The Topeka state journal., 1907-12-27

football teams with all manners of
braces, protectors and forms of har-
ness in order that the players can con-
tinue despite their injuries.
Though the football field furnishes
many of the exhibitions of pluck-for
| the game is still the most strenuous of
all sDorts-it is not the only place
| where sand can be found in sabund-
= ance. On the football field it is simply
| the pure love of victory that leads the
| athletes on. In the prize fighting ring
| there is still the love of victory, with
| the added purse that goes to the win
| ner, and OftentimeS a cham mpiOnShip.
| There have been some fine examples
! of grit among the pugilists. More than
a dozen years ago two of the greatest
| ring chiefs. Robert Fitzsimmons and
James j. Corbett. met in the roped
arena at Carson City, New, for the
championship of the world. Corbett
was at the height of his career, fresh
from victory over John L. Sullivan,
tho greatest of all fighters, and
"Lanky Bob" who had worked his
way up, was the challenger. Both
were scientific fighters, and they
could hit blow which would kill an
ordinary man. Always on the alert
to take advantage of the slightest sign
ent, each man fought with great eau
ton, but frequently landed terrific
punches on the body of the other.
One of Corbett's blows broke one
of Fitzsimmon's ribs early in the
fight. But ''Lanky Bob too willy to
time, fought on. By and by nature
was ready to quit, but not Fitzsim-
mons. The Australian faltered and
seemed about to drop Corbett, be-
lieving that he had the fight won grew
reckless "Lanky Bob" rallied his
dropped his guard for fraction of
second. 1t was just long enough to
end his career and produce a new
champion. For Fitzsimmons sent
tory.
Joseph Cans, a negro, and Battling
Nelson, an American Swede, were
opponents in the prize ring at Gold
field a year ago. Both men weighed
about 133 pounds. The negro is a
bulldog" fghter-that is, one who
depends on brute strength Nelson
was the younger and the winner of |
many fights. Cans had record equal |
ly as brilliant. The negro trusted to |
science, the white man to strength. 1t |
was a terrific fight and went on for |
over forty rounds. The negro won
and the white man has never been as |
good since. Before this it was thought |
that the white man could not be hurt
The loser had great sand" No one
knows the vital parts or the human |
body better than the expert pugilist |
Cans is an expert. 1t was a brutal |
contest. For more than 20 rounds the |
negro was the white mans master
and he toyed with his opponent like a |
cat with a mouse. But the white man |
fought on until nature gave way. |
There was no doubt about it being 1
contest of human brutes, but 1t was /
also a wonderful exhibition of sand"
Professional baseball players are |
noted for their grit. Injuries which |
would keep an ordinary man at home |
are passed over with hardly any at
tention. There were several striking |
on the New York Nation |
al team in the last season. Roger
Bresnahan and Frank Bowerman are
the Giants best catchers. While on |
one of the western trips Bresnahan /
was hit on the forehead by a pitched |
ball and Knocked unconscious. 1t was
q terrific blow, and no one except a
trained athlete would have survived
1t. Bresnahan was in a hospital for
two weeks. Three weeks after he re-
cefved the injury he was on the dia-
mond again. Some of the greatest
Datters have lost their cunning in
the stick, after being hit on
he head. They get nervous and draw
away from the plate when the ball is
pitched, and that is fatal to batting
averages. But Bresnahan had never |
oatted better than on the day he re-
urned to the game after his injury at