The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-19
Greatest Boxer Of Them All Is on the
Verge Of Knockout Today
In Fight Of HIS
Career.
ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA
Is In Hospital at Chicago Where the
Doctors Say He Can
Live But Few
Hours.

i
time was on the verge of a knock
out today in the biggest fight OF his
career-a battle with death. The old
ring hero, whom hook and upper cut
failed to stop, was slowly taking the
count from pneumonia, only ques-
| ton OF hours the doctors said. All
hopes that Fitz might weather the
attack as he had weathered storms
of blows and jabs in the past, were
abandoned.
..rll win out if they'll let me
| alone" painted Fitz weakly, at
Michael Reese hospital early today.
"I've got fighting chance-it's all
1 want"
| Fitz who at one time held three
titles, heavy, light heavy and middle
| weight champion, contracted cold
several days ago. while appearing In
a vaudeville act at south side
| theatre.
Gamely he stuck at his work until
he collapsed Wednesday morning
Then his wife Mrs. Tina Fitzsimnon.
forced him to go to the hospital.
She has been at his bedside con-
stantly since then. Physicians at the
hospital declared today that both OF
the old mans lungs and his heart are
affected and that he has but 9 few
hours to live His children, Robert.
Jr., Martin and Rosalie, have been
summoned from Glen EIEvn, N r.
Fitz was born in CoruaH. England
fifty-seyen years ago He went 70
Australia when a boy and built Up
his wonderful physique as a black
smith After winning the boxing
championship of that continent he
came to the United States in the
early COS. In this country he won
the middleweight title from Jack
Dempsey. the light heavyweight title
from George Gar,sser and the heav--
weight belt from Jim Corbett He
lost the latter championship when lie
was knocked out by jim Jerriss-
Making Game Fight.
CHICAGO, Oct 10. "A nation
watched today while the greatest OF
modern gIadiators fought a game bat
tie with the champion OF all time
death.
Weakened. and suffering. with all
hope abandoned by friends and ply
.sicians, Fighting Bob FTtZsimmons
called into play the wonderful STAN
ina and courage that carried him to
the pinnacle Of pugilistic fame, and
refused to quit
I'm not going to give up Until
I'm counted OUT he painted Il new
er have quit-and l never will
About the white-sheeted arena"
in Michael Reese hospital were gath
cred his advisers and Seconds
numbering among them the greatest
medical talent in the country.
~, DC ~
body wracked by the suffocating
pain of pneumonia. wore grim
smile and tried to instin into the
hearts of his wife and other watch
ers the faith that he felt
Hundreds of kilograms of encour-
agement were received from all parts
of the country.
We're with you, Bob" was the
burden of their text
And the ancient warrior, whose
physical prowess made him an inter
national figure, knows that he has
the crowd with him.
They expect game fight. He
won't disappoint them.
corbett Pays Tribute.
NEW YORK, Oct. 19.-"Fitz can put
up mighty battle and even death
Will find him hard man to handle"
sad Jim Corbett when Informed of
Robert Fftzsimmons' illness today.
You can't call it a knockout till
the lasts count and it's when things
look the blacklist and his opponent is
sasnlng the hardest that Fits cunning
comes to his rescue.
not p'
II Death conquers in this battle the !
ing VIII nave lost one Of it's most !
conspicuous figures.
can remember how he fought. |