Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-23
BOB FITZSlMMONS
TAKES FINAL COUNT
FORMER RING CHAMPION DIES
EARLY TODAY; HAD EVENT.
Full ARENA CAREER.

Chicago, Oct. 22.-Robert Ntzsim.
mons, former champion heavywelen!
pugilist of the world, died at hosspita!
here early today, after an illness OF
five days Of pneumonia.
The former champion was taken
sick last Tuesday while appearing at g
vaudeville theater, and his ailment
was at first diagnosed ptomaine pol:
sonjng. Later it was discovered thas
he was suffering from double lobar
pneumonia and physicians declared
that he could not live. His remark
able vitality sustained him until Satur-
day, when he lapsed into unconscious
ness from which he did not rally e1.
cept at rare intervals.
Friends Remember Him.
During the five days Of his illness
Fitzsimmons was the recipient OF
many messages from men whom he
had formerly met in the ring, tnclud-
ing James J. Corbett from whom ne
won the championship. and James J.
Jeffries, who took the title from him.
Other pugilists and followers OF the
sport sent kilograms to the fighter and
his wife, expressing hope Of q speedy
recovery.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons, who was with her
husband during his illness. suffered q
nervous breakdown last Thursday and
for a time it was believed her condi-
ton was dangerous, but she soon re-
covered and resumed her vigil at his
bedside.
Fighting Bob" lived up to his
nickname and ring reputation to
the end. He refused to admit
defeat even after physicians had
given up hope. Fitzsimmons always
was referred to as an Australian. be-
cause it was there that he started his
ring career. He was born in Helsten.
Cornwall, England. June 4. 1862. His
parents, however, soon moved to New
Zealand.
The former champions ring career
began as the winner of lightweight
competition promoted by Jem Mace, at
Timaru. New Zealand in 1880. He de.
feated four men. knocking out three OF
them, and became the amateur cham
pion Of the country.
After fighting three battles with
Jim Hall. then regarded as the middle
weight champion of Australia. Ftzsim-
mons came to America in 1890. He was
one of the lightest men to win the
heavyweight championship. He rarely
weighed more than 165 pounds when
in condition and gave away as much as
fifty pounds to some opponents.
Defeated corhett in 1897.
Fitzsimmons. won the worlds heavy
weight championship in 1897 when he
defeated James J. Corbett in the four.
teenth round of their memorable battle
at Carson City. Nevada. He stopped
Corbett with HIS famous solar plexus
punch, OF which he was the originator.
For two years Fitzsimmons chung to
the honor, losing it to James j. Jeffries
when he was knocked out in the elev.
enth round OF furious battle decided
on June 8. 1899. At Coney Island. In
1902 he met Jeffries again, hoping to
regain the crown. but after having the
better Of the California giant on points,
Fitzsimmons went down to defeat IN
the eighth round.
Old timers Of the ring say that the
last Knockout at the hands OF Jeffries
started Fitzsimmons on the downward
path. He defeated George Gardner in
twenty-round contest In San Fran.
cisco in 1903. but later was knocked
out by Philadelphia Jack O'Brien and
Jack johnson.
SPENDS Fortune Fast.
Fitzsimmons made fortune in the
ring, but his earnings soon vanished
The former champions first American
ring experience was in San Francisco.
His peculiar style of fighting brought
laughs from the spectators and even
made his opponents smile. He appear
ed awkward. but soon his experience
eliminated his crudeness. He really
became prominent when he defeated
Jack Dempsey in 1891 for the middle
weight championship. After that VIC
tory; Fitzsimmons' fame vas assures.
Few middleweights would face him. so
starting in 1894. he began meeting the
bigger, men Of the ring.
Fitzsimmons had varied matrimo'
NAL career. He was married four
times, one of his wives being Julia Gif'
ford an actress. His widow recently
became an evangelist. She also ap-
peared with Fjtzsimmons in vaude'
Vile act in which the former champion
gave an exhibition Of bag punching
and other training stunts