The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
DAILY NEWS OF SPORT.
COrbett Grows Generous To-
wards FitzsimmOns.
Offers Him Several Thousand
Dollars to Enter the Ring.
Declares That Fitz Told Him He
(Fitz) Was Defeated Fairly at Car
son -Pompadour Jim Talks
Like John L. With a
"Jag" On.

Cincinnati. Dec. S1.-James ]. Corbett
has given to the Times-star for publica-
ton his challenge to fight Robert Fitz-
simmons, as follows:
Robert ]. Fitzsimmons Champion of the
World:
Your published declaration. Mr. Fitz-
simmons, that you intend re-enterlng the
ring, pleases me more than I at pres
ent express to you, for 1 know that the
public esteems me to be the only candi-
date for the honors you thus place with
in reach.
I am sorry, however. to note that 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 I
can claim return match with you,
must prove myself worthy of it. You
certainly intend this as a joke, for no one
in the world knows my ability better than
yourself You cannot so soon have for
gotten your remark at Carson, just after
the battle. jim you said, in your sim
pie, earnest way, III never fight again.
You've given me a bloody good licking
You. the winner. uttered these words.
with face and body so battered as to leave
no doubt of your sincerity, while 1, the
loser listened with never a bruise or
scratch from head to foot which could
contradict you.
rs this consistent with your now re-
questing me to prove myself to be
worthy opponent? You will find the con-
ndence of the public in my ability to en-
tertain you still mistaken You will find
that the public will insist on your recog-
nizing my claim that you must meet me
again. But surely you have been mis-
represented. I refuse to credit you with
the lame memory, broken Judgment, poor
taste and entire untruthfulness which the
printed remarks alleged to have been
made by you imply. I prefer to think
that those who have entered the ring with
me were men, honest. brave and incapa-
Bile of the vulgar, lying and cowardly
language in which the newspaper version
of your remarks couched. How
ever well know that the great journals
try to be, and usually are, accurate to the
letter in reporting utterances made by i'm
portant men upon important subjects, l
prefer to believe that in this case a grave
error has been made somehow, somewhere
and for a purpose not worthy of one who
wishes to be considered above contempt
What the public expects from me is
to maintain the manly dignity of the ring
and not be a brawler. nor a shifty evader
of the honest principles which govern
honest men when adjusting their re-
spective merits
This is all have to say But TINS IS
what 1 propose to do:
The day we sign articles I will give
YOU 81 900 in recognition of your courtesy
THE moment you enter the ring ready
to offer me battle I will give you a sec
ond thousand dollars in token OF my
pleasure.
Upon the completion of the tenth
round, if you are still undefeated, 1 will
give you third thousand dollars as a
souvenir of my surprise
Upon defeating you, no matter in what
round I will give you two thousand dol
lars more as a reminder that 1 am not
an ungenerous foe.
ION the other hand should you again
defeat me. I promise, if still able to move
to place my hat upon my head and then
removing it in your honor. to proclaim
YOU in frank and unmistakable terms to
be my superior and state that 1 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 pub
lie that believes in me. 1 have this day
forwarded these to VIII J. Davis of Chi
cago in testimony that I mean every
word I have herein spoken.
"(Signed) JAMES ]. CORBETT,
champion of America.
e.Cfncfnnati o. Dec. 80 1897"