The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-10

They began calling for the performance
at $50 and at 9:45 were demonstrative.
Jeffrfes was the first of the principals
to appear. He came through the main
entrance and walked the length of the
hall at 9:20 to an accompaniment of
cheers while Fftzsimmons. who was
accompanied by his Sparring partner
and wife, gained the building and dress
ing room by a rear door.
The disagreement as to the condi-
tons of clincheS and breaks was dis
cussed and settled outside OF the ring
and there was but little delay when
the terms were agreed upon.
Fitzsimmons' entry into the ring at
1O:U0 O'CLOCK was made the occasion of
a rather theatrical demonstra ton. Jul
ian was first and then came the fighter
The seconds were next in line and then
came two men bearing a great floral
piece that was almost funereal in its
appearance. 1t was inscribed Good
luck to the champion" but the flowers
are wilted now. Fitzsimmons bowed
tremendously to it.
JeffrieS next came into the arena and
like his opponent, got a demonstrative
reception.
Fitz looked lanky and thin. but his
step elastic. He made a great display
of American flags at his waist
Jeffries looked sturdy and massive
and seemed a little nervous He got
the worst of the assignment of corners,
for the great lights shown into his face
and he blinked at them in a nervous
sort of way. Siler, too, looked colorless
and i'll at ease.
There was no trying delay in the
ring and the big gong sounded out just
as soon the men had been presented
and gloved When they squared off
Jeffries looked so pounds to the good.
FITZ KNOCKED DOWN.
The opening round was a try out,
pure and simple and not a single blow
of an effective nature was landed.
First one was the pacemaker 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 bust
ness-like way with Jeffries trying his
left. Fitzsimmons then took a turn,
but it 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 towards
his man. The crowd cheered Jefries,
but the gong ended the round
Fitzsimmons rallied in the rest and
was aggressive in the third. Fitz was
bleeding, but fighting viciOusly. He
made the pace, but it was the Califor-
MANS round. The fourth was fast, but
not decisive.
FITZ DOES WE'LL.
Fitz made the best showing during
the fifth. He began the round with a
punch that opened Jeffries' left eye
and sent a little torrent of blood cours-
ing down his cheek. He forced Jeffries
against the ropes, but the Californian
slipped away from him. He made JET
fries hug again, but then the round
ended and JeffrieS was back and fight
ing.
Fitzsimmons was the 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 a strong right
upper cut, but that, too. was blocked.
The seventh might be said to have
been Fitzsimmons'. but he did no par
ticular damage with his punches.
The eighth saw the beginning of the
end. for Fitz never regained his bal
ance after that round. Jeffries began
the round with a straight left on the
face that again brought the blood out
of his OppOnent's mouth The Cornish
man staggered against the ropes. but
came back for another facer. There
was fear in Fitzsimmons corner, and
Julian yelled to Fitz to be careful. F'itz
planted one Of his Iefts on Jeffries' jaw
and staggered him up against the ropes.
FiJzsimmOns looked like a beaten man.
The ninth was all JeffrieS'. He sent
the Australians head back with a SER
les 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 pushed his oppo-
nert and downed him with a left
swing. F'itz 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 Fitz stag
gered 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
l7R n a m a
who was then going, staggering and
dazed, to certain defeat. There was n
frantic effort to revive the champion
of champions, but he was clearly gone,