The herald., 1897-03-20
Was That Which Won the
Championship
WON'T EVEN BOX IN PUBLIC
And Will Write "Retired" Across His
Coat Of Arms
Cofbett Yields With nuch Regret and Many
Reservations-The Amphitheater In
the sheriff's Hands
Assoeiated Press special wire

mons, champion pugilist Of the world,
left this evening the scene of the battle
ground on which he received his laurels
of superiority. He walked down the
street under the thick flakes, of snow and
was greeted from every quarter, ac-
knowledging all the tributes with bow.
His walk was spry and agile and his
countenance was free from marks of the
great battle, with the exception of the
lower lip, and that is healing rapidly
Mrs. Fitzsimmons was driven to the
depot later Husband and wife sat in
a corner of the waiting room alone,
waiting the arrival of the train. Today
Fitzsimmous reiterated his intention of
leaving the ring.
II do this" he said, "in compliance
with a request made by my wife before
I met Corbett on Wednesday. She ex-
acted promise that win or loose my
last battle would be fought and that
promise I intend to keep. I am conf
dent Of my ability to out-class any man
in the world, and would appear again
In the ring tomorrow were it not for that
one reason. When, after today. I have
occasion to sign my name to any state
ment or paper it shall be Robert Fitz-
simmons. retired champion of the
world"
Fitzsimmons destinationMs San Fran
cisco, where he will appear in the Me-
chanics' pavilion tomorrow night and
that will be his last appearance in pub
VIC. He has notified Corbett, Goddard
Choynski. Sullivan, Sharkey and Ma
her of his retirement and will not even
Give boxing or sparring exhibitions in
future.
A large crowd was assembled at the
station, despite the wind and snow, and
heartily cheered as the train left
CORBETTS REASONS
SAN FRANCISCO. March 19.-In
fashionable attire, with no external
marke of pugilistic defeat, but debonair
great victory James j. Corbett, ex-
champion. paraded the streets today and
made his appearance in some Of the more
noted cafes and saloons with a coterie' of
admiring friends.
How do you feel, Jim?" asked his old
friend, Porter Ashe.
"As we'll as any of the Corbetts," was
the ex-champion's retort
you are looking all right" broke in
Barney Pagan. II don't see any marks
of defeat on you"
mo, I came out without scratch"
continued Jim. There are no cuts or
gashes. A few of my joints are twisted
but that doesn't amount to anything
My people take 1t harder than 1 do.
wish had weighed them all before the
fight. I'll bet that Harry, Joe and all of
them lost more than I did. 1t didrS hurt
father as much as 1t did the boys"
| Jimmie Wakely of New York inquired
what Jims plans were for the imme-
diate future.
II won't make any move until Brady
arrives" said he. II see he is trying to
get another match with Julian, but 1
hardly think they will give me another
chance. I don't care a snap about the
championship. Fitzsimmons can call
himself champion, and 1 suppose he is.
But this does not annoy me. What l
am after is another battle"
| Other friends came in and extended
their sympathies. He showed them his
disabled hands, which were swollen to
twice their normal size.
THAT was all done in the sixth round
said he. IF they had not gone back on
me, would have finished him in the
seventh. That is why I had no steam u
In the presence of a number of his
friends Jim expressed the opinion that
Fitzsimmons was down twelve seconds
when, he fell In the sixth round. you
can bet all you have got" said he, that
he was out more than ten seconds.
Scores Of men will back me up, but the
decision is in. and there is no use kick
| ing"
Ex-Champion Corbett still pines for
another chance at Fitzsimmons. He is
confident that he can redeem his lost
prestige If he has just one more chance
at the long Cornishman. and he will tell
Fitzsimmons as much when he sees him
tomorrow. Fitzsimmons is expected to
arrive from Carson tomorrow morning.
Corbett will not be at the ferry to well
come the new champion. but 1t is his in
tention to call upon Fitzsimmons in his
apartments at the Baldwin hotel some
Itlne curing Tue udy dLu c4CuduSc
friendly greetings with his late adver-
sary
II shall congratulate Fitzsimmons on
his splendid victory and I shall then
challenge him to fight me again." said
Corbett.
This was said in the ex-champion's
apartments at the St. Nicholas hotel this
evening. Manager w. A. Brady was
there and approved Of this resolution
on Corbett's part.
II have made no other plans for the
future and will not until see Fitzsim-
mons" said Corbett. I'm going to asl,
him to fight me once more. Before that,
however. shall offer him my congrat-
ulations. Why not? 1t has been stated
that nothing but the most bitter enmity
exists between us. Well, however things
may have been before the fight will
state that / think much more Of Fitz-
simmons than ever did before. He
made game fight. he beat me fairly