Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-22
Jack O'Brien Will Fight Ryan
Before Hart.
QUAKER WANTS A REST
RACES AT BOTH NEW ORLEANS
TRACKS WERE SPIRITED.
Foot Ball Rule Changes Held Up by
Yale-Sheckard Will Not Play In
Observation-Disclosures Chess.

SAN FRANCISCO. December 22.-with
the Fitzsimmons- o Brien mill settled by the
defeat OF poor old Fftz. the pugilistic world
Is already contemplating the next big
match. Alec Greggains will offer the Feb
ruary date to Hart and O'Brien but Jack
says he wants to rest until March. and he
Is inclined to take on Tommy Ryan before
Hart. anyway.
lack Abrams offers to bet $500 that
Jack johnson can beat O'Brien in Jig time,
but Wednesday nights victor says he has
drawn the color line and will never enter
the ring with a negro. 1t looks as IL o Brien
wiz be persuaded to meet Ryan In February
instead of in March. and then the Hart
fight is left for q later date. providing. OF
course, that Jack can defeat Ryan.
Fitz as much wounded in spirit as physi-
cally. was about town today He Is done
with the ring forever, he says
1T has been reported here that Fitz Is
dead" was the message that the Kansas
City Office Of the Associated Press received
from New York this morning. Kansas
City connected with San Francisco
Immediately and asked for a verif1cation.
This was enough to start a rumor here that
Bob had passed on to the great referee. As
soon as the report was heard the Adams
Hotel. where Fitz has rooms, was commu-
nlcated with. The old fighter was still In
bed when reporter called. Manager
Friedman evinced no little surprise when
apprised Of the rumor.
Silly Report Denied.
Wonder who could have started it7" he
said why, just left him few minutes
ago, and he was we'll as could be. or
course he was heart broken over his de-
feat but otherwise he was all right.
Left him TO give him chance to take an
other snooze He'll be up In little while.
He's all right"
Fitz received a number of kilograms from
different points of the west from friends,
expressing their regret. Mrs. Fitzsimmons
wired her husband to cheer I'D and take
defeat bravely.
win Fitz ever fight again." Manager
Friedman was asked
Positively, no." was his curt reply. Bob
has made his last appearance In the ring.
He will play next week at the AlhamDra
Theater. after which he VIII leave Tor New
York. 1 suppose he will 60 on the road
with a show when he gets back home he
is always a good card with the show.
Fitz seemed to take his defeat even hard.
tho heavyweight championship Old as he
IL he felt that he would defeat O'Brien IN
quick order. Fftz worked faithfully for his
ordeal, and was in the best possible conof-
ton that he could put himself.
The rumor Of Fitz's death recalled the
Corbett-Britt battle. After this affair a
message came from Butte the next morning
that Corbett had cashed In his checks. me
pretty much alive. The next day ne was
Yelling his head of over the decision
Jack Wants to Rusticate.
philadelphia Jack O'Brien declared this
Morning that he would take long rest.
o,RrIen has not yet decided where he Will
snend his vacation He will either go back
east and spend the holidays with the
folks or else take trip to Honolulu.
For the time being O'Brien Is going to let
the envious scrappers do all the talking
they want, but when he returns he prom
ises to attend to some Of those who are
now throwing challenges
az have achieved the ambition OF my
life" said OBrien this morning For nine
long weary years have been fighting, meet
ing all Corners and earning my way inch
by inch to the top. Now I believe I'm en-
titled to q rest, don't you? This constant
training has a wearing effect on ones ner-
Vous forces and have absolutely decided
to take a much-needed rest"
O'Brien was asked II he would pay any
heed to a challenge from Sam Berger.
well, for the time" said Jack. II do not
care to even think OF another fight. but
you can bet I'll be ready after the rest
and then I'll attend to some OF these fell
lows.
From some remarks that Mr. Berger let
fall around the ringside last night 1t would
give me exceeding pleasure to meet Berger.
OF course, he is a big. dangerous fellow, but
/ would put nice bet on John Hagan II he
were to tie W with Sam Berger. After my
rest. If things look roseate for a fight with
Tommy Ryan. l will take him on In prefer
ence TO the other. Now, I'm plainly mid
dle-weight and middle-weight champion OF
the world. Why should I go out Of my
class? A fight between Ryan and myself
would be bound to draw, and while would
not like to make any rash predictions, L be-
lieve that II Ryan and fought he would
he worsted- After my rest I'll take some
need OF the challengers. but for the time
being they can go along and do as much
talking as they want to. But when the
time for lighting comes you can go and get
a bet down that Jack OBrien will be right
there and give to the boxing public tho
best goods he has In his shop"
O'Brien Feeling Good.
Just then some one asked Jack about the
fight
THE fight? Obi! Yes. pardon me. but
don't you know had quite forgotten that
matter. Well. 1 thought It was a rather
good fight
How's Fitz?" then inquired O'Brien. 81
nope he will not feel any Ill effects from
me battie. ! consider him the gamest man
IA me world l have the highest respect
TOT this grand old man OF the ring.
brien then sauntered leisureiy over IN
nus dressing case, pulled out some verv
recherehe things in drapery, and then nro.
eeeded TO make himself presentabIe.
Barring very slight cut under the chin
" Ditch uoes not bear mark Of the battle.
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