Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-21

solar plexus blow. which won the fight
as lanes from the effects of it. fell to
the floor writing in agony. This Mrs
Fitz was an athlete herself and she made
a close study of the fighting game. She
knew better than her husband tina Cor
belts weakest spot was his stomach. She
was a magnetic woman and ruled Robert
because OF her superior will power. Fitz
never entered into a match without first
consulting his expert wife. and then when
he began training his routine work as we'll
as the preparation OF his food was under
her direction. This Mrs. Fitzsimmons died
about four years ago at Bath Beach after
a short illness from an attack OF pneu-
monia. She was a fine. large woman and
her sudden death was a great surprise TO
those who knew of her wonderful physique.
Fitzsimmons about a year afterward mar
ried Julia Clifford. an actress. who is now
performing with him in the English music
halls.
Burns and John l.. Needed Not.
You know Tommy Burns. who lost the
championship recently to Jack johnson.
is another fighter who has been we'll
guided by his wife's advice. Mrs. Burns
has travelled all over America. England.
Ireland. France and Australia with her
husband and has always looked after his
comfort and training quarters. 1t was
much against the little romans will that
her husband agreed to meet the big negro
champion. II was natural for her to OBJ
ject on general principles to having her
Thomas mix II up with a burly coon, but
outside of that Mrs. Burns. who had taken
a peek at Johnson herself while he was
boxing in a London music hall, told her
hubby that the big Niger was too much
for him TO tackle. But Burns turned a deaf
ear because he was sure Of that $4,000 win
or lose or draw einch. He wanted the coin,
even II he had TO take a licktng. and he
got both.
John L. Sullivan never lived Ions enough
with his wife TO be guided by her in any
way. They disagreed a few months after
their marriage In Boston about twenty-five
years ago and separated. II was only re-
Gently that John secured a divorce from
the lady In a Chicago court. There was
one boy born Of this unhappy union. but
he died in infancy. There was a rumor
some time ago that John l.. and Maggie
Cline were going TO hitch up, but neither
seemed to know anything about Il. so all
bets were declared off.
Frank Craig. the Harlem Coffee Cooler.
was a lucky smoke. This big. lazy coon
went to England IN 1894 dead broke. and
caught on at the music halls al once with
his alleged buck dancing and bum musical
act which would have been rotten eEged
on the BoweTy In short order. He also
knocked out a stiff named Jack o'Brien,
who called himself the champion OF Wales.
in two rounds at the National Sporting
club. This brought the Cooler into prom
inenee. and he was soon pitted against a
lot OF other suffs, beating them ali dead
easy. He was flying high until Dan Cree
don went TO England and cooked his goose.
Meanwhile, however, the Cooler married
a rich white woman and was on Easy
street. The way that coon drives about
London in his swell tandem would knock
your eye out. The last time Craig was
over here he met Tommy Ryan at the old
coney Island Athletic club. and the way
Ryan walloped the fashy smoke was aw-
ful On his return 20 England Mrs. Cooler
insisted that he should retire from the rude
rims. and taking her advice Mr. Cooler. late
OF Harlem. now snJoys the life OF a re-
tired English country gentleman.
"oh. England's a great place for coon
lighters. Just watch and see what they'll
do with Jack Johnson when be gets back