The Anaconda standard., 1899-06-10
GIANT CALIFORNIAN IS
''''' ''@'' CHAMPION CHAMP N Of THE WORLD
Jeries Lowered the Australians Colors in Eleven Rounds
Of Whirlwind Fighting Came In an Outsider and
Leftthe Master Of the Ring-His Trainers
Worked Wonders With HINT
Was Dramatic Fight.

New York, June 9.-James j. JeHries,
another sturdy young giant. has come
out Of the West to whip champion pugi-
lists. At the arena of the Coney Island
Athletic club tonight he defeated Rob-
ert F'itzsimmons, the worlds champion
in two ses-middleweight and
heavyweight--in IL rounds of whirl-
wind fighting. He came to the ring a
rank outsider, and left it the acknowl-
edged master Of the man he defeated
He was never at any time in serious
danger, and after the size up in the
early rounds of the contest took the
lead. He had the Australian whipred
from the ninth round. It was acknowl-
edged that Jeffries would have an i'm
| mense advantage in weight, height and
age, but the thousands who tipped and
backed his opponent to win were sure
that he was slow and that he would in
that respect, be absolutely at the mercy
of the past master at the science of
fighting that he was to meet. He
| proved, on the contrary, that he was
just as fast as the man he met and
beat him down to unconscious defeat in
fair fight. He is veritable giant in
stature and marvelously speedy for his
immense size. Less than year ago
he appeared in New York. a great, awk-
ward, ungainly boy. To-day he is the
1.-the, active, alert, trained athlete. The
men who prepared him for his fight
worked wonders with him. They taught
i'm or1xy Iafa
his foot movement and instructed him
in the methods Of inflicting punishment.
The transition since he appeared last
has been little short of miraculous. At
"a he defeated Robert Fitzsimmons,
Tom Sharkey and Peter jackson, and,
if he cares for himself. he will probably
be able to successfully defend the title
for many years. The defeated pugilist
was as good as on the crisp morning,
when, on the plains of far-away Ne
yada, he lowered the colors of the then
peerless Corbett He was just as active,
just as clever, just as tricky and just
as fearless of punishment.
Game to the Last.
He went unfalteringly to his defeat.
ment when he was bleeding and un-
steady and, when stunned by the blows
he received, he reeled instinctively to-
ward his opponent. He was fighting all
the time and punished his opponent,
but found him a different opponent
than any he had met and a difficult
man to fight. Jeffries fought from d
crouching attitude that was hard to
get at. He had his head low, his back
was bent down and his left arm was
extended. He kept jabbing away with
the left and found no trouble in landing
it. 1t was there that his superior reach
told. That giant arm served as a sort
of human fender to ward off danger.
He showed an excellent defense and the
ability to use both hands with skill
He is game, too, for he never shrank
from his punishment. It was great
| fight to watch and commenced and end
ed amid scenes of intense excitement.
1t was all very dramatic.
The men fought before a crowd
of 5000 persons and stood up in great
beam of binding white light. 1t was
| like a thousand calciums and it show
ed their great white bodies in strange
relief. When the blood came it was
of more intense red than usual.
An Orderly Crowd.
There was no suggestion of interfer-
ence from the police. Chief Devery oc-
eupied seat by the ringside, but he
never entered the ring. When it was
over he sent Captain Kenny in to clear
| the ring. The contest was pulled off
without wrangle and was devoid of
| the brutal element that Chief Devery
| alleged he feared. Never was a crowd
| handled with greater order and less
| friction. 1t was all perfectly orderly.
There was absolutely no confusion
| attendant upon the assemblage and
| l. III
| thousand of those provided with tick
cts came to the beach late in the after
noon and their action relieved the pres
| sure during the earlier hours of the
| evening. The lateness of the hour at
| which the contestants We're announc
ed to appear kept the crowd from
| seeking the Coney Island club house
very early and Coney, with is mer-
| ry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, gilded
! cafes jugglers and bespangled dancers,
| furnished ample amusement and en-
| tertainment during the wait. 1t all
| made a strange scene. Crowds throng-
| ed the streets and sursed around
| among the stands and stalls of the
| ready -tongued fakirs. The lights of
| the curious theater were never bright
| er. and the strange devices that make
| apologetlc music were never worked
harder The many places where liquid
and solid refreshments were dispens-
ed We're packed to oyerHoWlng, ana
everywhere the buzz of conversation
was freighted with fight talk. 1t was
| on evefybody's lips. Enthusiasts tout
ed their favorites. Here Fitzsimmons
| would win in a walk, there Jeffries was
| a sure victor. The newsboys shouted
| late extras that told all about it and
fakirs offered the latest pictures of
the two giants who were to fight.
Through it all there was very little
betting. There was plenty of money
ready on both sides. but nobody liked
the odds The Jeffries people wanted
two for one for their collateral and the
Fitzsimmons people were slow to give
it
The great house filled very slowly and