The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-06-15
THE PssING FrTZSI7MONS.


day night excited almost as much
interest and occupied as much space
in many of the newspapers as fresl-
Dental election. Thousands and
hundreds of thousands remained out
Of their beds to get news OF the result,
and the next day the newspaper ac-
counts Of the fight were eagerly read
by perhaps millions of people Any
thing like a fight arouses interest in
men and bows, whether it is a chicken
fight, q dog fight or fight between
Uncle Sam and Aguinaldo. Muscle
and brute force are also held in high
esteem ust as they were when
Samson, the champion heavyweight
Of Israel knocked out all corners and
walked away with the gates OF GAIA
on his back. This particular fight
between Bob Fitzsimmons and James
j. Jeffries was to settle the ''heavv-
weight championship of the world,
and incidentally to obtain possession
Of a purse of $25, 900. 1t was wit
messed by 5000 people, who paid
each for that high privilege sums
ranging from Is to five times that
amount. SO far we have heard no
complaints from ticket holders that
they did not get the worth of their
money. The sport was doubtless
brutalizing, but the spectators seem
to have enjoyed it. This is painful
reflection. Perhaps there was not
more surprise among the Phillistines
when their worlds champion, Goliath,
was knocked out by an unknown
lightweight than there was among
the hackers of FitZsimmOns upon his
defeat The odds were two to one in
his favor because he had fought such
remarkable battle in Nevada two
wears ago. And yet it is strange
that this former victory should have
inspired this confidence, for it is the
history of the worlds champions to
be superseded in a very short time.
The renowned John l.. Sullivan a few
wears ago met his Corbett; Corbett in
his turn went down before FitZsim-
mons, and now this champion of two
years standing has met defeat. 1t is
not certain whether this defeat is due
to the fact that better man has
arisen or whether the champion upon
reaching the proud eminence of
championship celebrates too much,
undermines his strength and goes
out of training. He that would win
the mastery must be temperate in all
things, as st. Paul most truly said.
Jeffries had the advantage Of the
Australian in many respects. Fitz-
simmons won his victory over Cor
bett more by his endurance and
ability to stand the punishment he
received than by superior skill.
Jeffres seems to be his superior in
the art Of boxing, and has the ad
vantage in weight and strength and
youth, the one being 81 years old
and the other "a. The father of the
victor, who is a minister of the
Gospel, is of the opinion that it was
the Lords arm that won the battle
for his son. But it was more likely
Jim's own arm, which had been
finely developed in the trade of
boilermaking.
The Hon. John J. Ingalls,, late
of the United States Senate, who
was Minister Pleni potentiary and
Ambassador Extraordinary from
New York paper to the Corbett-Fitz-
simmons fight, expressed the opinion
that prize-tghting is not at all a
brutal sport, but, on the contrary
rather gentle and ladylike. Perhaps
the distinguished statesman was
going to an extreme in this opinion.
Yet it does seem remarkable that
after this terrible fsticutf both men,
even the one who was knocked sense
less, in short time recovered and
neither seemed any the worse for the
mill the next day. This is partly
due to the gloves, which, to some ex
tent, prevent the ugly wounds which
would be inflicted by the sharp
knuckles. Mr.. Jetfries has now
reached a giddy pinnacle Of fame.
He is modest man, but truth and
candor compel him to admit that he
is now the best man in the world.
He has fought not as one who beateth
! the air.-Baltimore Sun