The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-10-24
Death SUMMONS COMES
TO FORMER CHAMPION
bob FITzSIMMONS
Former Champion Heavyweight Pug
Hist of the World Succumbs
to Pneumonia.
WAS.ILL ONLY ONE WEEK
Fought for Life as He Had
Fought for Victory in
the Ring.

Chicago, Oct. 22.-Robert Fitzsim-
mons, former champion heavyweight
pugilist of the world, died at hos
pital here early today, after an ill
ness of five days of pneumonia.
Funeral services for the dead fight
er will be held at the Moody Taber-
nacle Wednesday. Burial will be at
Graceland Cemetery.
The former champion became ill
last Tuesday while appearing in
vaudeville theater, and his aiment
was at first diagnosed at /ptomaine
poisoning. Later it was discovered
that he was suffering from lobar
pneumonia and physicians declared
that he could not live. His remark
able vitality sustained him until Sat-
urday, when he lapsed into uncon-
sciouspess from which he did not
rally except at rare intervals.
Received Many Messages.
During the five days of his illness
Fitzsimmons was the recipient of
many messages from men whom he
had formerly met in the ring, includ-
ing James j. Corbett, from whom he
'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 a
speedy recovery.
Fitzsimmons, until he sank into his
final stupor, fought for his life as he
had fought for victory in the ring.
Physicians declared life was pro-
longed several days by the grim de-
termination of the man.
"Fighting Bob" lived up to his
nickname and ring reputation al
most 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 1t was there that he started his
ring career, but he was born in Hell
stem, Cornwall, England, June a, 1862.
His parents, however, soon moved to
New Zealand.
Fltzsimmons started work in his
fathers blacksmith shop, and at the
age of Is gained fame for his dex-
terity in swinging a heavy hammer
and fashioning of horseshoes. 1t was
said he could shape two while others
made one
Splendid Athlete.
Naturally athletic, Fitzsimmons en-
gagged in all kinds Of sports Before
taking up boxing he was hammer
thrower~ and long distance runner.
His speed and endurance were so
marvellous that he was given to hunt
ing kangaroos afoot. The former
champions career began as the win
ner of lightweight competition pro-
NOTED by James Mace, of New Zea-
land, in 1880. He defeated four men,
knocking out three of them, and thus
became the amateur champion of the
country. The next year he defended
his honors, defeating five opponents
in one night.
Always Ready to Fight.
Fitzsimmons continued at the forge
for the next six or seven years, but
was always ready to fight. After
fighting three battles with Jim Hall.
then regarded as the middlcwcight
champion of Australia, Fitzsimmons
came to America ina1890. He was one
of the lightest men to win the heavy
weight championship. He rarely
weighed more than 165 pounds when
IN condition and, gave away as much
as fifty pounds to some opponents.
Fitzsimmons won the worlds heavy
weight title on March II, 1897, when
he defeated James j. 'Corbett in the
fourteenth 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 cung
to the honor, losing it to James j.
Jeffries when he was knocked out in
the eleventh round, June 8, 1899, at
Coney Island, New York. 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.
Oldtimers of the ring say the last