The herald., 1897-03-14
But Not Because He Fears
Defeat
FITz ISN'T BUILT THAT WAY
AID Laughs ia Serene Confidence Of His
Victory
Beth hen Putting on the Flashing Touches.
Pacific Athletes Abandon the Holding
of Boxing Contests
lAssoc,ated Press Special wire

verbal windstorm which was waged yes
terday between the representatives OF
the two training camps! the happenings
of today were mild in comparison A
Smith. the stakeholder of the fight, who
arrived on the morning train from san
Frnncisco lost no time in reporting his
arrival at the office of Dan Stuart. MI.
Smith had with him when he arrived
certificates Of deposit aggregating szo'-
600 in value, which he will turn over TO
the winner of the fight Wednesday. AT
ter having short interview with Dan
Stuart. Mr.. Smith drove out to Shaw's
Springs to call upon his friend Corbett.
He remained at the camp for the better
part of the afternoon. After he han
seen the pugilist Mr.. Smith said: Never
in my life have seen any fighter in
such condition as Corbett is today. Not
only have l never seen fighter in such
exceEent shape but think have nevec
seen a man in training who was in such
perfect condition.
IT had long talk with Corbett this
morning, our conversation lasting over
an hour He assured me that he was in
the pink of condition and that when It
came to his work in the afternoon he
would show it to be. He has shown me
all he promised and great deal more
For nearly three hours this afternoon
I stood in his handball court and
watched him spar and. wrestle with his
trainers and his work was nothing short
of marvellous. Notwithstanding the high
attitude whion might be supposed to
=. a x-f, n
idly than If he was in the lower country,
he went through 1t all without sign
Of trouble. 1 have not seen Fitzsim-
mons as yet, and of course / have no
idea except by report of the condition
in which he is, but l wish to say right
now that he mrst be wonderful man,
and more than that, he must be Won
derfuI man in wonderful condition to
stand out against fighter who is iu
the condition in which Jim Corbett is
I today.
when say tffisI am in no way under
rating Fitzsimmons, for I know he is
great fighter. I only say that the man
who beats Corbett next Wednesday
must not only be a wonderful fighter.
but he must be in perfect condition.
If Corbett loses this fight he will have
no excuse on account of the lack of con-
dition. A man may lose through an ac-
cident, and through all unintentional
foul, but If Corbett loses it must be
through one of these things or because
Fitzsimmons Is the better man, and do
NOT see how it is possible for any man
to be in better shape than Jim is now.
TOMORROW I am going to ride over to
the camp where Fitzsimmons is train
ing and then I will be able TO form a bet
ter opirion as to the shape of the two
men.
TN all have said in praise of Cor
bett, wish understood that I am say
ing nothing against Fitzsimmons in any
way: I siru.ply say that if he wins he is
entitled to be called the best man in
the world, aud in my opinion nobody vii;
concede that more quickly than Corbett
himself
At both canaps efforts are being made
to get the wiie edge on the men, which
Is considered necessary for the final ef-
fort in the ring on st. Patricks day
Corbett's work will be gradually les
sened from now until the day of the bat
tie, and no possible effort is being
spared by the men who are assisting him
to get him into the finest possible con-
clition. 1t Is difficult to see how Cor
bett could be in a finer physical condi-
tion than he now Is and his endurance
is phenomenal He is naturally some
what high strung and the strain of the
work he has done is beginning to show
in his talk at times. He is quite ner.
vous and row and then irritable, but
such things are common with a man
who for several week has gone through
with the strain incident to preparing fol-
q big fight and his trainers are rather
pleased than otherwise at the little dis
plays Of temper that he occasionally
makes. They declare that he is in the
best condition, and that he would not be
at all nervous If he were not. Corbett's
nervousness is not on account of the
coming battle. He says that it canno.
come any too soon to please him and
there is not the slightest doubt that he
is in earnest to the last degree when he
says 20.
Fitzsimmons. on the other hand, is not
nervous in the most remote degree. He
AZ iiot VI hio tciiipcid tldt PcIUlllS
men to become nervous, and he is as
cool over the outlook as It Is possible
for man to be. He certainly shows no
outward signs of being worried and his
confidence Is as firm rooted as that OF
Corbett in the coming OF ultimate VIC
tory. He showed the power in his, arms
today by hitting his punching bag with
such violence that he broke the rope by
which the bag was swung. 1t was a
good, stiff cord of the thickness of n
mans forefinger, and Fitzslmmons
snapped 1t with his final punch, into
which he threw all the force of that aw-
full right arm OF his.
The improved condition Of the roads
which now, for the most part. afford
good travelling gave Fitzsimmors an on
portunity today to use his wheel. He
took short run OF about six miles and
returned in time to begin punching the
bag about II o'clock. He then called,unon
Hickey and Steiner to meet him with
the gloves. He spared four rounds with
each man, paying particular attention
to the style of fighting which will be al
lowed In the ring under the interpreta-
tion of the Queen sherry rules made by
6iler and to which Julian yesterday
agreed. The work of Fitzsimons in hit
ting with fhsa ora arm fraa ord ~,