The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-31
SPORTING NEWS.
Pugilist FitzsimmOns Says He
Was Drugged.
Startling Statement Regarding
the Jeffries Fight.
DOSED INTHIRD ROUND
After That He Remembers
Nothing That Happened
Until the Tenth-JOhn L. and
COrbett Believe 1t.
Observation-Disclosures

New York, Jan. 31-Robert Fitzsim-
mons now proclains that he was
drugged when he was whipped by
James Jeffries for the championship OF
the world at COney Island last June.
In an interview last night Fitzsim-
mons said: 1T is impossible for me to
point to the man who was responsible
for my condition on the night of June
9. when I fought Jeffries, but this 1 do
know and I say it with emphasis and
with full knowledge of the conse-
Quences, I was drugged by some one,
and it is only natural to suppose that
there was a conspiracy arranged to ac-
cOmplish my defeat. l went into the
ring in condition. I was At to fight,
and did fight to my entire satisfaction
for two rounds.
In the second round, it will be re-
membered, / was knocked down. That
blow did not hurt me, and, in fact,
would not have even staggered me had
It not caught me at just moment
when I was resting far back on my
heels. I came up not in the least dazed
and was feeling as good as new when L
went to my corner.
During the rest between the second
and third rounds 1 TOOK long drink
of mineral water. and following that I
have only a hazy recollection of one or
two incidents of the fight.
Just how 1 got through the third
round can not tell, but when l went to
my corner it struck me as a very good
JOKE LndL L was L4eEe uSnLlHB before d
great crowd with a man did not know.
I asked Julian what it was all about
and who I was fighting with. They tell
me than when he said 'Jeffries eX-
pressed my surprise and said that I had
no reason for lighting him. But of all
that I remember nothing.
Then, again, in the tenth round, in
q hazy way I remember Julian saying,
stand up, FftZ.' I stood up, wondering
what it was all about and what partic-
ular reason Julian had for wanting me
to stand up at that time.
THE next day l was physically as
well as I was before I went into the
fight. My upper lip was a trife puffed
but aside from that was unhurt- But
my mind was almost a blank and con-
tinued so for nearly two months This
condition gradually wore away and lit
tie by little I regained my former
strength of mind.
Finally. when the affairs of the night
began to come tangible I made an in
qutry and believe that I discovered
just how the drug was administered.
provided for my use during the fight a
lot of mineral water in bottles. AS the
gas was likely to distress me, I told
Julian to uncork the bottles and let
them stand for some time so that the
gas might escape. He told me that he
had done this, that he had given the
water to Clark Ball. who took it into
the box office to guard it. Ball told me
that while he was in the box Office and
had the water under his care two Of the
men who were most prominent in back
ing Jeffries entered the room One of
them engaged him in earnest cOnversa-
tion and for moment he lost sight Of
the other He did not say that the wa
ter was drugged at that time and
neither do I say so now, but I am con-
Vlnced that the drug was given to me
in that water"
This announcement is certain to Gre
ate an endless amount of discussion in
the world of professional sports MANY
believe f0T oh. ,1rlffD
not himself when he last entered the
ring, and even his enemies were sur
prlsed at the poor showing which he
made when he raised his hands to de-
fend his title against Jeffries.
During the contest, COrbett, who had
his money bet on Jeffries, remarked tc
a friend:
IF Fftzsimmons had male such a
fight as this against me I would still
be champion of the world Something
seems to be wrong with him"
WISE BETS ON, JEFFRIES.
All over the country the comment was
made that those who were known as
the wise men, bet on Jeffries, taking
the best odds that were offered. Judg-
ing the two men on their previous work
Fitzsimmons certainly looked a winner
and yet so confident were those be-
hind his adversary that a large amount
OF money was invested in show print.
ing, and Philadelphia was actually
billed before the fight with large post.
ers procla1mlng the coming of James
j. Jeffries, champion pugilist of the
world, eonqueror of the mighty Fitz.
simmons"
Under ordinary circumstances money
is not invested in this way on a mere
chance.
JOHN L. BELIEVES F'TTZ.
There are many good judges who be.
lieve that Fitzsimmons is still the bes
of the lot of present-day pugilists
Among them is John L. Sullivan, thar
whom no one has a better right tt
Judge a fighter.
Il did not see Fitzsimmons lose t
Jeffries." sal Sullivan last night, but