
Where and for O purpose not worthy of
one who wishes to be considered above
contempt.
What the public expects from me IS
TO maintain the manly dignity Of the
ring. and not be a brawler, nor q
shfty eVader OF the honest prjncinIes
which govern, honest men when adjust
ing their respective merits.
. This Is all have to saw.
BUT this Is what / propose to do:
IKE me day we Sign articles will give
you sl'0oo In recognition of your cour-
tesy.
The moment you enter the ring,
ready to offer me battle, I Will give
You second thousand dollars in token
Of my pleasure.
Upon the completion Of the tenth
round, IL You are still undefeated, I will
give you a third thousand dollars as a
souvenir of my surprise"
Ii Upon defeating you, no matter IN
what round, will give you two thous-
%and dollars more as reminder that
u am not an ungenerous foe.
Onthe other hand; should you again
defeY me, I promise, II still able to
move. TO- place my hat upon my head.
and then, removing 1t in your honor,
to proclaim you .1n frank and unmis
taxable terms to be my superior and
state that i then and there quit forever
ell possible claim to the championship
of the world. :
Let further remarks on this subject
be made by 1 900 clean, honestly earned
American dollars, given me by the pub
lie that believes in me. have this
day forwarded these to VIII j. Davis,
Of Chicago. in testimony that mean
every word I have herein spoken.
tS.gned JAMES ]. CORBErT,
b sya-.i... champion of Ameriro
Cincinnati. o.. December 80"