The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-09-23
CHAPTER XXI.


THE TRUE STORY OF THAT MUNRoE AT
FAIR IN BUTTE.
ONE time after our fight Fitz-
simmons and formed combi-
~ nation and began touring the
country with Il show. Fitzsim-
mons was Il good card because of the
great fight he had given me. The
show was n success everywhere we
went. Around through some of the
western states we met all corners in
stead of boxing together. Some Fitz
took on. and some took on. 1t was
ill this way that happened to make
Jack Munroe famous.
This Munroe was q miner working
in Butte. Mont. He had been a good
football player and amateur champion
boxer of the Pacific coast.
Long before we struck Butte our
advance agent had picked him out. |
didn't know a thing about Munroe.
The house that night was packed. and
all the people there expected to see
some lighting. The fellow who had
been selected for Fitzsimmons didn't
know how to fight. and he made such
a poor exhibition that Fitzsimmons
Knocked him out in a round to end it.
Nose La Fontise, good little fighter
from Montana. who won lot of fights
all over the west. went on next and
Knocked his man. some second rater
named Foley. out in round too.
That left only Munroe and me. 1t
wasn't much Of show to give with a
packed house out in front. 1 told
Fitzsimmons l was going to let Mum
roe stay as long as could and try to
give the people run for their money.
Don't you be a fool" said Bob.
you get in there and finish him as
quick rs you can. You're champion,
and you can't afford to fool around
with dub"
thought knew best, so went out
and boxed lightly and gave the miner
q chance to make q showing l was
careful not to hurt him. Fitz was mad
las halter when 1 came back to my
corner after the first round. He roast
ed me to a turn and told me to go
out and end 1t. In the next round I
spared easily again. but hit Munroe
In the stomach and dropped him hard
or than l meant to. and was afraid
he wouldn't get up But he did. In
spite Of Fitz, who was almost raving.
u let Munroe stick until the fourth
round. Then l went in to finish him,
but every time tented for an open
ing or stepped in with a punch he
dropped to the floor without being hit
and took the count. He was on his
knees so much that 1 didn't have a
chance to knock him out. That was
all there was to the Munroe matter in
Butte.
That night Clark Ball had a falling
cut with Fitzsimmons. He rushed over
and signed up Munroe and began wir-
ing all over the country, telling the pa
pess that Munroe had won a decision
ever me In four rounds and had knock
ed me down.
ritzsimmons was sore as bear He
offered to fight Munroe and give him
5000 II he stayed two rounds. Mel
ther Munroe nor Clark Ball could see
II. and Munroe wouldn't fight me an.
other four rounds for any amount Of
money.
On the 1st Of March. 1903. 1 met Jim
.Corbett in the Hotel Delavan to sign
for another fight. Corbett had been
challenging me for long time. and all
the papers were full of stories about 1t.
We decided to fight twenty rounds
IN California for the best purse above
$4,000 offered by any club. the win
Der to take IS per cent and the loser
. per cent. A little later we accepted
JIm Coffroth's offer for the Yosemite
club of San Francisco. then the strong
sst boxing club on the Pacific coast.
when the time came to train Cor
bett went to Croll's Gardens. in Ala
media. one Of the prettiest little towns
On the coast. just across the bay from
Snn Francisco, and 1 went back to Har-
bin Springs again. l like the Springs
for a training camp. l had Bob Fitz-
simmons with me now as a sparring
partner. Friends of mine came up and
stayed Mt the hotel and watched my
work every day. 1t was a sort of
family party. When ! was training Mt
che Springs for the fight with Fitzsim-
mons all the ladies' and children at
the hotel used to come down to the
gymnasium and see us box. We were
I'll good natured about it. laughing
when we were hit hard. They used to
20 away and say: "Wby, there isn't
anything bad about fighting. It's just
q game for big boys"
= thought then I'd have to put of
the date Of the fight for few weeks
after bull pup that we had in camp