The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-18
Started for San Francisco Last Night
with n FOrtane to Pay for
His Bruised Face.
jim CORBETT HEARTBR0KEN
HE AND HIS FRIENDS SAY 1T WAS
SIMPLY A CHANCE BLOW.
Minor Contests Won by Hawkins i'm
Five Seconds and by Green in
the Eleventh Round.

CARSON CITY, New March 17-One of
the most dramatic features of the pugilistic
battle here to-day the part Mrs. Fitz-
simmons played in the victory of her hus-
band. Never before in the history of the
prize ring has a woman witnessed the
struggle of her husband for pugilistic hon
ors. and the new champions wife to-day es-
tablished a precedent which will hardly
ever be equaled. Up to the night before
the fight Mrs. Fitzsimmons declared she
would not be present at the ringside, but
at the last moment, despite advice of her
friends, she insisted on accompanying her
she entered the arena and appeared entirely
self-contained and unconcerned she took
her seat almost under the chair in Bob's
corner AS he came down the slope from
his dressing room Fitzsmmons stopped for
a moment at his wifes side. and STOPPING.
kissed her, as she said cheerily: Good
luck to you, Bob
For the first few rounds she sat quietly.
but as the rounds became hotter her ex-
citement mastered her and for the remain
der of the battle she stood on the floor or
chair, excitedly encouraging her husband
or hurling reproaches and instructions at
his seconds. AS the battle went on she
became more and more demonstrative,
sometimes breaking out with exclamations
which bordered on profane. AT every blow
which her lanky spouse received from his
antagonist her eyes bulged out, and, with
her fists clenched, she cried:
The hound, the puppy, the puppy. Punch
him. Bob. Kill him..
l. The plan of battle after the first round
was highly displeasing to Mrs. Fitzsimmons
and in no gentle terms she chided the sec
onds for not advising different tactics
Make him keep punching Corbetts wind
and he will VIM she screamed. You
idiots, you don't know how to second a
man: you have lost your senses. Do you
want to defeat my husband? DO as l tell
you now. or I'll make you wish you had!'
Not once during the entire scene did
shade of pallor cross the woman's face On
the contrary, her cheeks were fiery red, and
as she leaned over the railing in front of her
seat. her eyes blazing and her gloved fin
gers crushed into the palms OF her hands,
she looked veritable fury. AT the end
of every round as the New Zealander
stretched himself back in his chair. she
shouted to him words of encouragement
and advice, continually insisting that he
aim the blows at. Corbetts body and let
the face alone.
Its the only way to whip the hound
Bob" she cried over and over, land If you
a. Il *oII he
round. The whelp is going now. Hit on the
body; punch him in the wind, Bob"
When the end came and Corbett stayed
| on his knees until the fatal ten had been
counted. Mrs. Fitzsimmons went almost
mad with JOY. Shouting congratulatory
| and endearing terms to the conqueror. she
stood upon her chair waving her handker-
! chief until the tide of humanity which
swept down on the sides of the arena to-
| wards the ring carried her from the place.
| Where. from his corner Corbett made his
| to Fitzsimmons's corner and desperate
| ly attempted to continue the fight, the new
champions wife, beside herself with rage,
| clamored upon the platform and frantcally
| struggled to get at the defeated man.
| iii kill him." she screamed I'll kill
| the coward and Corbett would have had
woman to deal with, and a rather for
| midable woman at that, had several of her
friends not restrained her. She was also
| carried back to her husbands corner and
| then off the stage. AS soon as the turmoil
| inside the ropes had subsided she rlIs 81, :
/ to the conqueror's dressing room, where
she affectionately greeted him, unmindfdl
of the blood which dripped from his face
| and stained breast and arms.
II knew Bob would win," she said as she
| entered the carriage for the drive back TO
| Cooks ranch. II have been confident of il
| from the day of the match between the
men and l have grown more confident every
day since the training for this fight began.
1 My husband is the greatest fighter the
world has ever known and ii was only to
/ be expected that he would win the cham
pionship at the first opportunity he had.
| / am going back TO the baby now and tell
him that he is the son and namesake of the
champion OF the world. / am the happiest
woman in all the world to-day, but / am
not any happier than / expected TO be.
never had any idea OF Bobs losing. This
is only what l expected and the realization