The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-28
FITZ TELLS STORY
OF HIS FIRST FIGHTS
Left Hook" in New York Telegraph.

Lett HOOK IN New York Telegraph.
Bob Fitzsimmons is good talker il you
draw him out and the subject is himself.
MY first start as a fighter" he said to
me one day we were lolling on the sands
OF Bath Beach. was in my school days,
in Cornwall. England"
1 didn't ask him the year. There is no
use rubbing it in.
I'VE used 10 go out into the fields" con-
tinued Fitz. land have IL out with bare
knuckles. and if our faces were badly
marred in the encounter we usually got
the worst Of the referees decision at home.
L don't remember that my pop ever asked
II licked the two Carney boys or not, but,
however, that is another story and the
freckled one laughed at his references to
Corbett's rnonologue.
We'll, it was not long before had won
my first championship" he went on, land
my appetite was whettled for further hon
ors when Jem Mace, the old champion,
came along with circus and helped to
crafty my ambition. A gold watch was
offered TO the best amateur in a tourna-
ment, and / was the first TO enter There
was no fine distinction at that time be-
tween amateurs and professionals, and the
question OF weight was never mentioned.
Mace, however, was a good fellow, and
when he gave another tournament soon aft
er, better watch was put up for the prize
and / was invited to enter.
There were eleven competitors and 1
was IN for fight sure, for 1 weighed then
about Us pounds and there were a lusty
lot or scrappers among the other ten. No
limited round bouts went and a bout was
finished only when one man was clearly
knocked out.
''The first night 1 finished in from one to
three rounds and the second night put away
four more. L thought they should have CIV
ell me the watch then.
ION the third night stacked up against
a stocky red-headed fighter like myself, who
was much larger in every way, except that
had the advantage in reach. We fought
eight rounds and the house went wild with
excitement, for IL was certainly a grand
was a solar plexus like that which gave me
the championship at Carson and l have
never landed IL since that memorable night
in Cornwall that have not thought OF my
first great victory, for on the result OF that
first knockout has been my success as a
fighter.
shortly after this fight became cham
pion of New Zealand. although 1 had to
fight men of all weights and sizes to attain
sI have often been asked how obtained
my strength of arm and shoulder, and L
don't mind telling you that 1t came from
fighting and subduing crazy horses brought
into the New Zealand blacksmith shop
where / was employed.
IF there was anything / used to like IL
was to be assigned to the matter or shoelng
a brute of this kind; 1t not only strength
tISu TIC arm, OuI NHcil hiNhSO SASoA eA~AO'S
the shop 1t developed the sand in a fellow
and gratifed the ambition TO succeed.
lone OF my first fights in Australia was
with young Pat McCrea, whose father ran
| an opposition shop to that OF MIR. Allen,
where was apprentice.
Between the two shops there was feud
which kept all Sydney In an uproar when
trouble was started One evening, while go
| ong to our home, bunch OF appren-
tees met the McCreas, and young Pat said
| something 1 did not like. at the same time
| pushing off the sidewalk
That was enough, and before he could
| get I'D his guard ! laid him in the gutter.
"IIis father, who prize fighter in
| England, attempted to interfere, but was
prevented.
"a ring was formed right there, and
young Pat and myself fought twenty-one
| rounds. I did not see him for a good while
| after that and some friends said he was
| in bed