The San Francisco call., 1897-02-20


at each other right in the street or
wherever they should chance to meet.
While returning from the ranch Julian
repeated hl5 performance of yesterday by |
being dumped out of his sleigh. He |
landed on his head in the middle of the !
road, but the snow was soft and spongy |
and he escaped without injury. The |
rotund little manager confessed after he |
had been placed on his feet right side up
with care that he could not drive sleigh |
q little bit.
Jim Corbett gave private athletic per-
torrance this afternoon before a select
party of Nevadans. The chief guest was
Governor Sader, the man who has be-
come world famous because of his signing
of the now celebrated Garrard prize fight
ing bill, thus making possible the consum-
nation of he great battle for the worlds
championship. Along with the Governor
were number of legislators and State
officials. They were delighted with the
exhibition and came out of the Opera
house convinced that Fitzsimmons would
have to prove himself more than phe-
nomenon to whip such man.
Corbett showed them how he worked
with his trainers, sparring and wrestling
McVey, and winding up with a red-hot
bout with his brother Joe. The la tier is
rather too light for jim, but he is quick
and shifty boxer and hits extremely
hard. During this performance, which
lasted nearly an hour, Corbett did not rest
q second AS soon as Woods would peg
out he would seize McVey' for cllnch prac-
tice, ana then after the big wrestler was
exhausted would resume sparring with
Woods.
Hes boxing faster and hitting harder |
every day." remarked Woods after one OF
the bouts, as with his handkerchief he
mopped up the blood that was trckling
from mis- nose. "Tve got good wind my
self, but he pumps me out in no time. L N |
a veritable punching bag ior him, and he |
doesn't spare me at all. But, just the
same, 1 stopped some of his very best |
blows to-day
How was that, Billy? I did not |
notice" innocently asked Kid Egan.
"Why, with my face, of course" replied |
the Denver cyclone, with an expansive |
grin.
Woods could not resist cracking joke, |
even If Corbett had fractured his skull.
Corbett exercised twice to-day and ex-
<
ably in strength ami quIckness since his |
arrival in Carson. He says he is of the |
opinion that he will show to better ad- |
vantage in this climate and altitude than |
IN any location where he ever trained or
fought before. This is great news for his |
friends and hackers, as they have feared |
all along that the rare atmosphere of |
Carson would have a deteriorating effect |
U
interfere with his chances of getting into |
the condition necessary to cope with such !
a skilled and tough customer as FItz-
simmons.
1t has been noticed that during Cor
belts bouts with his trainers he does not !
make so much use of the famous "side
step" with which he has tantslIzad many
an antagonist. In the old days OF his as
tendency in the olympic Club he en-
ployed the side step constantly and with |
such skill and perfection that whoever |
boxed with him was sure to be made to |
appear awkward and foolish.
II have not abandoned the side step al |
together" explained the champion to- |
day. ''but experience has taught me that |
too frequent resort TO it is dangerous. Par
ticuarIy is this the case when opposing
The latter seldom makes a straight lead,
but uses the hook blow with either hand
instead. Now, nothing is more effective
in avoiding a straight lead than the side !
step, and besides it gives one an opportu-
nifty to send heavy bow into his oppo-
nent's wind after the miss; but when he
uses the hook matters are quite different
By side-stepping then you are apt to bump
so inf ~
l don't propose to make any mistake OF
that kind if l can help it,"
Eddie Cooke, CorbetI's handsome press
agent, rushed breathlessly into the Ar
Hngton Hotel to-day, and sezing the
champion by the lapel dragged him off
into corner.
Say, Jim, I've got great news for you,
he whispered between his gasps, II Just
learned that Fitzsimmons got a box on
his train, too."
'fThe deuce you say" said Corbett, his
counteDance lighting up with a smile,
''now we are horse and horse"
The solution of this mysterious lingo
came afterward. Fighters, it appears, are
as superstitious as sailors Nothing will
cause the hair of a pugilist to rise on
end quicker than to find that corpse is
carrying him to a battlefield. 1t is a
'hoodoo" of the most malignant type end
the ring oracles say that no man can win
a fight who has had the i'll luck to go
through such an experience. Now when
Corbett was being trundIed hither from
San Francisco on the Atlantic Express he
was Mortified by the discovery when Ieav-
ing Truckee that the express car contained
a box" be had half mind to turn
back and begin the journey over again.
Billy Woods wrung his hands in despair
ana said it vas ''all off for sure,' while
big Jack McVey sat down and mumbled
favorite deviI-driving incarnation.
But now comes the news that Fitzsm-
mons has been no more fortunate than
his opponent, for the train that is bring
ing him this way also carries coffin.
Cookies announcement of this fact was in
deed a morsel of relief for Corbett, and
explains the fervor with which he declared
it was ''horse and horse"
But the tidings brought no good luck
with them for Cooke himself, for not ten
minutes after he released the lobe of the