The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-11
CORBETT'S PROPOSITION.
Offers Fitz $500 if He Doesn't Put
Him Out in 10 Rounds.

St. Louis, Jan. 11-At the close of the
second act of James J. COrbett's play,
"A Naval Cadet" at Havlin's theater
last night COrbett stepped before the
curtain and announced that he offers
Fitzsimmons $35 900 for a finish fight,
the entire sum to go to FitzsimmOnS If
COrbett fails to put him out in ten
rounds. COrbett intended to issue this
challenge on January II, but decided
to make it public last night. The chal-
1enge reads as follows:
Robert Fitzsimmons:-You are in
juring your best interests, Mr.. Fitz-
simmons, by Offering as your only re-
ply to my courteous letter of December.
Neither of US is qualified for oratory,
and the public is not entertained by
your wrangling over what is palpably
an honest proposition, more to your ad
vantage than mine.
LAS a last inducement to overcome
your obvious reluctance to meet me
again, 1 will make that proposition still
more favorable, thus:
Your profits from your four great
est battles were: Battle with Dempsey,
SIP, 900; battle with Maher, $40, 600; bat
tie with Hall, $1,000 6he offered purse
was $40, 900, but the club failed); battle
with CreedOn, $4,000, making total of
49,. 900.
You made nothing out of your fight
with me, for having no hope of winning
you sold your chance for the purse for
Is per cent Of the profits in the veri-
therefore. 1872, 900 represents your
reward in gross for the five greatest
contests of your life. Now listen to
"A purse of $25, 900 stands ready to be
offered as a prize for a meeting in the
ring with you. To this I will add $10,-
900 of my own cOnditiOnally, that you
agree to box me to a finish. This makes
$35, 600. I offer you this entire sum if
fail to stop you in ten rounds-with two
provisions, viz:
''F'irSt-That the contest must con-
tinue to finish, and,
'Second-That 1 shall have some
thing to say in regard to the appoint
ment of a referee who will not be I'M
fairly prejudiced in your favor.
This is my final proposition. Take
it or leave it. If you really want fight
it offers you the opportunity. If you
want money! sum is ready, exceed
ing your gross receipts in five battles.
If you want reputation, you can make
it better by meeting me than by meet
ing all others together. If you doubt
this ask the public each night when
you exhibit.
THAT is my ultimatum. am tired
of this character. 1 want work, not
talk. Paper gabblings do not suit me
and abuse is a towards weapon.
IF this, my last offer, will not make
you meet me like man, it is because
your Carson bruises are still aching so
painfully that even $780, 600 cannot tempt
you TO endure their certain renewal
That is the only excuse you can now
offer, or the American public will ac-
C6pl-
1.-THE tree of success is hard to climb
I admit It may be that you are salts
fed with the small fruit ripening on the
lower limbs. The great prize can only
be won by reaching to where my name
was, is, and shall be.
But, whether you will so venture or
not, this, my last challenge to you-and
to bind which I shall post $4,000 for
felt the moment you accept-remains
nailed where you must see and cannot
avoid it.