The Springfield herald., 1897-03-26
FITZSIMMONS WINS.
Gives Corbett Knockout Blow In tho
fourteenth Round.

-
simmons was the winner, defeating
james j. Corbett in the fourteenth
round and thus gaining the title of
champion heavyweight Of the world.
The victory was not gained without
struggle; in fact. victory did not
seem possible for Fitzsimmons, until
the last moment of the battle, who vas
giving every indication of slowly going
to pieces, delivering blow in n vital
part and followed it with two others,
which sent the Californian to the floor
with the agony of pain and despair i'm
printed on his face and unable to rise
within the limit which would save
him.
1t was great contest. but notwith-
standing the cheers for the victor the
majority of those who witnessed it
could not but feel sense of disap-
pointment at the result believing as
they did that victory was taken from
Corbett at moment when he seemed
sure of gaining it himself.
1t was moment after the noon hour
when the principals and their seconds
appeared, and both We're greeted with
great cheering. George Siler, the ref
cree, arranged the few preliminary
matters in short time, and about
1910 the battle commenced. Little
was accomplished by either of the men
in the first round, but in the next few
rounds Corbett had every advantage.
In the fifth round he punished FitZ-
simmons severely, battering him on
the body and face until the blood
streamed from his face, and he finally
sank to his knees to avoid further pun
ishment, remaining there until nearly
all the allotted time had expired, when
he arose and succeeded in continuing
the contest for the few remaining sec
onds of the round. Nearly all the spec
tatorS thought the end was at hand
then, but the Australian rallied and
fought n game battle for nearly eight
rounds more, though there were sew
eral occasions during that time when
Corbett seemed to have him going. lie
did land n number of blows on Cor
bett, and they were hard, too, but they
seemed to have little effect on him.
At the opening of the fourteenth and
last round, Corbett 'loolled the win
ner" Though somewhat tired, he was
still strong and was displaying more
science and continued to pound the
Australian and keep up the flow of
the stream of blood.
And then came the final blow and
the end. The blow which ended the
fight was n left-land punch, delivered
just below the heart. 1t was all the
more effective for the reason that Cor
bett was leaning backward when 1t
came. 1t caught him on the tensely
drawn muscles just over the spleen,
and must have caused the most intense
agony. Corbctt was more unconscious
from pain than from the force of the
blow AS he lay writhing and grovel-
ing on the floor his face presented the
most ghastly appearance Imaginable.
No man in IL last death struggle could
have Mortified the spectators more. ana
his agoniZing cries of pain could De
heard above the cheers for the victor.
And then followed the widest scene
of the day when he arose to his feet
and with all the strength he had left,
rushed at his opponent and tried to
finish the contest. Those nearest the
ring jumped over the ropes. in spite of
all efforts of the police to prevent
them, and in n moment the entire
Enclosure was filed with bowling,
shouting mob. and the noise and con
fusion was so great that the referee
was hardly able to announce his de-
cision, awarding the battle to Fitzsim-
mons.
In the midst of it all, Corbctt, who
had been forced to HIS corner by his
friends, broke away from them and
rushed at FitZsimmons second time,
but this time instead of attempting to
renew the fight he implored his victor
to give him another chance and to ac-
cept challenge from him. This was
refused, and warm words followed.
Fitzsimmons was borne away with all
the glory of his now-won victory and
Corbett left to return to his home in
San Francisco, carrying with him the
despair of defeat.
About 5000 persons were present, IN
Guiding Fitzsimmons' wife, who was
close to the side of the ring.
AS Corbett staggered to the dressing
room after the contest. his brothers,
Harry and Joe. supporting him. one
on each side the scene was n pitiful
one What, to him, was honor, fame
and fortune. had been irretrievably
lost in the brief space of time since he
had left the room. confident of keep
ing the championship of the world. a
short hour before he had been abso-
lutely certain of victory, without a
shade of doubt that his record would
remain unmarried. and the crushing
defeat was almost beyond belief to
him. His trainers crowded into the
dark little room after him and gath
cred about him as he sank exhausted
in Il chair.
81 don't know how it happened. l
had him almost out and | could have
whipped him If l had followed it up,
but | wanted to show him how thor
oughly l could best him. oh. If can
only get at him again He must, he
absolutely must, give me another
chance. l can whip him next time"
There was a moments silence, when
suddenly Jim leaned forward against
his brother Harry and burst into tears.
81 can't believe it, he sobbcd. 81
can't believe it, Harry. How is it, old
man, that am defeated?"
Tie scene was too much for the lit
tie crowd of heartbrOken friends
Billy Woods shranli into a dark corner
and. with his cap over his face, en-
deavored to stifle his sobs.
Corbett's face was as pale as death
and drawn in ugly lines by the phys
ical and mental agony he was under.
going. He little looked the man who
had whipped Sullivan as he lay back
in his chair. his hand pressed below
his heart, where the blow that had
ruined him had gone home. "How my
7 Ia