Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-06-17
EFFR|ES Is CHAMPION.
Fitzsimmons Is Knocked Out in the
Eleventh Round.
KANGAROO GAME TO THE LAST.

kANGAhUU 0AmE III HE LAO IL
New YORK, June 10.-James J. JEFF
fries, another sturdy young giant, has
come out of the West to whip cham
pion pugiIists. At the arena of the
Coney Island Athletic Club last night
he defeated Robert Fitzsimmons,
worlds champion in two classes-mid-
dleweight and heavyweight-in eleven
rounds of whirlwind fighting. He
came to the ring a rank outsider and
left it the acknowledged 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 whipped from the
ninth round It was acknowledged
that Jeffries would have an immense
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 he was to meet.
He proved on the contrary that he
was iuot as fast as the man he met,
and beat him down to unconscious de-
feat in fair fight. He is a verita BILE
giant in stature and marvelously
speedy for his immense size. Less
than year ago he appeared in New
York great, awkward, ungainly boy.
When they squared off Jeffries
looked fifty pounds to the good The
opening round was a try out, pure
and simple, ands not a single blow of
an effective nature was landed First
one was the pacemalzer and tEen the
other essayed the pressing. They
were almost equally active and the
clever work recompensed the crowd
for the lack of excitement. The sec.
ond round began in a business-like
way with Jeffries trying his left.
Fitzsimmons then took a turn, but
was short. Just as the round closed
Jeffries downed Fitzsimmons with a
hard straight left on the jaw. The
champion came up slowly in a dazed
sort of way and reeled toward his
man. The crowd cheered Jeffries, but
the gong ended the round.
Fitzsimmons rallied in the rest and
was aggressive in the third. Fitzsim-
mons was bleeding but fighting vic
iously. He made the pace, but it was
the Californian's round. The fourth
was fast but not decisive
Fitzsimmons made his best showing
during the fifth. He began the round
with punch that opened Jeffries' left
eye and sent a little torrent of blood
coursing down his cheek. He forced
Jeffries against the ropes, but the CAL
ifornian slipped away from him. He
made Jeffries hug again, but then the
round ended and Jeffries was back and
fighting. Fitzsimmons was aggressor
in the sixth, and that, too, was his
round He tried all his tricks with
left and right, but was unable to
place them right. He closed with a
strong right uppercut, but that, too,
was blocked. The seventh might
be said to have been Fitzsimmons',
but he did ne particular damage with
his punches. The eighth saw the be-
ginning of the end, for Fitzsimmons
never regained his balance after that
round. Jeffries began the round with
straight left on the face that again
brought the blood out of his oppo-
pent's mouth. The Cornishman stag
gered against the ropes, but came
back again for another facer. There
was fear in Fitzsimmons' corner and
Julian yelled to Fitzsimmons to be
careful.
Fitzsimmons planted one of his let's
on Jeffries' jaw and staggered him
against the ropes. Fitzsimmons
looked like a beaten man.
The ninth was all Jeffries'. He sent
the Australians head back with a
series of lefts, put his right on the
body and avoided any serious punish
ment. Fitzsimmons kept pressing
forward all the time, however, but
was unable to find his opponent
The tenth was in reality where the
fight ended. Jeffries rushed his oppo-
nent and downed him with left
swing. Fitzsimmons seemed out and
there was a moment of the widest
excitement. Julian ran along the side
of the ring and sprinkled water on
his fallen idol. At the end of seven
seconds Fitzsimmons staggered to his
feet only to go down again. He was
up again and Jeffries poised himself
for the finish. He shot his left to the
body and tried for the head with his
right. He was calm and collected,
but the time was too short. Again
did the gong come to the aid of the
man who was then going, staggering
and dazed, to certain defeat. There
was frantic effort to revive the
champion of champions, but he was
clearly gone and his seconds could
not restore him.
Jeffries had the good wishes of his
4. +
This wire was placed in his hand as
he reached the ring:
"Jim:-We know you will win.
Keep good spirits; be confident of our
blessing.
FATHER, MOTHER AND FAMILY"