The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-10-22
Fitzsimmons, Once Champ,
Takes Count From Pneumonia
After Illness of Five Days
Heavyweight PugiIist, Fighting
GameIy to Last, SuCCumbS
to MaIady Contracted While
Playing Vaudeville,

CHICAGO, Oct 22--Robert Fltzsim-
mons former champion heavyweight
pugist OF the world, died at hospital
at an early hour after an Illness OF five
days OF pneumonia.
Appeared on stage.
The former champion was taken sick
last Tuesday while appearing at n vaude-
Vile theHter and his aihnent was at first
diagnosed as ptomaine poisoning Later
1t was discovered that he was suffering
from double pneumonia and physicians
declared that he could not live.
His remarkable vitality sustained him
until Saturday when ne lapscd into un
consciousness from which he did not rally
except at rare Intervals
Fought ss In Ring.
Fitzslmmons, until he sank into his
final stupor, fought for life AK he had
fought for victory In the ring Physlc!ans
declared life was prolonged several days
by the grim determination OF the man.
Mrs lfit2sImmons who was with her
husband during his illnens. suffered IA
nervous breakdown last night and for a
time Il was believed her condition was
dangerous, but she soon recovered aud re
sumed her vigil NJ his bedside.
"BUh was great fighter and good
husband" snid Mrs FitzsimmouE He
worked hard on the circuit ana believe
the exposure between the acts ana the
drafts which blow through the wings
caused his illness
Robert ir.. son Of the dead puglst, is
expected to arrive from New York today
Fighting Bob" lived up to his nick
name and reputation to the end lie re-
fused TO admit defeat, even after physl
clans had given up hope. FltLsimmons
always was referred TO hs nn Australian
because 1t was there that he started his
ring career, but he was born In hehpn
Cornwall, England, June I, 1852. HIS
parents, however. soon moved to New
Zealand.
Started as Blacksmith.
Fuzsimmona started work In his faith
. er's blacksmith shop Mt the age OF lb
gained fame for his dGNterity In swing
ing a heavy hammer and tashonng u
horscshoes Before taking up boxing h'
WIS a hammer thrower md long distance
runner. His speed rGd endurance weri
80 marvellous that he was given to hunt
Ing kangnroos afoOt.
The former champions ring career he
gan as the winner OF lightweight com
petition promoted by Jem Mace ut Tin
aru, New Zealand, In 1890, He defeate'
four men. knocking out three Of then
- and thus became the amateur champion
NJ the country. The next year he defend
ed his honors, defeating fiyo opponent
In One night
Champ at 100 Pounds
the next six or seven years. After fight
y ing three bsttles with Jim Hall. then ro
e gnrded as the middlew weight champion o
e Australia. FitEsimmOns came to AmeriC
IN I'm 1880 He was one Of the lightest me
~ to win the heavy weight champiOnshi {
y, He rarely weighed more thnn 1866 pound
" when In condition and gave away a
-, much ms fiftv pounds to some opponents
~ FitZsimmons won the worlds heavy
~ weight title In 1897 when he defea g
a. James Corbett In the fourteenth roun
o. OF their memorable battle at Carson Citl
NJ New He stopped Corbctt with his fam
!" Gus solar plexus punch, Of which he wa
the originator For two years FitLsim
., mons chung to the honor, losing to jaime
] Jcffries when he waB knocked out
% the eleventh round OF furious battl
~ June =, 1890. at ConPy Island, n Y
X, 1902 he met Jeffries again. but after has
y ing the better Of the California giant q
points, Fitzsimmons went down to detcn
In the eighth round
JeffrIes Hurt Career.
Old timers Of the ring say the las
' Knockout at the hands Of JcfirIes start
ed FttEsimmons on the downward path