The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-22
Greatest Figure of Rineside History
Succumbs to Pneumonia
After Five Days
Battle.
FIGHT WAS A GAME ONE
Like All of His Other Battles, Fitz
Refused to Admit Defeat
Until tho Knock
out.

limited Press Leased Wire Service.l
CHICAGO, Oct 22.-Bob Fitzs1m-
mons has taken the last count.
The greatest of modern champions
succumbed to the champion OF all
times in Michael Reese hospital at
2:45 this morning.
The knockout" followed losing
fight Of five days against pneumonia.
At no time was the former heavy
weight king conceded even chance
for life, but he alone refused to give
up and practically his last words
were:
I'm not through until I'm counted
out. 1 never have quit and l never
will
Fits wife. Mrs. Tina Fitzsimmons,
who had been his chief second
throughout his game fight, was at
the ring side" when the end came.
She is in a serious condition herself,
following a nervous collapse Satur-
day. His son, Robert, Jr., who was
summoned from Glen Ellyn, n. j..
was expected to arrive some time
today.
Bob, who was appearing here in
vaudeville, contracted cold several
days ago. He collapsed while punch
ing the bag in practice Wednesday
morning He was taken to the nos
pital, where 1t was announced that
he had double pneumonia. A few
hours later it was said that his death
was only a matter of hours.
But the physicians left out of their
| calculations the wonderful stamina
| and supreme courage that had car
| ried the former blacksmith to the
pinnacle of pugilism.
The entire nation was pulling
for Bob and hundreds Of friends
many of whom were one time enc
mics Of the ring-wired the ancient
gladiator words of encouragement,
imploring him not to give up.
He didn't. Without even a fight
ing chance, Fitz fought death to 4
standstill for four rounds. In the
fifth-early yesterday-he lapsed into
coma from which he never revived.
In the parlance OF the ring, he was
knocked out on his feet" But he
fought on, and it was not until nearly
twenty-four hours later that the final
attack carried him down for the final
count.
Held Three Titles.
FitZsim mons when at the height
of his athletic powers achieved some
thing chat no boxer has ever done
before or since-he held three titles
simultaneously middleweight, light
heavyweight and heavyweight. He
was born in Cornwall, England. June
4, 1862 When still a boy, his par
ents moved to New Zealand where
young Bob, following meagre
schooling. learned blacksmithing.
When eighteen years of age, Bob
| startled the South sea continent by
| knocking out four men in a boxing
tournament at Timura, New Zealand,
winning the amateur championship
of Australia.
Jim Hal marred Fits record by
knocking him out in four rounds.
Then the lanky Cornishman came to
America. He won the middleweight
championship by knocking out Jack
Dempsey in thirteen rounds at New
Orleans Jan. II, 1891. He followed
with victories over Peter Maher,
Dan Creedon, Joe Choynski and
Black Pearl.
From 1894 to 1897, Fitz followed
Jim Corbett, then heavyweight cham
| plon, ABOUT the country, lmplOrlng
him for match. This was finally
arranged at Carson City, New, March
IT, 1897. There at the age Of 35,
Fitz won the worlds title by knock
ing Corbett out with the famous
SOLAR plexus" punch In fourteen
rounds.
For more than two years afterward
Bob boxed only minor engagements,
devoting his time to exhibitions and
stage work When he re-entered the
ring In earnest, it was against Jim
; Jeffries, giant California boiler
, maker.
JEFF Stops Him.
Fitz battered the big opponent
, about the ring for nine rounds. jeff
stood the gait, came back in the next