The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-05
SPORTING NEWS.
Jim COrbett Relates Some of
His Late Experiences.
Inclined to Think Theatrical
Work Beats Fighting.
BOUT WITH A VILLAIN.
New Play In Which He Does a
Heavy Ring Act.
Can See No Other Champion
Now Save Jeffries.
BOUT WITH A VILLAIN.

ST. Louis, March 5.-''There goes Jim
Corbett the prize fighter James ].
Corbett, ex-champion heavyweight
pugilist, who is in town this week, says
If he hears this remark once he hears
it so times a day.
In the hotel, and especially on the
street, people turn and look after me
and pass remarks. I have grown used
to 1t, however, and have passed into
the stage where I almost think it is
due me- said Corbett "Gentleman
JIM is appearing in a monologue at
local playhouse. Corbett's stories are
all derived from personal experiences,
and he tells them in a natural manner
which makes hit. II find enough hui
NOR in some of the situations I get into
because OF my pugilistic reputation to
give me enough material for my mono
logue Tor years to come, without re-
peat1ng time-worn jokes. Even in st.
Louis have had several really funny
experiences. When I get one that I
think is better than the joke am tell
ing at present / substitute it. I am
afraid my act would grow rather tire
some to myself as we'll as the people if
did not. Dressing twice a day and re-
peat1ng the same stories day after day
grows rather tireSome, at that, and
will have change next season. A play
ten for me for next season. I will
have the main role. I will then go on
starring trip, and have already been
booked for week at a st. Louis house.
One of the scenes calls for fight with
the villain. It will be the best fight
ever witnessed on the stage, and will
put Bob F1tzsimmons' window smash
ing stunts out of the running. The
fight is supposed to occur in my house.
and the villain has me going and all
out, when I will suddenly recuperate
and put him out. We will break every
thing on the stage. 1t will be hot
work, especially in summer time, and
should be in good condition by the end
of the season. will go to New York
from here, but expect to return before
long to see what arrangements I can
make for locating a cafe here during
the Worlds fair
During the week Corbett attended
dinner given in his honor in Nat Good
wins private car. Goodwin is one of
Corbetts greatest admirers, and was
with him almost the entire time he was
training for his fight with Jeffries. The
pair had many a laugh over expert
ences that happened while Corbett was
getting into condition. Several of his
tales he relates in his monologue.
In New York not so long ago I went
| into a restaurant with my bull terrier"
relates Corbett. ito get a cup of cof-
fee. The waiter told me that he could
not serve me as long as I had the dog,
as dogs were not allowed in the place.
1 tried to jolly him along at first, but
| he would not be jollied. Finally he got
rough and said he would throw me
and the dog into the street unless I
got out in a hurry. wanted the cof-
| fee and would not part with my dog,
and most decidedly objected to being
! tossed into the street. He was just
starting for me when a friend came in.
| Hello, Corbett he said. Jim, I'm glad
| to see you. The waited halted sudden
! ly, looked at me for a moment and
said: Jim Corbett, the fighter Yes
| I answered. Shake So my prospec-
| tive opponent and myself shook hands.
| What will you have? he said.
"a cup of Coffee I answered.
"'And what will the dog have?'
81 received a rather hard jolt from
'rube' out east no long ago. A crowd
gathered around the train at a small
station, and delegation of farmers
headed by a little fellow who was evil
IDENTIFY the sport of the town entered
my car. They began feeling me to see
| if I was really like themselves. was
asleep, but woke up. I started talking
| to the little man and asked him IT he
had any pugilists In the village. he
| looked at me an instant and then an
swered: No. but we have the largest
gas tank in the world And had to go
away back and sit down.
Discussing the pugilistic situation,
Corbett says he is making too much
| money to fight Fftzsimmons- eff L
| beat him he would put up the plea
that he was too old. and would get
no credit for my victory" Corbett ex-
plains. ''F'itz was a great fighter, but
| he is living on sympathy now. That
sympathy gag that Fitzsimmons is
working makes me tired. AS a matter
| of fact, F'itzsimmons is but three years
older than I am. as I was born in 1866
and Fitzsimmons in 1868. This is cor
rect, and if Fitzsinmons desires me to
prove my assertions can do so.
81 think Jeffries will retain the
championship for some time to come"
! said Corbett. "Jeffries is so big and
fast that it will be long time before
man viii come to the front to beat
him. think a big, clever man will beat
him, one that can stay away from him
Island. There is nobody in sight at
present with a punch. or who is clever
enough to stand up before Jeffries, and
| although every champion has his day,
| think it will be a long time before
Jeffries meets his Waterloo. Cammy
Berger the Pacific coast amateur
heavyweight champion, is a clever boy.
He should win the amateur champion
| ship in this city this summer. A couple
of years from now Berger may be just
| the boy to beat Jeffries. but he would
stand no chance at present. 1 don't
say I am through with the game yet
myself, but as long as I am making
money as fast as I am at present I
| think would be foolish to enter the
ring again. unless to fight the winner
| of the Monroe-Jeffries bout, if he hap
pens to be named Monroe"
Players for at. Paul.
st. Paul, March 5.-Manager Kelly of
/ tho local hall cII4h racAiVad the