Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-18
THE FIGHT.

! At Carson, New. yesterday evening,
as stated in the GAZETTE of that day,
James J. Corbett went down to defeat
before Robert Fitzsimmons, who be-
came the champion heavy weight pugi-
list of the world. The victory was not
gained without struggle; in fact, vic
! tory did not seem probable for FltZ-
simmons until the last round of the
battle. He was giving indications of
slowly going to pieces when ne deliver,
ed blow in vital part and followed
it with two others, which sent the Cali
fornian to the floor with the agony OF
pain and despair printed on his face,
and he was unable to rise within the
limit which would save him. When
the defeated champion finally arose,
with the assistance of his attendants,
and recovered sufficiently from his
dszed condition to realize the calamity
that had befallen him, he broke with
all the fury of an enraged animal, and,
discarding all the rules which govern
the art of which he is disciple, rushed
at his victorious opponent and made q
vain struggle to beat him over the
ropes, only desisting when his own
seconds and friends forced him away.
| And then the new champion was
borne to his dressng-room amid the
cheers of the FIVE thousand people who
were in the arena, accompanied by his
seconds and trainers, and also by his
wife, who had watched the contest
from a position within few feet OF the
ringside. and who had taken in every
detail, even at the time when it seemed
| that her husband would be knocked in
sensible at her feet.
Little was accomplished by either OF
the men in the first round, but in the
next few rounds Corbett had the adj
vantage. In the fifth round he punish
ed Fitzsimmons severely, battering him
on the face and body until the blood
streamed from his face, and Fitz finally
sank to his knees to avoid further
punishment, remaining there until
nearly all the allotted time had expired,
! when he arose, and continued the con.
est for the few reminding seconds of
the round. Nearly ali the spectators
thought the end was at hand then, but
the Australian rallied and fought a
game fight for nearly eight rounds more,
though there were several occasions
, during that time when Corbett seemed
to have had him going. He did land
number of blows on Corbett, and
they were hard, too, but they seemed
10 have little effect upon him.
At the opening Of the fourteenth and
last round Corbett looked the winner.
Though somewhat tired, he was still
strong, and was displaying more science,
and continued to pound the Australian
and kept up the incessant blows. And
then came tho final blow and the end.
That which ended the fight was left.
hand punch, delivered just below the
heart 1t was all the more effective for
the reason that Corbett was lean
ing backward when it came. 1t
caught him on the tensely drawn
muscles just over the spleen,
and must have caused the most
intense agony. Corbett was more I'M
conscious from pain than from the force
of the blow. AS he lay writhing on
the floor his face presented q ghastly
appearance. No man in last death
, struggle could have Mortified the spec
tators more, and his agonizing cries OF
pain could be heard above the cheers
for the victor.
, And then followed the widest scene
of the day, when he arose to his feet,
( and, with all the strength he had left,
rushed at his opponent and tried to fin
, ish the contest. Those nearest the
t ring jumped over the ropes, in spite Of
all efforts of the police to prevent them,
and in moment the entire enclosure
: was filled with bowling, shouting
, mob, and the noise and confusion were
so great that the referee was hardly
able to announce bis decision awarding
the battle to Fitzsimmons. In the
midst of it ALL Corbett, who had been
forced to his corner by his friends,
broke away from them and rushed at
: Fitzsimmons q second time, but, in
stead of attempting to renew the fight,
he implored his victor TO give him en-
other chance and accept q challenge
, from him. This was refused, and warm
: words followed. Fitzsimmons was
borne away with all the glory of his
new-won victory, and Corbett left TO
return to his home in San Francisco,
carrying with him the despair of de-
feat.
Press dispatches from Carson give the
: following account of the finish The
crowd on the platform was cleared par
TALLY by the officials, and Corbett seeing
Fitzsimmons through the break in the
crowd made wild dash at the Aus
tralian and led for his head with both
hands. Fitzsmmons dropped his hands
by his side and, as Corbett came
in, the Australian twisted his head under
Corbett's arms, never raising his hands.
Corbett wrestled himself clear and
swung his right on Bob's jaw, shouting:
Only let me fight him few more
rounds"
Brady rushed up to Jim, put his
: arms around his neck aud tried to force
the bewildered ex champion back.
Martin Julian and Steiner wrenched
themselves in between the pugilists,
Fitzsimmons still keeping up his mega
tive attitude. Corbelt cried out hys-
terically: "Oh, let me go, Billy Brady;
let me at him. Only let me fight him
few more rounds. tell you to let
me CO."
Billy Brady Rugged his friend down
to his shoulder, and with tears in his
eyes said: "You can fight him again,