Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-31
jim is CAUSTIC.
He Writes a Letter that Must
Make Bob's Ears Jingle.
Also Makes Offers that Bob Cannot
Refuse Unless a Coward.
And So the Lengthy, Werdy Pueiilstle War
10 Kept AsoiRg.

Cincinnati. Ohio, Dec. 3O-James J.
Corbett, today, gave to the Times Star
for publication his challenge to fight
Robert j. Fitzsimmons, as follows:
Robert ]. Fitzsmmons, Champion Of
the World:
Your published declaration, Mr..
Fitzsimmons, that you intend re-enter-
ing the ring. pleases me more than
can at present express to you for
know that the public esteems me to be
the only candidate for the honors you
thus place within reach.
Il am sorry, however. to note, in
wording. this declaration, you give me
the impression that since we last met
you have become unwisely forgetful.
For instance. you say that before can
claim a return match with you, must
prove myself TO be worthy of it. You
certainly intend this as joke, for
no one in the world knows my ability
better than yourself. You cannot Sd
soon have forgotten your remark to me
at Carson. just after the battle.
Jim, you said. in your simple.
earnest way. III never fight again.
You've given me a bloody good lick
ing
You. the winner. uttered these words
with face and body so battered as to
leave no doubt of your sincerity. while /.
the loser, listened with never bruise or
scratch from head to foot. which could
contradict you.
rs this consistent with your now re-
pueSting me to prove myself to be IL
worthy opponent? You will find the con-
fidencc of the public in my ability to en-
terrain you still mistaken. You will find
that the public will insist upon your
recognizing my claim that you must meet
me again.
"But surely you have been misrepre-
scented. ! refuse to credit you with the
lame memory. broken judgment. poor
taste and entire untruthfuineSS which
the printed remarks allege TO have been
made by you would imply. / prefere to
think that those who have entered the
ring with me We're men. honest, brave
and Incapable OF the vulgar. lying and
Cowdrdly. language in which the news
paper version Of your remarks was
couched.
However. well | know that the great
journals try to be, and usually are, ac-
euraie 70 The letter in repairing utter
ances that is made by prominent men
upon important subjects, | prefer to be-
lieve that in this case a grave error, has
been made somehow. somewhere and for
Il purpose not worthy of one who wishes
10 be considered above contempt.
What the public expects from me Is
to maintain the manly dignity of the
ring. and not be a brawer nor a shifty
evader of the honest principles which
govern honest men when adjusting their
respective merits. This is all l have TO
say. But this is what l propose to do:
1.-THE day we sign articles. / will give
you $1,000 in recognition of your courtesy.
THE moment you enter the ring. ready
to offer me battle. | will give you a Sec
ond $1,000 in token of my pleasure.
Upon the completion of the 10th round,
if you are still undefeated. i will give
you third $1,000 as ii souvenir of my sur
prise.
Upon defeating you. no matter in what
round. | will give you $1,000 more as a
reminder tnat l am not an ungenerOuS
foe.
"On the other hand, should you again
defeat me, | promise. if | am still able
to move, to place my hat upon my head.
and then. removing it in your honor. to
proclaim you, in frank and unmistakablo
terms. to be my superior. and state that
then and there quit forever all possible
claim to the championship of the world.
Let further remarks on this subject be
made by 1000 clean. honestly earned,
American dollars. given me by the public
hat believes in me. l have this day for
xarded these to Will j. Davis of Chicago.
IN testimony that | mean every word /
nave ncrein spoken. (SigneD
"AMES ]. CORBETT
champion of America.
Cincinnati. Ohio. Dec. 80 1897