Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-20
FITZSIMMONS is. CHAMPION.
The Red Headed Cornishman Wins the
Fight at Carson.

The Red Headed CornIshman Wins the
Fight at Carson.
The greatest sporting event of the
year took place at Carson City, Neva-
da, last Wednesday. 1t was the much
talked of prize fight between James
J. Corbett and Robert Fitzsimmons,
and although universally conceded to
be one of the most brutal exhibitions
conceivable, it has attracted more at
tention throughout the country than
any other event of the year, not ex-
cepting even the Inauguration of
President Mckinley.
Preparations for the fight have been
in progress for several months, and
Carson City was decided upon as the
place Immediately upon the passage of
an act by the state legislature legaliz-
il ing prize fighting in Nevada. The
two principals began training at Carson
City, several weeks ago, and every
day since the big daily newspapers
have been publishing pages of details
as to their sayings aud doings.
The financial end of the fight was
under the management of Dan Stuart,
we'll known sporting man, who has
had the management of several previ-
Gus fights. By the terms of Stuart's
contract, the winner of the fight was
to receive u purse of SIS, 1000 in cash,
and each of the principals is also to
receive $4,000 for his interest in the
kinetoscope views that were made
while the fight was going on.
The pavilion in which the fight
took place, was constructed to seat
$4,000, and seats were sold at from
81 to 500 each. The exact number Of
seats sold has not been definitely
stated. 1t is estimated, however, that
there were between 1000 and 5000
strangers in Carson City from different
parts of the country, and including
the admissions of local sports, it is
thought that the total receipts were
not far snort of $4,000 or $50, 900.
Boarding and lodging accommodations
in Carson were taxed to their utmost,
and prices ran from SIS to $50 day,
according to whether the visitor
slept on hard floor in vacant
store room, or shared bed with some
body else in hotel.
Heretofore, even the class of women
one would expect to desire to witness
such exhibitions, have been excluded
from them. At Carson, however,
Manager Stuart introduced an ovation
and allowed and admitted women.
There were quite number, including
number of actresses from the eastern
states, and the wife of Fitzsimmons
occupied an especial box from which
she could get good view of the whole
exhibition.
Ordinarily, prize fighters are not
supposed to bear i'll will against each
other; but the present case has been
notable exception. Fitzsimmons had
been trying to get fight out of Cor
bett for a long time, and Corbett has
shown a decided disposition to avoid
the meeting. The two men met in a
barroom some time ago and they and
their friends engaged in a general me-
lee, which, however, was not attended
with serious results Last week the
men met again on the public highway,
near their training quarters. The
meeting was by accident. Fitzsim-
mons extended his hand ; but Corbett
refused to take it, saying that he
would not shake hands until Fitzsim-
mons whipped him. 1t is customary
for pugilists to shake hands at the
ring side before engaging in a fight (;
but this time Fitzsimmons, in retalia-
ton for his treatment of few days
previous, refused to take Corbett's
hand.
The fight commenced Wednesday at
noon-Carson City time-which, ac-
cording to local time, was about 8 p.
m. Both men were in prime condi-
ton, and each was confident of his
ability to win.
The contest lasted for II rounds of
three minutes each. During the ear
lier stages of the fight, the honors
were pretty even, with the advantage
rather in favor of Corbett. At times
the fighting was fast and furious, each
of the fighters getting some very
severe jolts. Fitzsimmons was several
times struck on the nose and in the
mouth and bled like q stuck beef.
One time he was knocked to his knees
and remained down seven seconds.
Had he remained down ten seconds,
he would have been counted out.
In the last round, Fitzsmimmons
landed blow on Corbett's neck and
followed it up with a terrible punch
Just over the heart. Corbett went
down on his knees with a frightful
look of agony on his face. The referee
slowly counted off ten seconds, and
| Just as he concluded, Corbett arose to
his feet and started at Fitzsimmons; !;
but it was too late. He had been
counted out. The closing scene is
described by the Associated Press as
| follows:
"The blow that did the business was
left hand blow. Jim staggered and
Fitz struck him right on the jaw.
Jim sank to his knees, clinging to the
ropes. His face was contorted with
pain and he could not breathe. He
tried in vain to rise; but each time
sank back in agony with his hand