The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-10
Fitzsimmons atWOrk at Skagg's
Springs.
Runs Twelve Miles Over Hills
in the Morning.
BOXES AFTER DINNER.
Sprinting Always a FavOrite
Method Of Training.
Some Of the Features Of the
COrnishman's Past.

san Francisco, June 10.-Jeffries and
Fftzsimmons have eased upon jaw work
and are training hard for their coming
fight in San Francisco. Jeffries has
been doing road work with gymnasium
exercises on the side at Hardin Springs
during the past few days. He also en-
HYened the occasion by a coon hunt Dy
moonlight Saturday night when the
champion and trainers followed the
hounds over the hills.
Fitzsimmons, at Skaggs' Springs, is
doing his regulation road stunt he
runs II miles in the morning, and after
a rundown, takes midday rest. IN
the afternoon he goes" six rounds with
Tom Wilson and punches the bag a half
hour Hank Griffin has sent word that
he would like to join Fitzsimmons at the
Springs and will be communicated with.
George Dawson Of the Chicago Athletic
lin, win train with the COrnishman. He
will leave Chicago for the coast on June
Running is a favorite exercise for
the Australian. In former years he
covered much more ground than at pres
ent. Perhaps the hardest work he ever
performed was at White Bear Lake,
Mimi when he was training to fight
Jim Hall at St. Paul, an event which
was not allowed to take place. The lake
is mis-shaped affair, the distance
about it being more than 25 miles. There
are pathways but one-third of the dis
lance.
Fitz made the round trip every fore
noon, running through thick underbrush
and leaping fences a great portion of the
circuit. The last mile was of hard road,
and the lOng-legged pugilist invariably
covered the distance in five minutes or
less. White Bear is a fashionable re-
sort and many times sprinters would
meet Fitz and race him in the last mile.
He was never defeated. although he
was handicapped by the previous jour
ney Of % miles. He made the trip by
II O'Clock, would eat a pint Of calfs
foot Jelly, then little Jimmie Carroll
would rub him down.
In the afternoon F'ftz would break one
or more punching bags and box with the
many clever sparrers from St Paul and
MINNEAPOLIS These donned the uits
with the professionals every day. Al
though Fitz received many hard jolts
from the amateurs he never returned a
hard blow. He proved so unassuming
and disinclined to talk regarding him
self that he was highly respected by
cottage and hotel residents of the pleas
ure resort.
Every moment that Fitzsfmmons was
not engaged in training he passed with
his family in neat little cottage.
4arum was a puppy at the time, but a
big fellow at that, and few besides the
master cared to Wrestle with him. Fitz
loved the dog next to his family. but
received a shock one day when the fam
lily returned from q jaunt to find that
some one had robbed the cottage under
the very nose of the huge canine.
tltzsimmons displayed a number on
peculiarities at White Bear-for a pugi-
list One was illustrated by a certain
incident there. He wore a suit of fan
nels when not working. which empha-
sized his knock-need appearance. While
in this rig he was sauntering along
near the lake one evening when a gang
! of tOughs numerically "guyed" him
/ unaware of his Identity. A companion
| turned to take the matter up with the
rOwdies,, when F'itz seized him by the
arm and marched him along, remark
ing:
I Never notice a rough. When you
/ quarrel with that class you descend tc
/ their level"
However, Fitzsimmons did take up q
1 little affair one day. While ne and Car
/ roll, accompanied by their wives were
| walking near a circus ground a burly
| eanvasman made a low remark intended
/ for the passing group. Not the slightest
attention was paid until the four were
well by the spot, when F'itz turned and
/ retraced his steps Singing out from
/ the crowd the brute who made the
/ slur the Cornishman quietly asked:
/ Did you refer to us2"
Sure, and what of it, insolently de-
| manded the fellow.
! F1tzsimmOnS advanced a step anC
| struck the big hulk a blow fairly or
/ the neck, driving him against a board
/ fence with such force that the struc.
! ture went down with him The man die
! not recover for minutes None of his
mates offered to argue the matter witt
/ Fitzsimmons.