The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-22

Mecnanics PAVILION, San Francisco.
December 20.-Robert Fstzsimmons
collapsed at the close OF the thirteenth
round or his fight with Jack O'Braen
OF Philadelphia. tonight He had
fought hard but naturally could not
| longer stand the strain. and after the
gong had sounded for the close of the
thirteenth round he walked to his cor
ner and sat in his chair Then his
mead fell over on his breast. his whole
body collapsed. and he was unable TO
proceed. Referee Graney saw his con-
dltion. and awarded the fight to
O'Brien.
While pounded in the face and sew
erai times in jeopardy. FYtzsimmons
always managed to come to and re-
sumo the fight. Just at the close of
the thirteenth round he landed a left
on O'Brien's stomach, but the Phiia-
delphian came back with a similar
blow and followed 1t with q left to the
Jaw. The gong rang for the close Of
the round and FitZsimmons walked to
mis- corner. AS he sat down he said
to Graney Eddie. "he hit me i'm the
stomach. and IL is all over"
Then his head sank. and Bob Fitz-
simmons was defeated
After the fight had been awarded to
OBrien. Fitzsimmons slipped to the
moor and lay PROSTATE in the ring
Ihere was call for doctor as IL was
seen that Fitzsimmons was i'm a state
OF collapse. He revived. however. in O.
few minutes.
Before Fftzsimmons left the ring he
made a little speech in which he said
he had done his best. He said he had
fought his last fight.
When Robert Fitzsimmons and
philadelphia" Jack O'Brien entered
the ring tonight at Mechanics Pavilion
to fight for the light-heavy weight.
nonors OBrien was favorite In the bet
ting ring at 10 to s. This afternoon
Fltzsimmons was a pronounced first
cno1ce. due to many large bets which
had been placed early I'm the week.
" Brlen's supporters then came for
ward In large numbers and the odds
were even. Large blocks of even
money continued to roll In the pools.
It then fell 10 to in O'Brien.s favor.
The men had agreed to fight at catch
weights. O'Brien gave out his weight
at 165 pounds. while Fftzsimmons in
said to have tipped the scales at 15s
pounds.
Mechanics Pavilion held one of the
greatest crowds in its history. The gal
leries bulged with a congested mass of
humanity and hundreds were denied
admission to the upper part Of the
house.
In the first round not more than four
blows We're exchanged. O'Brien con-
tented himself with dancing about.
with Fitzsimmons~ following. seldom
attempting TO land. In the second.
F1tzsimmons crouched low and after
O'Brien had missed left for the face
he whipped his left and right to the
face and Fitzsimmons partially landed
a straight left and right to the face
and body.
O'Brien shot his left to the law and
catching Fftzsimmons of his balance.
drove right and left to the face and
then ciinched.
O'Brien was very quick. Fftzsim-
% Round ss T. hm Ftsimmonsa neoa as d1oye sI%ss left
hard 10 the solar plexus and mixing
1t worked his left to the face. OBrien
just as the bell rang shot a straight
left that caught Fitzsimmons on the
nose and sent him to the floor. IL was
not clean blow. being more OF q
push.
Round 4. o'Prien forced Fitzsim-
mons % the ropes in a rush and Fftz-
Simmons fell on his left knee. He was
up quickly and put stin left over
OBrien's eye. O'Brien then drew
blood from Fitzssmmons' mouth and
nose.
Round 8. O'Brien pegged away with
his left and Fin again bled profusely
from mouth AMI ma. Finally FItz-
simmons caught 0'Prien over the
month, bringing blood from his mouth
Round b. Fitzsimmons met OBricn
with q crushing left and later lead
but the blow Was partly blocked. Fftz
took two left ia5s on the face aad
landed left swing on the ear.
Round I. Fiszsimmons went after
O'Brien, putting left 10 O'Brien's face,
right swing TO the body, but 0'Brien
countered with two wicked rights TO
face, one Of whi-h raised q big lump
over Fitzsimn-ns eye.
Ro.nd 8. Fitzsimmons worked mis-