Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
A FIGHTING MAN BY NATURE
Good Old Bob Fitzsimmons a Wonder
as a Pugilist.
LONG REACH, POWERFUL MUSCLES
HIS Powers First Rev eaTed when lie
Defeated Jack Dempsey at New
, OrIeans-A Day ut His
Training Quarters.

A group Of men Interested in pugilism
we're discussing the merits of the various
fighters who have made fistic history
in America during the last quarter OF
a century when a veteran who had seen
the greatest exponents OF the manly art in
battle with bare hands as we'll as with
gloves voiced the following sentiments:
John l. Sullivan was great in his way
and could beat down the guard Of any
man who would stand UP to him and ex-
change blow for blow. Jack McAuliffs
was a general who understood ring tactics
perfectly and Jack Dempsey was as clever
as you made them, while, like Sullivan and
McAuliffe, he was so ruggedly honest that
he had probably more followers than any
pugilist that can be recalled; Corbett was
a dancing master and Mccoy was a marvel
in his way, but he had his limitations; but
for an all round fighter day In and day
out give me Bob Fitzsimmons, who beat all
the m~iddleweights and licked every heavy
weight but Jeffries, and probably would
have put him ava if he nae not been
giving away about thirty-five pounds ac-
tual weight and so many years that you
would laugh at me IL 1 told you the lanky
fellows age"
Among those who listened to the veteran
was a former newspaper man, who re-
ported the fight between Dempsey and
Fitzsimmons, and the remark carried
him back to a morning in March when the
Southern Express stopped at the little
town Of Bay st. Louis, Miss. 1t was a few
days before the day appointed for the
battle between the men.
Dempsey, the idol of his time, known far
and wide as the Nonpareil, had been
etched to fight the comparatively I'm
wn Fitzsimmons. who had but lately
Cont from Australia and had won g battle
at san Francisco. Fitzslmmons was re-
ported to be q clever pugilist, but the
followers Of the boxers would have none
of him when it came to betting, and Demp-
sey was an overwhelming favorite at 2s
to l as soon as the articles of agreement
were signed.
Nothing was known about Fitzsimmons
beyond a general reputation for cleverness.
No description of the man had ever APP
peared in print, so in order to give his
readers some idea Of the manner of man
Dempsey would meet the reporter dropped
off the early morning train. The negro
boys shouting their monotonous refrain
Here's yer nice fried fish! Here's yer
hot coffee!'-for once you strike Mobile
on your way south fried fish and hot
coffee. both delicious, are served by col
ored lads who surround travellers at all
hours whether day or night. One of these
itinerant merchants was asked II he could
direct the way to where Fitzslmmons was
training. The sight of a shining new silver
half dollar caused tho youngster to drop
fish and coffee instanter. turning his wares
over to another lad. and in a moment
he had the travellers bag in hand and was
trotting down the oak bordered streets Of
the sleepy town.
A few minutes walk brought the news
paper man to a neat cottage surrounded by
handsome trees and a spacious lawn in
the center of which stood a tent whore
later on a remarkable performance was
to be enacted. ST. ~
A knock brought to the door Jimmy Car
roll, a very clever English trainer of pugil-
lists known as Boston Jimmy to distln-
guish him from his namesake, the old
time heavyweight. who was named Brook
Ign after his birthplace, 1t wal only a
few minutes after G o'clock and the sun
was clarifying the still waters Of the
Gulf of Mexico, which danced and sparkled
in the vista commanded by the porch Of
the cottage. But Carroll was a hard task
master, and he was fully dressed when he
extended his hand in welcome.
"Here's Mr.. , Bob; come to look
you over, lad
Fitzsimmons, who was seated before the
wood fire which cracked in the grate-for
March can be cool, especially mornings
and evenings, in the southern s~tates-was
putting on a pair of high-laced shoes.
His tremendously long arms were bare
and as he rose TO his feet and extended
bgG hand hIa ayaa VyarA m a level with
the reporters and the newspaper man,
who stood almost six feet in his stockings,
marvelIed that such a man could scale
1856 pounds. The small head with its
freckled face rested upon a bull-like neck
and the shoulders showed punches Of
muscle under the thin gauze of the sleeve
less shirt.
"Wot nime?' questioned Fitzslmmons in
his broad Cornish.
Upon Carrol's repeating the name, which
evidently pleased the pugilist, he wrung
the reporters hand until the fingers were
numb. During breakfast, which was served
in half an hour, Fitzsimmons and Doc
O'Connell Of Boston, who was to Ugh the
following night at the opening of the three
days tourney, talked of a walk they were
going to have that morning. The news
paper man asked l%nnocently If he might
accompany them.
Oh. yes; he can come. Can't he, Doo?'
responded FItzslmmons, winking at Carroll.
The tall pugilist offered to furnish the
newspaper man with a cap and a sweater
and soon the trio were trudging along one
OF the finest roads in the world. Made Of
broken oyster shells, these gulf coast
tho~rohghfares are snow white and as
smooth as any avenue in New York. Five
minutes after any downpour Of rain a
woman could walk dryshod In a satin clip
per over their service.
It was a glorious morning. with just
enough frost In the air to make the blood
OF an inlet dance. For the first mile or
so the pace was brisk. The newspaper man
was in the center and as they reeled off
the miles the fighters kept up a running
chaff. After an hours brisk walking, the
pace accelerating mile after mile, a halt
was made and with perspiration courslng
in rivulets down their faces the trio broke
out simultaneously IN laughter.
sold, Bob was O'connelrs comment.
II was agreed tina O'Connell, who was
trained to the hour and who might become
stale, should turn back at this point, while
Fitzslmmons and the reporter continued
their jaunt. Beauvolr, the former home OF
Jefferson Davis, was some miles beyond
and Il now became the objective point.
As the men walked or ran Fitzsimmnns
asked "A hundred uuestions ahout namneav.