The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-13

Slowly, out seeme1 the aggresSor, Jem
standing of. evidently waiting for a
knockout blow. They clinched three
! times. coming 20 close quarters JEFF
| u two hard rights over Fftzsimmons'
heart, sending him back and then sent
a straight left to the neck following
with a left on the chest. Fitzsimmons
| crowded in trying his right for the jaw.
but fell short. but succeeded in block
ing1ng the Californian s right return
| Jeffries Their assumed the aggressive
| n jabbed his left 20 head. A left on
the Jaw from JEFF dazed Fftzsimmcns,
who stood helpless in the middle OF the
ring Jenries looked at him for \ sec
| ond and when Ee had him AZ his mer-
| cy, swung his right and left 10 the
| point OF the jaw and EitZsimmonS
| went down IN out. relinquishing the
championship to the Californian. i'm
OF eleventh round : minute and 81 rs
| seconds.
AS soon as Fitz was carried TO his
| corner the spectators crowded over the
benches and through the ropes n the
| police had great difficulty in keeping
| the ring clear. The p%artisans of the
| Californian almost Went crazy in the
! excitement. Pandemonium -eigned Tor
/ several seconds. Fitzsimmons came too
very quickly and JEFF walked across
to the defeated champions corner and
/ both shook hands warmly. Judging
from the expression on FitZsimmon's
| face, he did not feel much ~disGruntled
at his defeat.
The scenes enacted in the dressing
room of J~effries. which was only a few
feet away from hat occupied by the
defeated pugiliSt. were Of the most
| joyful character
w. a. Brady was dancing with de-
! light from the moment the decision
was given that made him for h sec
ond time a manager of a worlds heavy
! weight champion. "Jeffries is a corker.
he said, "and there is not a man on
earth than can beat him. He's a Won
der and nc mistake. Let them all come
10 him now; none Of them can class
with him."
Jeffries was surrounded by a host Of
friends, who congratulated him on his
we'll won honor.
In response to several inquiries. the
new champion said: "FitZsimmOns
fought. a good and game battle and hit
me harder than any man whom L have
been up against. He can whip Sharkey
in two rounds. 1 would gain nothing
by meeting Sharkey again, but am
willing to meet any man in the world
in whom the public has confidence and
there need be no fear of my quitting
the ring for the stage. l will defend
my title as champion at all times and
against all corners. AT no time during
tonight's fight did 1 feel any misgivings
as to my ability to win. l am satisfied
that / have we'll earned the right to be
champion by beating Fitzsimmons, who
was undoubtedly the greatest fighter
of the age
: Just as soon as Fitzsimmmons reach
ed his dressing room. his wife, who
was anxiously awaiting the outcome OF
the fight, greeted the fallen champion
a~ffecti0nately. Keep up your spirits,
Bob she said. You fought splen-
didly and although you We're beaten,
you art still the prince of fighters"
Martin Julian, Fitzsimmons' manager,
, spoke encouragingly to the defeated
! pugilist, but the latter seemed not 10
I; realize what was being said to him
! Fitzsimmons had only partially recov-
cred from the shock of defeat and oc-
c~asionally murmured: How did l
. come 10 fight him."
Mrs. Fitzsimmons and Mrs. Dan
Hickey bent over the PROSTATE man
and bathed his head and face. Clots
; OF blood had formed in the nOStrils and
, the damaged nasal organ began TO be
q Ource of WOrriment to Mrs. EitZ-
simmons. Il have nothing Ito say re-
garding the outcome of the fight" she
a host of friends who will not forgot
j his past career in the ring"
Manager Julian was down hearted,
but he put on a bold front. When ask
, ed as to his opinion of the result, Jul
liam replied: "Oh, there is very little
for me to say. Everybody knows thar
Bob is game and I feel certain he Still
has a warm place in the hearts OF
many. No matter what m or goes,
Bob need not worry about anything as
long as / am alive"