Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-25
FlTZ THE WINNER
CORBETT WHIPPED IN THE FOUR.
TENTH ROUND.

a Left Jab Under the Heart Finishes
the Champion-Corbett Had All
the Hest of the Fight and Several
Times 1t Was Thought the Aus
trailian WINS Dune for, hut u
Lucky Blow Ended the Fight.
Carson. New, March 10. - Under a
clear sky and in valley 5000 feet
above the sea, cfrcled by the snow
capped mountains, which glistened in
the bright sunlight, making q picture
such as was never seen before on an
OCCASION of the kind. James J. Corbett
went down to defeat before Robert
Fitzsilnmons, who became the cham
pion heavyweight pugilist of the
world. The victory was not gained
without q struggle; in fact, victory did
not seem possible until the last mo-
ment of the battle. He was giving
every indication of slowly going to
pieces when he delivered a blow in a
vital part and followed it with two
others which sent the Californian to
the floor with the agony Of pain and
despair imprinted on his face, and he
was unable to- rise within the limit
which would save him. When the
defeated champions finally arose with
the assistance of his attendants and
recovered sufficiently from his dazed
condition to realize the calamity that
had befallen him., he broke out with
all the
Fury of Am Enraged, Animal,
and discarding all the rules which
-, 80 ,s4l. I oS,,Io
rushed at his victorious opponent and
made vain attempt to beat him over
the ropes, only desisting when his own
seconds and friends forced him away.
And then the new champion was
borne to his dressing room, amid the
cheers of the 5000 people who were
in the arena, accompanied by his Sec
ends and trainers; and also by his
wife, who had watched the contest
from Il position within few feet of
the ring side, and who had taken in
every detail, even at the time when it
seemed that her husband would be
knocked insensible at her feet.
Tt was great contest, but notwith-
standing the cheers. for the victor, the
majority of those who witnessed the
fight, could not but feel a sense Of dis
appointment at the result, believing, as
they did, that victory was taken from
COrbett at a moment when he seemed
sure of gaining it himself.
1t was q moment after the noon
hour when the principals and their
seconds appeared and both were
greeted with great cheers. George
Siler, the referee, arranged the few
preliminary matters in q short time,
and about 1910 the battle commenced.
Little was accomplished by either Of
the men in the first round, but in the
next few rounds
Corbett Had Every Advantage.
In the fifth round he punched Fitz-
simmons severely, battering him on
the face until the blood streamed from
his face and he finally sank to his
knees to avoid further punishment,
remaining there until nearly all the
allotted time had expired, when he
arose and succeeded in continuing the
contest for the few remaining seconds
of the round. Nearly all the specta-
tors thought the end was at hand then,
but; the Australian rallied and fought
game battle for nearly eight rounds
more, though there were several &C.
casions during that time when Cor
bett seemed to have had him going.
He did land number of blows on
Corbett, but they seemed to have little
effect on him. At the opening of the
fourteenth and last round Corbett
looked the winner. Though some
what tired, he was still strong and
was displaying more science and con-
tinued to pound the Australian and
keep up the flow of the stream Of
blows. And then came the final blow
and the end. The blow which ended
the fight was left-hand punch de-
livered just below the heart 1t was
all the more effective for the reason
that Corbett was leaning backward
when it came. 1t caught him on the
tensely drawn muscles just over the
spleen and must have caused the most
intense agony. Corbett was more I'M
conscious from pain than from the
force of the blow. AS he lay writing
and groveling on the floor his face
presented the most CHASTITY appearance
imaginable. No man in q last death
struggle could have
Mortified the Spectators
more, and his agonizing cries of pain
could be heard above the cheers for
the victor And: then followed the
widest scene of the day, when he rose
to his feet and with all the strength
he had left, rushed at his opponent and
tried to finish the contest. Those
nearest the ring jumped over the
ropes in spite Of all efforts of the po-
lice to prevent them, and in a moment
the entire enclosure. was filled with q
bowling, shouting mob, and the noise
and confusion were SO great that the
referee was hardly able. to announce
his decision awarding the battle to
Fitzsimmons. In the midst Of it all
Corbett, who had been forced to his
corner by his friends, broke away
from them and rushed at Fitzsimmons
a second time, but this time, instead
Of attempting to renew the fight he
implored his victor to give him another
chance and to accept challenge from
him. This was refused and warm
words followed. Fftzsmmons was
borne away with all the glory of his
newwon victory, and Corbett left to
return to his home in San Francisco,
carrying with him the despair Of de-
feat.