The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-18
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Running Story of the Fight for the
Worlds Championship.

At 1906 the men stepped to the
almost expressionless, but Corbett
stood Hike a panther ready for the
spring, darling forward at the stroke
Of the gong with a fearful look of
hatred on his face. For a moment
the men danced around one another
and then Corbett's face assumed it's
customary fighting grin. And he set
tied down to fight for 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 first
round smiled at his opponent. Both
men were careful during clinches and
made no attempts to strike on break
Always. FftZSimmOnS held his own dur
ing this round. Every time either man
made a motion the crowd cheered.
In the second round the men grinned
at each other in a friendly way. Cor
bett landed two lefts on Fits stomach
and the crowd yelled too low" Cor
bett seemed to have the best of the
round but no blows were very hard.
When they came UP for the third
round Corbett lost no time but got in
a left on the stomach. Corbett seemed
supremely confident, while Fitz was q
little previous. The crowd shouted as
F1tz landed his left on the jaw Just
at the ringing of the bell Corbett was
about to hit Fftz whose arms were
down. He recovered himself, however
and both quit good naturally.
In the fourth COrbett landed a hard
right on Fits ear during a clinch
Fftz missed a vigorous left swing that
would have ended the business had
it landed. Fitz landed a left-hand
punch on Corbett's face and the crowd
roared. Both men were shOwered with
encouraging cries from the crowd The
round ended in a clinch, both men
laughing.
AS usual, in the fifth, Corbett struck
the first blow. Corbett seemed to be
able to land whenever he wished, while
F1tz was unable to hurt him. Fitzsim-
mons seemed tired when the round
closed and his mouth was bleeding.
Corbett tried to finish FitZsimmons
in the sixth. Fitz was covered with
blood, but was grinning. Finally Fitz
slipped and stayed down seven seconds
F1tZSlmmOnS was a horrible looking
sight, but was on his feet when the
round closed His mouth and nose
were bleeding and both he. and Corbett
were covered with crimson. The
clinches were frequent, and owing to
the Interpretation of rules, both men
were extremely careful on the break
aways. The picture of the two al
most naked men, their muscles strain
ing and cleaning in the brilliant sun
light, was like one from the Athenian
games. The partisans of the fight
yelled frantically at the fall of each
blow. Corbett's friends were in the
majority, but Fitz had plenty of sup
porters who were as wildly enthusiast
tic as those of the Californian
Fitz missed a desperate swing and
staggered in the seventh. Corbett was
cautious and waited to pick out a vul-
nerable spot. Neither man eXerted
himself, both needing rest. Fitzsim-
mons continually glanced at his wife,
who stood on a chair anxiously watch
ing him. Her face was pale and she
locked worried and FitZsimmons re
assuring but bloody smiles did not
seem to comfort her. Corbett evident
ly had more partisans among the spec
tators. Every time he landed, which was
about twice minute, there were cries
of KNOCK his head off; how do you
like it Bob?' FitZsimmons apparently
realized that his only show was at
close quarters, for he kept boring in
and finally he caught Corbett under
the chin with a left in the ninth, and
there was a roar from the crowd
In the tenth, when Fitz got in a right
on the body and a half on the jaw,
there were shrieks of delight as the
round closed. Corbett then lost his
| good nature, and went at Bob savage.
| ly. In the eleventh Fitz braced up
| and landed frequently. Jim seemed
tired. Mrs. Fitzsimmons yelled with
delight every time Bob landed blow,
waving a flag.
| Jims pompadour looked wilted, but
he seemed confident as ever when h.
came up in the twelfth round The
! crowd howled when Corbett missed d
vicious uppercut in a clnch Fitzsim-
mons was tired, but ugly He came up
| fresh for the thirteenth, and went at
| COrbett hard. He did no damage, how
ever. He would rush at Corbett and
| get him in a corner. but clever Jim
| easily lodged out of danger. Bob
| seemed to be willing to get all sorts
| of punishment if he could only land
blow. Jim was careful, though, and
| gave him no chance.
The fourteenth was the fatal round
| for Corbett. He had had the best Of
! it previously, but had been growing
| weaker, and not long after the call of
| time was at FitZsimmons mercy. A
! right on the chin was the beginning of
| the end. 1t staggered COrbett and
| broke his guard. Then came the ter
! rife jolt over the heart that sent the
! champion down and out. Corbett
! struggled to rise, but the fatal ten sec
onds were counted out before he could
| m