Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-25

Carson, New, March 1S.-At 11:s7
9iier Went to the fighters quarters and
sold them to get ready. They said
hey were all ready and Siler told them
0 come in. Fitzsimmons came from
as dressing room at H. SO. Julian led
the procession and the others followed.
CoTbett came a minute later with his
seconds. Both men were duly cheered
AS Fitzsimmons passed his wife he
shook her by the hand and kissed her.
FitzsimmOns climbed into the ring first
but Corbett was close behind. Cor
bett had broad grin on his face when
he shook hands with Siler. He tried
the ropes while Fitz. walked slowly up
and down, glancing occasionally at
Corbett. Billy Madden at Il said:
While the contest for the worlds
championship is taking place please
keep order as there are ladies present"
Siler was announced as referee: official
| timekeeper, Muldoon; seconds, for F'itz-
simmons, ROeber, Hickey, Julian,
Steiner; timekeeper, Louis Houseman
| ACA WI DCII, cOSO1uOJ AhC ' Gy, " ulIe,
Delaney, Woods and Donaldson; time
| keeper, COlville. Fitzsimmons was
| then introduced, COrbett next. Cor
| bett got the loudest applause. Fitz-
| simmons stripped and put on gloves of
hight pea-green, Corbett's were tan
colored Corbett wore red, white and
blue belt with a green buckle and ros-
cite. His trunks were green. He
wore white socks rolled down over the
! tops of his shoes. Fitzsimmons wore
dark blue trunks with small American
| flags. Siler ordered the men to shake
hands, but Julian prevented, saying:
No; you refused it once" Then the
walked to the corners. The gong
sounded at 1905 p. m.
At 1906 the men stepped to the cen
ter of the ring. Fits face was al
most eXpressionless but Corbett stood
like panther ready for a spring, dart
ing forward at the stroke of the gong
with d fearful look of hatred on his
face. For a moment the men danced
around one another; then Corbett's face
assumed his customary fighting grin
and he settled down to the fight of his
life. Corbett landed several blows in
the first round, one of which on the
cheek staggered the auburn haired
fighter, while the latter returned the
compliment with two hot ones on the
head and a body blow or so. COrbett
all during the firSa round smiled a
his opponent. FitZ. held his own dur.
ing the round. Every time either mar
made a motion the crowd cheered. The
gong sounded without either being Sc
riOuSly damaged. Clinches were fire.
quent and owing to the Interpretation
of the rules both men were extremely
careful on the breakaWayS. The pic
ture Of the two almost naked men, theil
muscles s,raining and cleaning in the
brilliant sunlight, was like one from
the Athenaeau games. The partisani
of the fighters yelled frantically at the
fall of each blow. Corbetts friends
were in a majority but Fitz. had plen.
ty of supporters who were as wildly
enthusiastic as those Of the Californian
The men went nimbly to the corners
where their seconds famed, sponged
and groomed them during the 1-minute
intermission. Then the gladiators
sprang at one another, a quick exchange
of blows marking clash at the center
of the ring. Fast and furious the fight
ing went on while the crowds in the
great open arena stood on the seats and
yelled like mad, shouting words of en-
enlargement to their friends. Corbett
landed two lefts on Fits stomach and
the crowd yelled ''too low" Corbet
seemed to have the best of the round
but none of the blows were very hard
When they came up for the third round