The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-26
FITz WAS OFFERED 100000.
but He Refused Fortune to Throw
Up the Fight.
From the New York World

From the New York World.
Robert Fitzsimmons may be for sale.
but 100000 won't buy him. A Canadian OF
high financial standing offered him tb,s
amount yesterday to lose his coming
fight With Sharkey, and the lanky fellow
treated the suggestion with contempt.
The proposition looked peculiar, but BOB
said he knew it to be genuine. It came
in letter from Montreal, which was
signed 'R. s. The writer assured the
ex-champion he was worth $4,000 in cold
cash and gave bank references. He ex-
planned how much the sum named would
mean to Fitz and endeavored to show how
no chances were to be taken by accpetiny
ii. The Canadian said he was eager 10
arrange matters in order that he might
begin making bets at 10 to odds
Your admirers are Offering to I now
he said. land by gradually shortening to
100 to 80, can place a barrel Of money.
1t will enable me to reap a harvest, and
in due time you can meet and whip JET
fries and the public will never be the
wiser"
The writer than went into minute de-
tails, asking the Australian to decide
quickly, and to make an Engagement to
meet him to-day in New York. He said
not a man in the big city knew him. and
that everything could be carried through
as neatly as the most fastidous could
wish.
Fitz was told that he was getting along
in life and could no longer afford to over
look chance to provide against The future
and insure the comfort of his family. The
communication covered four pages and
was closely written.
81 have always been your friend the
writer concluded, land hope 10 meet you
without fail on Wednesday,
That is a good bit of talk" said the
eX-champion TO a reporter for the World.
but it doesn't count. I am not for sale,
and that is all there is to it. Secret en-
gagements and shady understandings don't
go with me. l have been fighting on the
fair and square TOO long to go crooked
now. The writer of that letter is in ear
nest, l have no doubt, because 1 believe I
know who he is
What is your price," asked the re-
porter
Price" exclaimed Fftzsimmons. do
you mean to insinuate that l have fg-
ure?"
Not at all I am in search of informa-
ton" was the reply.
We'll, l am money proof. To show I
speak the truth. just before my fight with
Corbett at Carson City 1 was offered $780,
600 to lay down, and l preferred the
sweets of victory to defeat and ill-gotten
gains. Two gankers tried TO buy ne
there. and they had the money ready to
pay over so soon as l consented. l re-
fused to talk with them at all, just az L
refuse to meet the man who offers me
100000 TO bunco the public this time"
Fitz declined 10 make the letter from the
Montreal person public in whole because
he didn't care to compromise even 10
friend on evil bent. No chances were 20
be taken, as the $4,000 was to be paid
over to-day.
The Australian could have pocketed the
money, fought to win, and the pubic
would not have been any the wiser.
Fighting men declared this trick was
turned recently by one of the most noted
and skillful puglisits in the country tie
accepted $1,000 as the price of losing, from
a sporting man famous for his honesty.
and then refused TO carry out his part oil
the contract