The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-22
BOB f|TZSIMMONS'
LIFE GOES OUT
NOThD OLD FIGHTER SUCCUNlss
TO PNEUMONIA AFTER Ill.
NEss or FIvE DAYS.

Chicago. oct. Robert E',usum
mons. FORMER championship heavyweight
pugilist of the world. died nj hos
p,ial here early today sftsr an iilae<s
az 1--WE days Of pnrumonia. His age
Nas IS
The former champion was taken SICK
iast Tuesday while appearing at "A vau'
dcviiie theatre. and his ailment WAS at
firstf iagnosed as p,omainc poisoning
Later u was discovered that he was SUI
fering from double lobar pncumoni,
and physicians declared that he could
not live.
his remarkable vitality sustained him
untn Saturday. when he lapsed into un'
consciousness, from which he did not
rally except at rare intervals.
messages From Old Fighters.
During the five days of his Illness.
i'itzsiminons was the recipient Of many
messages from men whom he had for
merly met in the ring. including James
J. Corbcti from whom he won the
championship. and James j. Jeffrics
who took tibet lille from him. Other pu-
gilists ana followers of the sport sent
tclegrims 10 the fighter and his wife.
expressing hopes OF "A speedy recovery.
Fi,zsimmons. until hc sand into his
final dupor. fought for life as he had
fought for victory in the ring. Physi.
cans declared life was prolonged sew Z
eral days by the grim determination oi q
the man. I
Mrs. fitzSimmons, who was with her
hsuband during his illness. suffered a
l.
n time it was beiie>ca her condition 1
WAS dangerous but she soon recovercd {
ana resumed her vigil at his bedside. b
Tribute by His Wife. 0
'i:ob was great fighter and a good | v
husband" said Mrs. ritzsimmons. "He S
ayori,cd hard and thee ircuit and ! be- d
ieve the exposure between the acts and p
The drafts which blew through the "
wings caused his Illness" Il
Robert Jr., son OF the dead pueilist, b
IS expected to arrive here from New G
York today.
biography Of Noted Fighter. lc
Fighting Bob" lived up to his nick OF
name and reputation to the end He k
refused to admit defeat even after ply. al
sioians had given up hope Fitzsimmons re-
tiways was referred to as an Austral. pl
an because it was there that he started
fis ring career. but he was born in h;
ielsten Cornwall. England. June 4. 1862. er
Fftzsirnmons started work in his faith in
RS blacksmith shop and at the age of III
gained fame for his dexterity in pl
winging heavy hammer and fashion Ia
ne Of horseshoes. Before taking UP be
oxing. he was hammer thrower and th
ong distance runner. His speed and a
ndurance were SO marvellous that he de
las given to hunting kanearpos aroot Ga
King Career Begins. In
The former champions ring career be. or
an as the winner of "a lightweight com hs
clifton promoted by Jem Mace at Tim to
ru. N. H.. in 1880. He defeated four in
ien, knocking out three OF them and he
hus became the amateur champion of OF
9e country. The next year. no defend ar
Z his hcnors. defeating five opponents Of
! one night. 6e
l'itzsimmons continued at the forge tn
'r the next six or seven years After so
ghting three battles with Jim Hall. ca
zen regarded as the middleweight an
hampton of Australia, Fitzsimmons loo
,ine to America in 1890. WI
hit "dS oilt- OI tHt HgnteSt men tn or
In the heavyweight championship. He inc
rely weighed more than 1G5 pounds
hen in condition and gave away as arr
uch as fifty pounds to some opponents. tht
Wins Heavyweight Championship. ref
iftz3immons won the worlds heavy. ar,
eight title in 1897. when he defeated tui
mes !. Corbett in the fourteenth round ser
their memorable battle at Carson Ro
ty. Nevada. He stopped Corbett with WI
$ famous solar plexus punch. Of which is
was the originator. For two years mo
tzsimmons clung to the honor. losing str
to James j. Jeffries when he was run
locked out in the eleventh round of a {
rious battle June s. 1899. at Coney ful
land, New York. In 1909 he met JEFF tiol
es again. but after having the better his
the California giant on points, Fitz- TIM
nmons went down 10 defeat in the wol
nth round. But
Did timers OF the ring say the last on