Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-10

ana gloved. When they squared on JenrieS
looked fifty pounds to the good. The open
ing round was try out pure and simple
and not a single blow of an effective ma
ture was landed. First one was the pace
maker and then the other essayed the
pressing. They were almost equally active
and the clever work recompensed the crowd
for the lack of excitement. The second
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 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. Fitzsiuimons was
bleeding but fighting viciously. He made
the pace, but it was the Californian 5
round. The fourth was fast but not de-
cisive.
Fitzsimmons made his best showing dur
ing the fifth. He began the round with a
punch that opened Jeffries' left eye and
sent little torrent of blood coursing down
his cheek. He forced Jeffries against the
ropes. but the Californian slipped away
from him. He made Jeffries hug again,
but then the round ended and Jeffries was
aggressor in the sixth, and that, too, was
his round. He tried all of his tricks with
left and right, but was unable to place
them right. He closed with strong right
uppercut, but that, too, was blocked. The
seventh might be said to have been Fitz-
simmons, but he did no particular dam
age with his punches. The eighth saw the
beginning of the end, for Fitzsimmons
never regained his balance after that
round. Jeffries began the round with a
straight left ON the face that again brought
the blood out of his opponents mouth.
The Cornishman staggered 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 lefts on
Jeffries' jaw and staggered him against
the ropes. Fitzsimmons looked like beat
en- 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 punishment. 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 opponent and
downed him with a left swing. Fitzsm-
mons seemed out and there was 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 Fitzsmmons 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 a frantic ef-
fort 10 revive the champion of champions,
but he was cleanly gone and his seconds
could not restore him.
The fate-like gong changed again and the
old fighter wabbled out TO meet the sturdy
young Hercules who awaited him. 1t was
as courageous and gritty as a dash up to
the firing line in battle, but it was hope
less. They were together. 1t was a splen-
did moment and full of all that dramatic
intensity that characterizes a tragedy.
Jeffries was as fresh as at the start. There
was a moment of sparring and the giant
arms of the Californian shot through the
air. 1t was left and right-and over. FitZ-
simmons, limp and unconscious, dropped
TO the floor. Jeffries stepped back, for he
knew the force that he had put behind
his terrible blows The timers called off
the seconds that counted out an old ring
hero and heralded another. but nobody
heard them. The crowd was on its feet
bowling. There was a rush for the ring
Dut scores or DiuecOatS barred the way.
Ten seconds are. short and when the tenth
had come there was a new roar of excite
ment to welcome the victor. Julian.
Hickey, Kenney and Everhardt gathered
UP. the prostrate man. He was still in a
trance. They carried him to his corner
and little blood oozed from his mouth as
new hero crossed the ring and shook the
hand of his rival after which he was sur
rounded by his friends who hustled him
from the ring and into his dressing room
Jeffries had the good wishes Of his clergy
man father out at Los Angeles. This wire
was placed in his hand as he reached the
"Jim:-We know you will win. Kesp
good spirits; be confident of our blessing.
FATHER, MOTHER AND FAMILY,
Fftzsimmons was the first to enter the
ring. He was preceded by Juiiaf, and
accompanied by Yank Kenney and Jack
Everhart: an immense floral horseshoe was
ton. Good Luck to the Champion" When
Eitz took his seat in the lucky corner,
Hickey. his other sparring partner, arrived
A minute later Jeffries climbed through
the ropes accompanied by Manager W. h
Brady, Billy Delaney, Jack Jeffries and Jim
Daly He was also greeted with loud
Referee Siler entered the ring at 1O:14.
and few minutes later the men were in
Burns. =
No weights were announced. but Jeffries
looked as if he had fifty pounds the best
Referee siler called the principals to the
center OF the ring at 1921, and they shook
hands just as the gong sounded.
Round BELL rings. Both met in center
OF ring. They feinted with Fitz breaking
ground, Jeffries keeping almost in the mid
die of the ring. Jeffries is evidently trying
TO get right Fitz led for the head. but JEFF
ducked cleverly, but fell short He led for
stomach and again fell short. Again he led
a left swing for jaw. but Fitz was out of
the way. JEFF tried right for body and
away clean. Fitz tried left, landing JefY
tried a straight left for jaw but did not
reach and Fftz blocked an attempt at a.
left hook. shooting his left to the ear as
the bell rang. :
Round 2-Fitz in middle ring made JEFF
fries break ground Fitz sent left to body.
Jeffries countered with stiff left on face
Jef tried left for body; was neatly blocked
Jen then assumed a crouching attitude
boring In with left on body, but was again
blocked and they came to clinch. Jeff
landed two lefts on body and shot the left
three times to Fitz' face without a return
f'itz tried his right for the head, but was
short, and they came to a clinch the ref
cree going between them. Jeft tried a left
chop for the head, but Fitz ducked safely
jeff tried a left swing for the head, and
another for the body. but Fitz ducked
away from him.. JEFF knocked Fitz flat on
his back with a straight left on the mouth
The champion was up in two seconds and
then the bell rang and they went to their
corners.
Round S-Fitz looked very determined
when he came up for this round. with jeff
ries on the aggressive. They clinched twice
without doing damage. Fitz tried right
hook for the body, but failed to land. It