Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-04
pALAVER OF THE, PUGILISTS
A Few Comments on the Big Heavy
weight Fight which Takes Place
Mt Coney Island Friday.

OF all the fstic events which have taken
place in the United States within the last
decade that which will be pulled off at
Coney Island, n. Y, next Friday night is
probably the most interesting and momen-
tous. For a time the great clash between
those giants of the pugilistic world, Bob
Fitzsimmons, the undisputed champion of
worlds champions, and Jim Jeffries, the
young Cyclops Of the coast, was looked upon
by the sporting fraternity with much sus-
picion. The fact that the fight was to be
photographed for the enjoyment of the
millions after the battle was over led a big
contingent to believe that it could not be on
the level and that the contest would neces-
sarily have to be photographed to make the
kaleidoscope investment a paying one. The
wise geezers argue that Fitz, If he discovered
that he was the master of his colossal an
tagonist in the early rounds of the fight.
would have to stand off and allow Big Jim
to make a showing simply for the pictures
sake. The sam with the huge Angeleon
should he be so fortunate, which is ex-
tremely doubtful, taking opinion from the
form book, as to realize in the preliminary
sizing up that the lanky kangaroo was in his
power, would be necessarily compelled to
play his part and let the freckled fellow trot
along with him a sufficient distance to in
sure a reasonably extended entertainment
to the masses who would assemble in the
playhouses over the country to see the
movements of the two big gladiators on the
stretched canvas as reflected from the magic
lenses of the kaleidoscope. Now, to a man
up a tree these apprehensions of the crowd
who are always prone to jerk out their
hammers are idle.
This contest means untold wealth to the
winner. 1t also means oblivion to the
loser. Neither can afford to take the
slightest chance and you can bet neither
will. If the husky b~oiler-maker opens the
door, as he is apt to, in the first minute
of tho first round, you can stake your pile
that the big right mltt of the famous Cor
nishman will be seen cutting the air around
and across, and stopping only when it
brings up against the lubberly country boys
jaw. And when that happens you may know
that the days sport is over, that somebody
has won and somebody lost the battle OF
lthe age. Again, should the ponderous Cali
fornia, in an early cyclonic rush, succeed
in placing his prodigous glove in juXtaposi-
ton to Roberts ribs and find that he had
him going, do you suppose he will pull Off
and go get In a hammock and take a lit
tie nap? No, indeed. He will go right on
like the resistless onsweep of the tempest
and hammer and jolt and push and wallop
and bruise until the frail semblance of a
champion lies bleeding and inanimate at his
feet. Big Jeff dare take no chance with
the hope of revenue from the photograph
er's art. If there is a fortune in this event
for him it must be by virtue of his over
whelming bulk, by the exercise of the enor-
nous powers of his mountainous muscles,
by the indomitable resolution OF his brain,
and the courage and stoutness of his heart.
He will dare not to falter. He must needs
go on and conquer even though the final
jolt threatens to make an angel of tho
beautiful lad from the antipodes. He must
go in to win if it costs a leg.
But all fevity aside the fight promises to
be a grand contention of might and science
and in recognition Of this the sporting lights
oi the world are already gravitating toward
our peerless metropolis and in a few more
days the wires will be burdened with news
more interesting than that from the seat
Of war, from the forum of the national con-
gress or the marts of or centers of
social life. Prize fighting is today a fad
pure and simple. The goodly cloak their
faces and the sinful march on with brazen
effrontery that sentiment seems unable to
check. And who will win, you ask. Well,
"F don't know" but it goes without saying
that the best man has the best chance.