The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-29
The Big Fight

The veriscope pictures Of the Fftzsim-
mons-Corbett fight at Carson City. an ex-
hibition Of which was given at the Academy
OF Music on Saturday night, were disap-
pointing in one respect. says yesterday
New York Evening Sun. The details Of
the great battle were IL distinct and some
times shadowy; but when one considers the
marvellous speed of both men In the ring
this Is not surprising. It is fact that the
keenest-eyed spectator misses many Of the
blows in a mix-up between two expert
boxers. But from any point OF view the
veriscope exhibition was wonderful thing
In its realism. The first impression one
gets from 1t is that the reports of the bat
tie az sent out from Carson were strongly
Corbett-colored. for they conveyed the idea
that Fftzsimmons as boxer was smother
ed by his opponent from the time the fight
began until the Knockout blow was de-
ivered. The pictures show. however. thar
Fitzsimmons was full Of business from the
start. that he repeatedly led, was active as
a cat on the defensive and took advantage
Of openings with lightning quickness.
Another thing they show-that Corbett al
ways had a wholesome respect for Fitz-
simmons leads, backing out Of harms
way as fast as his legs could carry him,
even when on the defensive, seemed to be
intent on boring in with the first sign Of an
opening to administer one of the wicked
body blows for which he is famous. On
the other hand, Corbett's confidence was
apparent with every move made by him in
the early part Of the fight At the begin
Ming Of each round he sprang from his chair
and at once went TO maneuvering around
Fitzsimmons with an easy grace Of style
which was very taking. The other man,
with his face soon covered with blood, was
nothing 10th to advance to the encounter.
but his step was more deliberate and his
movements were not half so graceful In
the famous sixth round, as shown by the
veriscope, 1t Il impossible to sec whether
FTtzsimmons was knocked down or whether
he slipped down. There is rapid exchange.
Corbett doing the forcing, and suddenly
Fitzsimmons is seen 70 be down on one
Enee, with his face uplifted and his att.
tude statuesQue. 1t is plain he has his
senses about him. and is going TO take ad-
vantage Of the time limit Whether he
vas dazed or foxy" the veriscope will
never be able to TELL but when he gets to
his feet he as full of fight as ever, and to-
ward the last OF the round he seems to be
more aggressive than Corbett. From that
time on till the end Of the battle Fitzsim-
mons tactics become more open and self
confident, and Corbett begins to lose his
assurance. He seems to smile less and his
style is looser In the last three rounds
nothing is palmer than that he Is firing,
but he always jumps up quickly from his
chair, and there Is grace and agility In his
movements to the last. Nobody can seq
IN the veriscope pictures how the end comes
but even the spectators at the rings:de
were puzzled and bew:ldered by the jao,
dart,ng out like the tongue Of a perpent,
which sent Corbett to his knees. There Is
nothing more realistic in the exhibition than
the agony of the PROSTATE boxer and his
crawling on hands ana knees toward the
corner Of the ring. as il to get as far away
from his dreaded antagonist as possible.
Then comes the swarming into the ring
and Corbett's recovery. only to break
through and attack tho man who had
proven the better Of the twon IN grit, en-
durance and Furnishing powers. A good
deal has been said shout the alleged foul
blow after Corbett was down. The veri-
scope shows Fitzsimmons' left glove swings
ing toward the others head, but whether
the blow ever reached It the veriscope can
never show to the end Of tine, and 1t Is the
shallowest and most futile Of speculation to
discuss whether 1t was foul blow-only
Of course-Corbett was done
for with the terrible body blow. The
charge that the decisive blow.was chance
or fiuke blow Is not borne out by the veri-
scope. During the last round 1t is plainly
evident that F1tzslmmons was trying to
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