The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-09
NAN EIII NAS YOUNGER
THE CAREER OF THE RED
HEADED FIGHTER
MAORI FIRST BIG VICTIM
The Affair With Jim Hall Given An
other Airing-Laid Down to
Get Money to Come
Hfther.

The Sydney (Austraha) Sportsman has
been deyoting considerable space of late
to eX-Champion Robert FftZsimmons.
The last issue of that publication deals
with the early life OF the pugilist and
gives What purports to me an authentic
account of that period.
The article says in part: t'Fitz was
born on the 4th OF June, 1862, at IElston.
Cornwall Eng, and in that locality
his boyhood days were passed. At nine
years of age he went in company with
his parents to Lyttleton, New Zealand,
where the life of the young prize ring
hero really began.h; Schooling was dis
tasteful to young Bob. He did have an
inclination, however, to excel in ath-
letic sport such as running and walk
ing. Boxing. however. had not yet been
included among his accomplishments,
but he soon learned that IN the rough
and-tun1ble fights, which were the usual
eliminating END of a schoo1boys argu-
ment, he was abundantIy able to take
care of himself
''I1is first fight was with burly black
smith, and Fitz emerged from the maid
en- class by scoring a complete knock
out. Talk Of young Fitzsin1mons' achieve
ment soon spread. and it was mooted
about that he would be just the man to
represent Timaru III the boxing tourna-
ment which Jem Mace, England's once
FAMOUS champion, who was then touring
the colonies, had decided to arrange.
THE SAME OLD FITz.
''Fitzsimmons then weighed little more
than ten stone ten pounds, and
was, as he is now, very de-
eeptive IN appearance. Mace sized him
up for lightweight and commented
upon his wisdom and temerity in pro-
claiming his intention of going into the
tournament in the face Of the fact that
slashing big heavyweights Were to be
| contenders for the trophy.
The aspiring youngster smiled grimly.
but told Mace he could not Go worse
than be licked, and IT was with the ex-
pectatIon of seeing the Timaru amateur
hoored easily and decisively that the lat
ter accepted his entry and permitted
him TO box
Mace was quite taken with Fitzsim-
mons When he saw him stripped. He
| felt of those big sinewy muscles and
told the now grateful youngSter that If
ne could box at all he ought to win at
Ieast one OF the four bouts that he was
tournament ended
Mace did not really appreciate F5tz-
summons hstic quality until he saw him
stanq sna ,, up before the quartette OF :ignters
ana De~t them over one after the other,
s1nlilng confidently as each new victim
was rrotted up for his medicine. The
ehtLre tour We're knocked out completely,
and for the first time Timaru realized
the possibility that It would one day
figure in sporting history.
MADE THE MAORI LOOK CHEAP.
Mace came around year later with
Gls aggregation of fstic stars, which In
c.uded Herbert Slade, the Maori half
breed Fftzsimmens sdecIared his wiling
ne ness 70 put the gIoYes on with anybody
II the company
'F1tzsimmons had the Maori az his
mercy, outpointed him in every way. and
was clearly beating him when Mace. to
save the reputation of his inflated
champion ordered the bout stopped, and
Ut an end to the Tiniaru lads chance
OF showing the people wnat a poor <ep-
FeSentative fighter Australia had.
Fftzsmmons reYnorstrafed wsth Mace.
and In the heat of the argument offered
10 try bout with Engiand's famous fs-