Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-04-22

ring met one day last week unde
rather pathetic circumstances. The,
were John l.. Sullivan, Boston I
greatest fistic, idol, and Robert j
Fitzsimmons, one of the most re
markable pugilists in the history OF
fistiana.
The meeting of the ex-champions
was an embarrassing one. One-th,
great John L., perhaps the most pic,
turesque character that ever graceC
the prize ring-battered and wreck,
ed from disease and the excesses Of
high living, lay in a bed at the home
that he years ago presented to hi;
sister, Mrs. Lennon. The once mighty
gladiator had lost all of his old-ti me
vim and vigor.
Add to his general i'll health, the
spectacle of the former great fighter
looking through pair of deep blue
goggles and the picture Of the
brokendown athelete with monstrous
flowing mustache of white, and his
white hair, and the picture of defect
ment and physical wreck is complete.
g The one was a brokendown man,
almost still in the prime of life-for
Sullivan is only forty-fiye; the other
q robust, agile athelete, still ready to
do battle with the most aspiring
young man in the boxing world.
FitzsimmoLs is forty-two. One has
lived quiet, careful life, the other
has tasted the sweets too often.
The party was ushered in by Sulli-
vans sister. The bright sunlight
was shut out by closely drawn cur.
tains. Then in deep, gutteral tones
from the bed came hearty "Hello,
Bob"
There was no mistaking the owner
Of that tbunderous voice. Fitz
strobe over to the bedside and grasped
the big hand extended toward him.
The two great fighters were visibly
affected. Sullivan raised himself on
his elbow and looked steadily at Fitz
through his glasses for some few Sec
onds. "How are you, John?" said
Fitz when tie big fellow showed
signs of relaxing his vice-li grip.
After the first few words an en-
barrassing silence ensued, for no one
cared about brosching the question
of the ex-champion's sickness. But
he soon broke the silence by saying:
"You see, I'm down and out, but I'Il
be up and around In few DAYS.
My stomach has sort of played me
mean, and my eyes have quit me too.
81 tell you, Bob, fellow can't
play with the kind of water I've been
up against snd still hope to be there.
l can now only take milk and water,
with dash or two of salt-the salt
gives the thing flavor, y'see."
swell, John, don't see but what
you're all right. Why, they told me
that you were an invalid and all
broke up. can't see anything the
matter with you, and if it wasn't for
those things on your eyes you'd look
as good as ever"
That was where Fitz executed a
corking feint, for it drew Johu L.
out, and he was in line to deliver a
perfect volley of funny, grave and
characteristic remarks.
In a deep, gutteral voice John L
replied: "Bob, there's nothing to it.
I'll be around all right in little
while, and then it's Baden Springs.
Hot Springs or some other sulphur
bath for me.
"l've been taking two or three
kinds of medicine since / came home
here to my sisters, but Pm goin' to
quit taking the stuff in day or two.
It's no good. 1 never did believe
much in medicine.
"They won't plant me. WhentI 60,
they'll burn me. "That's the game
for me, Bob! Cremation, that's what
they call it. Nothin' left but your
ashes, and each of your friends can
have some of you to remember you
by. It's the most natural thing in
the world-let them burn You up
when you're all in. l tell you, it's
tne proper tnlng.
The logic of Sullivan did not meet
with the approval of Fitzsimmons,
and quite lengthy dlscdssion fol-
lowed on the merits of the subject.
Fitz was becoming more at ease
and talked more freely. His natural
antipathy toward Jim Corbett crept
out, and the man who whipped
the man who beat Sullivan said
he would box Corbett four or
six rounds at Sullivan's benefit, and
he did not want cent for his
services.
Sullivan then chinned in that
Corbett-"Well, Bob, he licked me
and beat me on the level"
"Yes. John, but you were not your
self then. Why, | remember, sat
at the ringside, and If you remember,
you nearly nailed him in the very
first round. / don't think / will
ever forget it. 1t was with right
swing ani just missed him hy an
eighth of an inch.
"Lord, but it was wallop, and if
it ever landed, there would have been
no more of Corbett. 1t came 80 close
to landing right here"-and Fitz
pointed out the spot on his own chin
l pulled my own head back
and it struck fellow sitting in the
chair behind me in the face.
too," said Fitz, almost sorrowfully.
And so the talk vent on for over
An hour.
Fitzsimmons promised his old
friend, who is now in needy circum-
stances, that he could count on him
TO come over and do what he could
DO to help the old fellow along at his
benefit and thought it would be a
good card for him to box someone
tour or six rounds. He said: "lf we
could only set Corbett to come over
and spar with me, wouldn't it be