The record-union., 1899-06-10
The Australian Retired From the
Championship Glass,
Not of'nis Own voIition. But From Blows
ola Sturdy Californian.
James j. Jeffries, the Young Athle-
Citrus Belt, Defeats the Cham
pion Of Two Glasses in the
Eleventh Round of a Whirlwind
Fight at Coney Island.

Fight at Coney Island.
NEW YORK, June 9.-James J. JEFF
fries, another sturdy young giant, has
come out of the West to whip champion
pugilists. At the arena of the Coney
Island Athletic Club tonight he de-
feated Robert Fitzsimmons, world
champion in two classes-middle-w weight
and heavy weight-in eleven rounds OF
: whirlwind fighting.
4 He came to the ring a rank outsider
land left it the acknowledged master o,
the man he defeated. He was never al
any time in serious danger, and after
the size-up in the early rounds of tia
contest he took the lead. He had the
Australian whipped from the ninth
round. 1t was acknowledged that JEFF
fries would have an immense advantage
In weight, hight and age, but the thou
sands who tipped and backed his OPP
ponent to win were sure that he was
slow, and that he would, in that re-
spect, 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 mar
velously speedy for his immense size.
Less than a year ago he appeared i'll
New York a great awkward, ungainly
boy. To-day he is the 1.-the, active,
trained athlete. The men who prepared
him for his fight worked wonders with
him. They taught him a nearly perfect
6afl ir,nra -a6 hi ont
and Instructed him in the methods of
infiicting punishment. The transition
since he appeared last has been little
short of miraculous. At "a years of
age he defeated Robert Fitzsimmons,
Tom Sharkey and Peter Jackson, and
If he cares for himself he will prota bly,
be able to successfully defend the title
for many years.
The defeated pugilist was as good as
on the crispy morning when, on the
plains of away Nevada, 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. He went unfalteringly to
his defeat. He was the aggressor even
at the moment when he was bleeding
and unsteady, and when stunned by
the blows he received he reeled instinct
lively toward his opponent. He was
fighting all the time, and punished his
opponent, but found him different
opponent than any he had met and in
difficult attitude to fight.
Jeffries fought from a crouching atti-
tude that was hard to get at He held
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 pun
ishment
1t was a great fight to watch, and
commenced and ended amid scenes of
intense excitement. 1t was all very
dramatic
The men fought before a crowd of
5000 persons. and stood up in a great
beam of binding white light. 1t was
like a thousand calciums, and it showed
their great white bodies in strange re-
lief. When the blood came it was of
was no suggestion of interference from
the police. Chief Devery occupied a
seat at the ringside, but he never en-
tered the ring. When it was over he
sent Captain Kenney to clear the ring.
The contest was pulled off without a
wrangie, and was devoid of the brutal
elements that Chief Devery alleged he
feared
,-,4l-
greater order and less friction. 1t was
all p fectly orderly. There was absolute
ly no confusion attendant upon the as
semblage and housing of the big crowd.
Several thousand of those provided with
tickets came to the Beach late in the
afternoon, and their action relieved the
pressure during the early hours of the
evening.
The lateness of the hour at which the
contestants were announced to appear
kept the crowd from seeking the Coney
Island Club house very early, and
Coney Island, with it's merry go
rounds. Ferris wheels, gilded cafes
jugglers and bespangled dancers, fur
nished ample amusement and entertain
ment during the wait. 1t all made a
strange scene. Crowds thronged the
S1ttlS anu SuTSed oiiiohS thc
stands and stalls of the ready-tongued
fakirs. The lights of the curious town
were never brighter, and the strange
devices that made apologize music
We're never worked harder. The many
places where liquid and solid refresh
ments We're dispensed were packed to
overlooking, and everywhere the buzz OF
conversation was freighted with fight
talk. 1t was on everybody's lips. En-
thusiasts touted their favorites Here
F1tzsimmons would win i'm walk, there
Jenries was a sure victor The news
boys shouted late extras that told al
about it, and fakirs offered the lates.
pictures of the two giants who were tc
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 ami the
Tftzsfmme MS people Were slow to give it
The great house filled very slowly
and it was after o o'clock before the po-
lice had to bestir themselves ard clea,
the ajsles. Time seemed TO drag and
the absence of any prelfn1.nery contest
gave the crowd fight appetite They