The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-13
Jefries Knocks Champion Fitzsimmons Out
in the Eleventh Round.
MOST STUBBORN ENCOUNTER
The Californian Draws the First Blood-He Scores Three KnocK-Downs
Against His Opponent-Both Men Take a Great Deal of Punish
ment-Jefries' New Mode of Fighting-The Fight Vir.
tualy Decided in the Eighth Round-LhtleM Money
Bet on the Fight-Police Watch the Mill But
do Not Interfere.

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 he defeated Rob
ert Fitzsimmons, the worlds champion
in two classs-middle weight and heavy
Weight-in eleven rounds Of whirlwind
fighting. He came to the ring a rank
outsider n 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 earlier
rounds of the contest, took the lead.
He had the Australian whipped from
the ninth round. 1t 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 mer-
cy of the postmaster 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 luscious defeat
in a air fight. He is a veritable giant
80 $3.50 "AAA AAloA AOoC pCCNy -
his immense size. Less than a year ago
he appeared in New York, a great.
awkward, %ungainly boy. Today he Is
the 1.-the, active trained athlete. The
men who Prepare him for his fight
worked wonders with him.. They augnt
him a nearly perfect defense, improved
his foot movement and instructed bin
in the methods of inflicting punishment.
The Transition since he appeared last
has been little short of miraculous. At
"a ar- - ocro no Lac 1afaa+nI D0har-
Fitzsimmoqfs, Tom Sharkey and Peter
Jackson and if he cares for himself lie
will probably be able to successfully
defend the title for many years.
THE DEFEATED MAN.
The defeated man was just as good
as when on the crspy morning on the
plains Of PARKWAY Nevada ne lowered
the cOlors of the peerless COrbett. He
was just as active, just as clever, just
as tricky, and just as fearless of pun
ishment He went unfalteringly to
his defeat. He was the aggressOr even
at moments when he was bleeding ard
unsteady, and when unn by the
blow he received he reeled i~nstinctiveIy
towards his opponent. He was fighting
all the time and punished his opponent,
but found him a different opponent
than any he had met and a difficult
man to fight.
JEFFRIES' STYLE OF FIGHTING.
Jetfr1eS fought from q CfOuCNlGp al
titude that was hard to get at. His
back was bent down and his left arm
was extended. He kept jabbing away
with the left and found no trouble i'll
landing it. It was there that his SUI
perior reach told. That giant arm serv-
ed 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, fer
he never shrank from his punishment.
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
1900 persons and stood up in a great
beam of binding white light. 1t was
like 1000 calciums and it showed their
great white bodies in strange relief.
When the blood came it was of an in
tenser red than usual.
THE POLICE.
There was not a suggestion of inter-
ference from the police. Chief Devery
occupied a seat by the ringside, but
never entered the ring. When 1t was
all over he sent Captain Kenny in to
clear the ring. There was absolutely
no ~confuson attendant upon the as
sembling and housing of the big
crowd.
LITTLE BETTING.
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 and the FitZsimmOnS
people were slow to give it.
The great house filled very slowly
and it was after 8 O'Clock before the
police had to bestir themselves ana
clear the aiSles.
THE MEN APPEAR.
Jeftries was the first of the princl-
pals to appear. He came through the
main entrance and walked the length
of the hall at 9:20 O'Clock to an accom-
paniment of cheers, while FitZsimmons,
who was accompanied by his Spartan
like wife, gained the building and dress
ing room by a rear door.
Fitzsimmmons' entry into the ring al
1906 o'clock was made the occasion OF
a rather theatrical demonstration Ju-
liam was first and then came the fight
er. The seconds were next in line and
Their came two men bearing a grea;
floral piece that was almost funer2I
in appearance. 1t was inscribed:
Good Luck TO the Champion but the
flowers are wilted now. Fitzsimmon=
bowed tremendously to 1t.
Jeffries was mex into the arena ana
like his opponent, got a demonstratlVe
reception. Fitzsimmons looked lanky
and thin. but his skin was clear, his
eye bright and his step elastic. nd
made a great display of American flags
at his waist. Jeffries looked sturdy
and massive and seemed a little ner-
Gus.
Referee Siler looked colorless ana H.
at ease. There was no trying delay III
the ring and the big gong sounded on
Just as soon as the two men hdd peer
presented and gloved. When they
squared off, Jeffries looked fifty pound
to the good.
The opening round was a 1ry-out pure
ana simple and not a single DlON VI
an effective nature was landed. ms
second round began in a business-Ilkt
way. with Jeffries trying his left. JUS
as the round closed Jeffries dOwn9C
Fitzsimmons with a hard straight left or
the jaw. The champion came up-slow-
ly in a dazed sort of way and reeleC
toward his man. The crowd cheereC
Jeffries on, but the gong ended tn
roun Fitzsimmons was aggressive
again in the third. He was bleeding bu