The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-18

pie packed in Whitaker street, from Bay
street to Bay lane.
The crowd was a cosmopolitan one,
ranging from the Chimmie Fadden type
to the business man. The people were
packed so close that 1t was a wonder they
could breathe, and a squad of policemen
had all it could do to keep them quiet.
1t was not disorderly in any way. but were
so anxious for news of the fight that it
was almost uncomfortable.
Operator Rivers was stationed In win
dow in front of the Morning News build
ing and gave in detail the report of the
fight as 1t occurred. The crowd had a
leaning towards Corbett, but FNitzsimmons
was not without hackers. What the crowd
wanted, though. was fighting; it did not
matter much who won. When the news
was flashed over the WIRE "Fitz Is liter
ally covered with blood, but
is fighting like demon. -
the crowd whooped and cheered. That
was the sort of fighting it wanted. There
was little or no betting. Up to the tenth
round the reports came rapidly, but dur
ing the progress of the tenth round the
wires went wrong and for several min
utes no news was received. .ar
The fighting all along had been Cor
belts way and when the telegraph licked
off 'Fitzsimmons won in the fourteenth
round" and it was shouted through the
megaphone the crowd went wild. As soon
as the excitement subsidized and the wires
were got to working the intervening
rounds between the tenth and fourteenth
were given. A few left the moment the
fight was decided but the majority re-
manned to see how the final rounds were
fought
At O'Del's turf exchange, Odd Fellows
hall, the Commercial Club, Winters Mu-
sic hall, and elsewhere reports of the ifs
tic battle were received. crowds gathered
to hear the result. There were
probably more cold dinners eaten
in Savannah than for q, many
a day. Business and professional men,
clerks and people who were off for holi-
day found IL necessary to be down town
between Q and o clock their business en-
gagements were more pressing than usual
and dinners had to wait. If war had been
declared the male populace could not have
been more interested in the news from
Washington than they we're in the tele-
graphic reports of the fight that came in
over the wires from Carson City, in far
off Nevada. Ordinarily, the incidents at
tendant upon st. Patrck's day are
enough TO occupy the minds of a great
number OF people, but they were crowded
out yesterday in the rush for news OF the
fight, ana ST. Patrick for once had 70 take
second call.
The male population was not alone in
it's interest In the fight, either. Many la
dies kept posted on the fight by telephone
10 the clubs where the reports were re-
ceved.
The result Of the fight cannot be said TO
be a great surprise TO Savannah people,
though IL was TO those who were ardent
Corbett followers and bettors F'itzsim-
mons seemed TO have many sympathzers,
but few who were willing TO risk their
money on him, and Corbett money was
very much In the majority.
There was probably less money changed
on the fight than has ever been on a tight
for the championship OF the world. This
was the case not only in Savannah, but all
over the country. There were lots OF
small bets. but very few large ones. One
prominent Broughton street merchant Is
said 10 have won 5000 on Fitz, and there
were one or two other bets Of 500.
Last night II was hard to find a corbett
man. and everybody said. II told you So"