The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-15
RUBY ROBERTS RoMANoEs.

l a. | stcaI characteristics:
 1 Height, 6 trif1e under six feet; l arms of unusual length, with hands 1 like hams; a top-heavy physique, with shoulders of enormous size, and l the remainder of his body ta.perfng downward to legs of pipe thinness, with knock-knees; and a s1ouching gait.
 1 Doubtless you have recognized our l hero-probab1y you have seen him in 1 futile it is to attempt to describe his face. Suffice 1t to say that such nicknames as "Ruby Robert" and 1 'sF'reckled Bob'' and '"The Human Sti1ts'' were not conferred upon him without reason. No, the Cornishma-n does not and never did bear any re- !! sembIance to the typical hero of fic- ton. Yet, in spite of that, the life of Robert Fitzsimmons fairly reeks with romance.
 Let not the homeHest among us despair of attaing Hymen's beauufic heights when Ruby Robert has, on four separate and distinct occasions, led a blushing bride to the altar. Af- ter that, there is hope for us all. The story of Fitzsimmon's busy life harks back to Cornwall. England, to a June day in 1862. There and then he was born, the son of an honest, hard-working miner, and one of three brothers. Bob was nine when the Fitz family packed bag and bag gage and sailed away for New Zealand.
 Mrs. Fftzsimmon was a woman of great piety, and it was her chief am bition that one of her sons become a minister of the gospel. The choice fell upon Bob, and he was sent to a school attached to Christ's church at Yyttleton, New Zealand, walking three miles each night and morning. He went to Bible class twice every Sunday, and sang in the choir At school he was fond of running and jumping, but, although not coward, he was not much given to fighting. His companions were a rough lot. however, and Bob was often attacked and had to learn to defend himself
 It was one of these early bouts which decided his future. One day, when he was eleven, Bob was watch ing a, football game, and when the ball was kicked out of the field and landed near him he kicked it back. At that, one of the players, young giant, attacked Bob and gave him a terrible drubbing. When he got home his mother observing his bat tered features, and without stopping to inquire into the circumstances took down the family rod and gave her offspring another lacing.
 This double indignity so preyed up- on Bob's mind that he forever gave up the idea of becoming parson, and boy-hke, dedicated his life to revenge upon his brutal assai1ant. After the incident of the football game Bob was so ridicu1ed by his companions that he refused to go to school any more, and got job in grocery store. While thus employed he spent all his spare time boxing with his brothers and friendly boys, using gloves contrived from an old leather apron. Within a, year or two Bob was the best boxer in the village, but, to his lasting grief, the bully who had almost killed him in the rookus at the football game had left the country. If Bob ever finds that felIow-good night!
 After leaving the grocery store, Bob went to Tinary, N. Z., and was apprenticed to a carriage painter. His next employment was in swing ing a heavy s1edge in a, foundry, and a little later he got a job in black smith shop, specializing as a, horse sheer. In the interval he also had experience as a paperhanger. Bob liked horse-sh being. and spent five years at the trade. It was at this time that he began his career as boxer, and made quite a. reputation in a tournament pulled off at Tmaru by lem Mace, the great English champion, who was then touring New Zealand with a bunch of scrappers. Bob won the tournament and became the amateur champion of New Zealand, one of his victims being professional ringer" A year later Mace held another tournament at Tmaru, and Bob completely out c1assed HeBbert S1ade, a giant Maori, who had been trained by Mace to fight John l.. Sullivan.
 At that period Bob was interested in all sorts of athletic sports, and was scuIler. More and more the boxing bug got hold of him, however, and he decided to emigrate to Australia and take up the game in earnest. He hoped to make enough money in the ring to set up a, blacksmith shop of his own. The lanky, gaWky youth was received with howls of derision by the Sydney fans, but he soon prov ed that he had the goods. While in Australia he also engaged in hunting kangaroos, the skins commanding a, good price. and he had several mar row escapes. For the most part he followed the bIacksmithing trade, as fighting brought him only small in come.
 Fftz's first romance was with a sweetheart of his bcyhood days, and his early married life was very hap py. When the promoters of the Cal ifornia Athletic club sent for Bob to come to America just a quarter of a century ago, Bob refused to go un- less passage was provided for his wife and baby as well as for himself
 In the days of poverty and adversi- ty Fitz and his first wife were a hap py pair. but prosperity seemingly spoiled their romance. Gradually they drifted apart. In 1893, about the time he defended the middle weight title against Jim Hall, Fitz employed a new manager, Martin Julian, the wrestler. Fftz soon be- came dissatisfied with him, and gave over the management of his affairs to Capt. Charlie G1ori, chief of de- played an important part in Rob's domestic affairs, however, for after the first Mrs. F1tz divorced Bob in 1898 she became the bride of Julian, while Bob consoled himself by marry ing Rose Julian, a sister of Martin FItz married his second wife shortly