Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-17
CIose-Up No. 2. By WILLIAM H. ROCAP

When Bob Fitzsimmons, only a stripling, became "the boss" of the blacksmith shop in New Zealand be- cause he had been bullied by the other apprentices and even the journeymen, it gave him an inspiration. That in spiration was linked with an ambi l. ton. He appreciated the value of knowing how to use ones hands. He also had experienced the thrill of win ming. Fitz was never a man to gloat over victory. He even summed the hero worshipper. So when he triumph ed over that little blacksmith shop in town with q chip on his shoulder. but pursued his <1aily vocation at the forge and never allowed any bully from the outside to trespass on the rights of the shop. The other expectations were shop. The other apprentices were as safe from intrusion as are the chick ems under mother hens wings. FftZ was their protector. Big, rough fel- to have horses shoe fastened or a new set fitted, did not always come direct to the shop. Many of them got miy |. ed ale edge on before landing t'F Ar team at the farrier's forge. They /-re invariably in quarrelsome mood. Shortly after they arrived they were curbed. Immediately an argument started or a quarrel ensued. Fftz was always on the job. Moral suasion was used at first If not successful. physical force quickly followed. That was always effective. Fitz used to grin and often break into laugh when he recited his experiences to the writ CT.
 ~that my persuasive manner of hand ling those buIlies would have been harmful to the business, wouldn't you ? We'll it was not. The history Of that little New Zealand shop was just to the contrary. Instead of hustling their teams off elsewhere. they always came back. No, not for more, but to see the other fellow get it. When became proprietor I ran the shop on those strong physical lines which not only proved ef1cacious, but proved an at tractive advertisement"
 Fitz's early knowledge of boxitg
 made him uneasy at the leash. He sighed for conQuests with the gloves. ring history failed to record. However, in 1880, when he was but eighteen years of age. he yielded to persuasive friends and entered a public amateur affair for the New Zealand amateur title. That was his advent into the ring world as competitor. That he cut wide swath thereafter brooks no denial. He had to beat four men before the amateur crown was placed on his head. He accomplished the feat of fattening the quartet of op- ponents in such manner as to leave no room TOT QOupC. Iuoy all fSCSTVeG Fftz's famous ssleep-producing punch There was no disagreement of the Judges. The new champion was . real one. The hero of the blacksmith shop was now a bona-fide ring champion
 Just at that time Jem Mace was on the scene in New Zealand. He was great believer in boxing for young men and did all he could to foster the sport in Great Britain and then turned his attention to other fields. He arrang- ed a tournament Of course, Fftzsim- mons was one of the entries. In that tourney he performed feat which has never been equa1led in the worlds history. He beat five men in one night They were not dubs. either, for among them was the great Maori, Herbert Shade. {
 Strict amateurism did not appeal to man of Fftz's temperament. He liIx- ed the jingle of the dollar. Amateur titles were empty honors to him. It was not long before he yielded to the lure of the professional ring. It meant dollars to him. And they were most needed, for titles could not fill his daddy's empty purse or appease the appetites of the other children. So, with the advent of 1882, Fitx threw his