The times., 1897-04-13
.F|Tz WARMLY WELCOMED
The New Champion Had a Big
Reception Yesterday.
THE SHOW AT CENTER MARKET
The Kangaroo Gave Pretty Ex-
hibition of Bag-punching, and
Wound Up by Reproducing the
Blows That Settled Peter Maher,
Sailor Sharkey, and Jim Corbett.

Champion Bob FitZsimmous req cfied
Washington on his triumphal tour at $50
O'Clock yesterday afternoon and was ac-
corded an enthusiastic reception by thou
sands of admirers, who gathered at the
station to me ct hi IN.
In the party with Fitz were Mrs. Fitz-
simmons, Baby Fob" in the arms Of his
nurse; Dan Hickey, Ernest Roeber and j.
II. Shoemaker, the cilampiou's S trainers, and
last, but not least. Fits famous dogs
Leo, the ST. Bernard, and Yarrlnn, the
great Dane. Gus
They were met at the depot by Mortin
Julian and Manager Whtesell. Fitz, at
tired in silk hat and neatly fitting
frock suit, was the first TO aliglt, tie
rest OF the party following.
They were quickly conducted to the
conveyances which were in waiting. FitZ-
simmons his wife, and Julian were placed
in the first landau, which was drawn by
four horses. III the next carriage were
Baby Fitzsimmons, his nurse, and Dan
Hickey. Next came Ernest Roeber and
Manager Whitesell. The two dogs and
Shoemaker brought up the rear
The procession moved up the Avenue
headed by a band.
All along the Avelus to the Riggs House,
where the party are stopping, the pave
ments were lined with spectators, wholoud-
ly cheered the victorious fighter.
TO each ovation the champion responded
by doffng his hat. When the Riggs was
reached the carriages were driven around
to the ladies' entrance, and FltZsInmnns
and his wife, alighting quickly, went to
their ROOMS. The rest OF the party fingered
round the lobby
FItzsimmons remained in lii rooms, and
was not seen again until the the came
to start for the hall
Center Market Hall was filled last night
by admirers of the kangaroo champion
Many ladies We're In the crowd. A very
poor vaudeville performance preceded the
appearance OF the champion.
Ftz gave clever exhibition Of bag
punching. and wound up with Dan Hickey
showing how he Knocked out Maher, Shar-
key and Corbett.
The audience was not at all enthusiastic
ally dcmonstrative, and on the whole it
was a tame affair
Tile champion was in fine form and in a
splendid humor, uddid his best to amuse
ana entertain the audience.
Julian was master of ceremonies, ana
performed his part well. In fact, Julian
and Fitz were the whole thing ana fur
nished the only satisfaction for the admis-
sion money. The first part Of the program
was very much aged eggs and could have
been dispensed with without annoyance
to the ticketholders.
Manager Whitesell hardly pulled out
D.. a.
praise for his industry and enterprise in
securing the attraction for Washington
and if it was a financial failure the re-
Election is on the sporting element of the
city and not on him.
Fitz wasguarautees 81 800, and the other
expenses ran the amount up To $4,000.
The han did not look to CO ntain that much
money last night -
The champion and his party will re-
main in the city until this morning at 10
O'Clock and then 20 to New York. Fitz
said last night that owing to the recent
death OF his wife's mother ne would not
show in the Metropolis his week but
would spend the time quietly, as mark
of respect to the memory OF the deceased
lady Next week the tour will be re-
sumed; opening at Philadelphia, then to
Pfttsburg. back to Brooklyn, and folio w
with an indefinite engagement in New
York.
In talking with The Times representative
in his dressing room last night, Fitzsinr
mons said he would pay no attention to
Corbett And Mrs. Fitzsimmons, who is
a very handsome woman of the brunette
type, chimed in, decidedly not" The
new champion seems to be a jovial, good
| natured fellow, and wears his honors very
modestly He is in perfect physical CON
dition, and could enter the ring for fin
ish fight on days notice.