The San Francisco call., 1910-06-19
3TORY of The Carson City Fight guth Solar Pras Knockou Its
Make If One of the Most An7azino~ c


Christmas, 1896. The promoter of this battle,
which was fought in Carson City New, was Dan
Stuart of Texas, who had demonstrated his ability
In affairs of this sort Stuart was known the
country over as a square man, who always was
anxious to make good his word, and with him at
the head of affairs the followers of pugilism
rested in full confidence that the contest would
p. be in every way above suspicion.
- One of Stuart's close friends was man who
for more than 80 years had been interested in all
classes Of amateur and professional sport and who
today is known the country over as one without
bleulish upon his reputation. To this man Stuart
went one day early in January, 1897 and asked
him if he would undertake to place $5o,o0o in
wagers on the Corbett- Fitzsimmons battle, the
. money to be furnished by Stuart
That is too much money to bet on this fight,
Dan," said his friend when two such men as
Corbett and Fitzsimmons get into the ring either
one is likely to be returned the winner. Fifty
contest of this kind"
Il viii not risk the money" said Stuart, 'un-
less am able to make certain arrangements that
I now have In contemplation"
- Fifty thousand dollars could not be bet" re-
piled his friend, without attracting much atten-
ton don't know what you mean, Dan, but of
course, the inference is bad. I never have had
shade the best of it, and don't want the best of
Il. If bet S5o.OoO on this fight my friends would
know it. and if anything went wrong would be
suspected of employing methods that do not
like. Then if your connection with the wagers
were establshed-and I don't see how it would be
possible to keep it secret-it would look very bad
for all of I wish you would get somebody
else to place your money"
Stuart replied that he knew of no other man
who could place S5o0oo without attracting lot
of attention that would be harmful to the fight
and distasteful to himself.
''Why don't you try Pittsburg Phil George E.
Srnith)?" responded his friend.
Il had thought of him." said Stuart, "but l am
not acquainted with him. Of course, he is just
the man to place this money if he could be per-
suaded to DO So"
Il viii be very glad to see that you meet him."
responded Stuart's friend. eff you will name the
This agreed upon, and Dan Stuart and
Pittsburg Phil were brought together. What
arrangement was made between them can not now
be told. Both men dead, and what they knew
Of the Corbett-Fitzsmmons battle died with them.
= Pittsburg Phil was in San Francisco a few
days before Corbett and Fitzsimmons came to-
gether. The city was in a tumult of excitement
and betting the result Of the fight was free.
In the poolrooms, which then hourished in an
open manner, Pittsburg Phil took the Fitzsim-
: mons end of the wagers at l to 2. So much did he
bet that the odds gradually shortened, until two
days before the fight to s was the longest price
that Corbetts adherents would offer. Phil then
went to Carson City, where he repeated the
=. rnthods he had employed in San Francisco. In a
poolroom owned and managed. by Corbetts
brother, Phil wagered large fortune on the
chances of Fitzsimmons, and again he forced the
prices to shorten materially
The first six rounds of the battle were all in
favor of Corbett. The sixth round found Fitz-
simmons apparently beaten man. Not once,
however, did Pittsburg Phil falter. At the ring
side, at the moment when Fitzsimmons
seemed about to sink TO the mat helpless he
stood covering every dollar of Corbett money that
was offered The friends of the champion knew
that all he had to do to continue forcing the
fight and Fitzsimmons must fall before his on
slsught. To their surprise Corbett betrayed bad
judgment, and instead of going IN to strike down
his battered opponent he stood away and gave
Fitzsmmons time to recuperate his strength
There was in Carson City the last few days
that preceded the battle man who was and con-
tinued up to the time of Stuarts death close
personal friend and business agent of the fight
promoter. This man believed Fitzsmmons had
no chance to whip Corbett and wagered large
sum of money in accordance with his views. Two
days before the battle he retreated from his posi-
ton and bet much money Fitzsimmons that
at the conclusion of the fight he was heavy
winner.
When Corbett went down to defeat in the
fourteenth round he fell in such manner as to
take him almost out of focus of the picture max
ing machine. Raising himself his hands he
twisted around so that he faced the lens. His
face then took on appearance of intense pain
1,Ie faa%