The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-08

by his frank statement of facts in regard
to the reason why Bob FItZsimmons finds
1t so difficult to make a match stick with
the wind TANNERS of the ring. Jeffries
says it is because they know and respect
the proWess of the freckled fist of the
doughty Cornishman. Patrons of the
sport have known that for many days,
but Jeffries is the first fair man in the
business to admit the truth. He has felt
that horny fist, and is willing to say that
when it visits the anatomy it hurts
TRAVEsTY ON BOXING.
The money makers Of the ring have,
made the game a travesty. The public
has been surfeited with talk, and starved
for fight There is indeed q wide gulf
dividing the exploits of Pollux and Cas-
ter, and Corbett, Sharkey and Mccoy.
From the eestus to the piilow-from
glory to mammon. That is the story OF
the degeneration of the manly art of
self-defense. And Jeffries has immortal
lied his fame by being first to admit the
truth of why some boxers fight through
their press agents rather than face to
face with their kind in the squared cir
4
once It's sun has set it has no rising.
That seems the fate of the sport of kings
and man. Out of it may rise a new
dynasty. Jeffries may have sounded the
keynote of the future Of boxing That
he has told the truth is amply evidenced,
The fakirs are furious. Their press
agents are busy men. They are seeking
to offset the effect of the admission OF
the man who is honest enough to tell
the truth. VIII they succeed? The public
can decide.
CAREER OF CORNISHMAN.
From the day Bob Fitzsimmons disem-
barked from the steerage of a vessel at
San Francisco until his defeat in the
ring by Jeffries, his career was most mar
velous. He met men of all grades and
classes-never below his own, however.
He was easily the master of them all
And yet credit was denied him up to his
decisive victory over the popular idol Of
the ring, Jack Dempsey. He was pro,
nounced freak-an accident-anything
but a great boxer. From the day Of the
Dempsey affair, however, the wind jam
mers began to fear him. They talked
and lodged. Peter Maher did not know
He was big and strong. Fitzsimmons
was not his equal in weight nor strength
so ne figured. He took on the destroyer
of pugilistic regulations. He lost, and
SO chagrined was the Irish champion that
he sought to end his life. Later on Maher
took on fresh courage, and made
second match with the Cornishman
After that he was satisfied that the first
battle did not result in an accident He
was beaten IN a round. and Fitzsim-
mons stock was away above par.
CORBETT'S CUNNING.
For many months Jim Corbett, the then
oh ton Al
from Timaru, until forced by public opin-
ion to face him in the ring. He met
Fits challenges with his stereotyped
answer to all aspirants for the honor of
contendmg for the premiership-"Go
and make a reputation" Corbett had a
protege-Dan Creedon. He was a middle
weight-in Fitzsimmons class-so Corbett
said, Beat Creedon and l will take you
on" That was the ultimatum of
the champion. Fitzsimmons made no
comment other than to at once
seek match with Creedon
Acting for the olympic Athletic club, of
New Orleans, the writer signed Creedon,
then resident of st. Louis, Mo-. for a
finish battle with Fitzsimmons, for a
purse of $1,000. The men met and Cree
don was defeated in two rounds Even
that did not secure for the Cornishman
an immediate match, as promised by
Corbett Finally, however, pressure of
public opinion became so strong that
Corbett could not escape, and the match
first fixed for Texas and then trans
ferred to Hot Springs was made. 1t
failed because of interference Of the au-
thorities of the state of Arizona. The
Corbett crowd sought to make it appear
that Fitzsimmons had caused his own ar
rest and thus lodged a meeting with
Corbett That was not true. The gov.
ernor of Arkansas covered the case in a
brief statement. He said: "Corbett is at
Hot Springs. Fitzsimmons must pass
through this state to get there. There
are posses of men at every station. He
will not be permitted to go to Hot
Springs. One man cannot fight. Hence,
there will be no fight at Hot Springs
CARSON CITY AFFAIR.
Finally the men were got into ring
at Carson City, New, and Fitzsimmons
won. It was a hard battle. Corbett did
even better than many admirers of the