The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-13
stormy Conference Between the Rep
resentatives of james j. COrbett
and Robert FitzsimmOns.
BAD CASE OF JULIAN JAW"
THAT THREATENED SEVERAL TIMES
TO KILL OFF THE BIG FIGHT.
Weak Points En- the Argument of
Flies Man Exposed by Brady, and
Agreement Finally Reached.

IA L Il
conference which at times nearly resulted
in the spelling of the chances OF the big
fight being pulled off, was held this after
noon between Martin Julian, representing
FitZsimmons and William A. Brady for Cor
bett, over tho construction put on the Mar
qui5 of Queensberry rules, and the end was
that Julian. after directing strenuously on
the right of the referee making any ruling
whatever before the men entered the ring
and against the hitting with one arm free
and in the breakaways, gave way entirely
and consented that the men should hit with
the one free arm and on the breakaways
The fight viii, therefore, be fought in ac-
cordance with the Interpretation of the
Marquis of Queensberry rules made by Ref
cree Siler.
1t at times Stony conference, and
time and again the smash-up was perious-
ly near and again it was only avert
ed by the most narrow margins. Brady,
at the outset, took the stand that Corbett
was willing TO abide by the decision of
the referee, no matter what the decision
might be. The champion, he said, was
willing TO fight just as Siler said. Julian,
| on the other hand, maintained that there
was no right vested liz the referee to make
| any ruling whatever until the men were
ready TO fight. He claimed Fitzsimmons
| had always fought IA good, fair, square
| fight" and in all his fights the hitting has
| been with both arms free and that all
| breakaways should be clean. Corbett, he
said, had won the championship OF the
| world in a fight conducted under such con-
! ditiOns and methods which were good
enough to win the championship and were
| good enough TO defend it. "Fitzsimmons,
| l say, frankly" said Julian, lis not ex-
perienced in hitting with one arm free He
| has always met his battles fairly, and he
warts to fight this one fairly. We cannoc
| give in on this proposition and If Corbett
will not agree TO night with clean break
Always we are willing to fight him under
the rules OF the London prize ring
| THAT is a good thngv broke in Brady
| You say Fitzsimmons is not accustomed to
| hghting in anything but the most open
| fashion, and yet he is willing to fight un-
der the London priZe-ring rules which al
| low wrestling hitting with one arm free,
biting, gouging and heaven knows what.
| III he Is not willing To night with one free
| arm II is queer that he should be willing
| TO fight under the rules which allow that
| worse.
we want It the one way or the other"
| said Julian, mot a mix-up of Queensberry
and London prize-ring rules"
| STUART WAS SCARED.
The argument went on and on. each man
| n,
Dan Stuart sat listening, his hair turning
gray as he saw all the chances of the great
fight ending in miserable row over a
technically in the rules. Siler took part in
the argument and he and Julian went over
the same ground that Brady and Julian
had travelled before. Over and over il they
went. going always in a circle and winding
| up at practically the same point every
time, Julian insisting that hitting with the
| one free arm and on the breakawayS was
not strictly Marquis OF Queensberry rules
| and Siler insisting it was the very sense
| OF the aforesaid rules. Finally Julian said:
| Well L will make this Propositions: / am
willing to leave it to MIR. Stuart and abide
| by his decision.
Il don't think 1 capable of deciding
a technical point in prize ring rules" said
| Stuart, and / hardly care to undertake to
make the decision.
Then l am willing to agree to leave the
matter with you and Siler." said Julian.
| although Siler has already declared him.
| self on the question:
| This suited Brady and the jury retired
returning in a few minutes with the an
nouncement they had decided to uphold the
Interpretation of the rules made by Mr.
Siler. Julian hesitated for some moments
1t was after o'clock when the confer
ence opened. Three was the hour set. but
Julian was somewhat late in arriving.
StuartS office was found too small TO ac-
commodate the members of the conference
and the correspondents and an adjournment
|
opened the talk by addressing Brady: Il
wanted TO see you he said. about one or
two things in these rules that DO not seem
to be right. Rule l says il is to be a fair,
stand-up boxing match in a twenty-four-
foot ring. and Rule 2 that no hugging. or
wres 'iirg is 10 ne a!5oweu ou. MI. SiieF
| Queensberry rules. which is the contest in
| all respects to be governed by the revised
| rules of the London prize ring. | consider
that one of the most important of the
| twelve rules. and il appears to have been
| the bone of contention in almost every con-
| test. IL has been the custom OF referees,
myself among them. TO inquire of the prin-
| CipalS whether they choose to hit in
| clinches with one arm free and also on
the breakaways. Invariably the principals
| agree not TO hit in clincheS or in the break
| Always. but they generally forget all about
their agreement and frequently violate it,
This. then. causes not only the seconds
but the spectators TO cry foul every time
blow is delivered in a clinch or in a
breakaway and causes much argument. Ii
| also makes the duties of a referee arduous
and disagreeabe and keeps him continually
in hot water Furthermore II gives the
referee opportunity to decide contest
on technical foul. which is generally un-
satisfactory TO everybody concerned"
JULIAN'S BACKDOWN.
Then the crossfire of words began, Brady
meeting all of Julians objections and say
ing Corbett wanted nothing but "A fair
fight. After the decision, announced above,
had been made. Julian advanced to the
|
| why it should be expected that Fitzsim-
mons should always give away everything
in his fights l don't consider Siler's ruling
as according to the Marquis of Queens
| berry rules, and | think. as 1 told Brady
| that the rules that were good enough 70
| enable Corbett to win the championship
ought TO be good enough for him 10 defend
| il. We want nothing but what is fair &c
! both men. and, although as i said in meet
ing, he is not good ut that style OF nsht-
ing and we know that Coroett Is good at IL
we are willing TO give Corbett all of that
| chance and then we vii! have him licked
Just the same FitZSimmonS may not be
good COrbett at Just that particular
| thing, but ! guess he Is enough better IN
| other ways TO more than onset the adVan-
tage Corbett Will have in this respect
| titZsmmons will win sure enough. no mat.
, ter what the style of lighting is
The red-haired fighter himself did not ap-
pear TO be OVerpeased with the result OF
the conference but he did not lose any oi
the confidence that has characterized hin
ever since he began training Tor the hight
Il have always fought under the rules as
meaning the shall not hit with one
arm free and with all the breakaways
Clean" said FitZsimmons, and this Is
| rather new thing for me. corbett has
won all of his fights under the rules as
want them and do not see why he should
| make a holler for something different this
| time. However. / have always given in OF
| everything 10 everybody, and l am willing
| TO give I'm on this | want the fight 10 be
| on the square. and know viii win it,
| will be the winner of that fight on the nth
of March Just as sure as | am alive TO.
day. Corbett cannot lick me. and he viii