The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-01
KNOCKOUT SENSATION.
Lanky Bob Describes How 1t Affects
Boxer.

Detroit Free Press.
'very few persons realize how II feels to
be groggy in a prize fight" said Bob Fitz-
simmons recently to a coterie Of friends.
1.-The sensation is difficult to describe, and
is cross between striking your funny
bone and having your tooth drawn. / shall
never forget my experience when I first
met Jim Jeffries, at Coney island, In the
summer of 1892 Although had figured in
many stirring battles up to that time. did
not know what was meant by being in
Queer street. If you remember, in the
second round Of that contest Jeffries hand
ed me an awful jab in the mouth, which
sent me Topping to the floor. Well, after
that punch I have only a faint recollection
of what really happened. To tell the truth,
did not remember anything of the rest of
the mill until L came to in my dressing
room after the final Knockout. 1 know
got up all right, but to tell you how did
1T Is a mystery to this day. My feet Jagged
beneath me. My gaze was misty and my
head swan as II / had been on a spree for
a week. l heard the shouts of the crowd.
/ saw Jeffries, as big as a house, but he
appeared to be covered with huge white
sheet. Suddenly he developed into a giant.
and there were four of him in all corners
of the ring. l tried hard to pull myself to-
gether. but to no purpose. Whatever 1 did
l. eQ,
and he punched me- But did not seem to
feel his blows. 1t was my head that was
bothering me all the time. When the round
S was over over l appeared to be myself again.
the third that awful feeling would re-
turn. There was the big sheet, with
four Jeffrieses grinning and dancing
thought heard some one say. 'Fitz. you've
got him.. But when / lunged forward to
punch, the sheet appeared and nearly blind
cd H. -
as stone wall. But 1t was ever before my
vision. and seemed to mock me. Like a
drowning man grasping at a straw. /
sixth round, If 1 remember correctly, /
jumped up. intent on getting that sheet
away from my gaze. My opponent was far
ubiquitous sheet that wished to dispose
Of So, the first crack out of the box, /
made a swing for it. 1t danced away and
grew larger Then 1t came forward until
it almost grazed my face. Then IT re-
coded, and the next moment dashed me in
the face. 1 guess 1t must have been one
of Jeffries's favorite jabs that did it. but
thought 1t was the mean sheet. So /
swung for it.. / thought had it all right.
but it danced away and my eyes followed
1t. 1 fancied l saw 1t abiding somewhere
myself on my good fortune. But before /
could gather myself together il appeared
shroud. Well, it was no use, and 1 re-
signed myself to my fate. said to myself
that 1 would not bother If it did not dis
turb me; and 1t didn't But the four JEFF
frieses were. there. and they gave me
enough trouble. to be sure. When got the
| last punch, which put me out of the fight
| for good, / saw a lot of stars. and / guess
some comets, too. But, as luck would have
| it, no sheets. tell you, gentlemen, have
been in many fights, but l wouldn't care
| to go through the experience of that one
encounter for all the purses in the world
| Talk about the agony of d. It's and seeing
| thingsl That sheet was certainly the limit
| 1 would rather be haunted by a hundred
ghosts, have the shakes, etc, than be fol-
| lowed through a contest by sheet. Its
/ enough IN turn Won gray i think !"