The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-31
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SPORT.|
THIS is HOT SHOT"
corbstt's Challenge 10 FitzSlnInons Is
Made Pubits-Ths Mtg Californian
Wants Return Match sure Enonsh,


Ma,ls Pabite-Ths BiR Californian
Wants return Match suFr Enonsh'
CINCINNATI Dec. SO.-James J..
c,rls,, to-day gave to the TImes-star
FOR publication, his challenge to fight
Robert ]. Fltzslmmons. as follows;
Robert J. FIlzsImmons, champion OF
tho world: Your published declaration
Mr. Fl,ssmmons, that you intend re-
entering the ring, pleases me more than
IAN az present express to you, for I
know lhat the public esseems me to be
the only candidate Tor the honors you
thus place within reach, l am sorry,
however, to note tina; In wording this de-
rlaratlon, you give me the impression
chat since we LAST me; you have become
unwlsely forgettul. For instance. you
say thar before ! can claim return
match With you, must prove myself to
be worthy OF it, You certainly intended
this as joke for no one in the world
knows my ability better chan yourself.
You can not go soon have forgotten your
remark to me at Carson, Just after the
battle
Jim" you said In your simple, earn
est way, I'm never fight again You've
given me a bloody good licking"
You, the winner uttered these words
with your face and body so battered as
10 leave no doubt OF your sincerity While
]. the loser, listened with never n brulse
or scratch from head 10 foot, which could
contradict you. Is this consistent with
your'now requesting me to go prove my
self to be worthy opponent? You Will
find the confidence OF the public In my
ability to entertain you still mistaken.
You win ind that the public viii insist
upon your recognition OF 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 untruthfulness which
the printed remark alleged to have been
made by you would imply. ! prefer 10
think that those who have entered the
ring with me were men. honest, brave
and incapable OF the vulgar, lying and
cowardly language In which the news
paper version OF your remarks were
cuuched. However we'll | know that the
great journals try to be and usually are
accurate to the letter in reporting utter
ances made by important men upon such
important subjects, / prefer 10 believe
that in this case great error has been
made somehow. somewhere and for 4
purpose not worthy of one who WISHES
TO he considered above contempt.
hat the public expects from me is 70
maintain the manly diGnlty OF the ring
and not be hrawler nor shlfiy evAder
Of the honest principles which govern
honest men when adjusting their respee-
tive merits.
This IS all have to say.
But this is what propose to do: The
day We sign articles will give You $1,000
In recognition Of your courtesy. the
moment YOU enter the ring ready 10 offer
me battle / will give you a second thou
sand dollars IN token of my pleasure ON
the completion OF the tenth round II You
are still undefeated, / viii give You a
third thousEnd dollars as souvenir Of
my surprise Upon defeating me, no
matter In what round, | viii give YOU
$1,000 more as reminder that am not
an ungencrous foe
on the other hand, should You defeat
me, promise. If still able TO move, to
place my hat upon my head and then re-
moving Il IN your honor, TO proclaim you
IN frank and unmis taxable 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 one thousand clean, honestly
earned American dollars, given me by
the public shat believes In me. / have
this day forwarded these to VIII j..
Davis. OF Chicago. In testimony that l
mean every word have herein spoken.
JAMES J. CORBETT,
Champion OF America.