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Show w- -jt W P i N ""li" yif K He j atte at Coney Island in Which the GretJ When J etiries Whipped r itzsimmons czstrel I XX Copyright, imp, hy tho y. Y. Herald Co. All rights respired. ' )ST H Through twq .centuries tlio ehamplon- H Flilp of Intglllsm has been traced in these H nrLlcles. There wci-u giants in thosa dnyii H of Gaunt. Broughton, Tom Johnson, j Mondczu, Bclohar and others. There were j giants, mutt of strength aud scienca ana M greatness of heart. YcL It is ontlrely j probable (hat. tho last qnartur of a Wn- j fury has scon tho- tit lo holif- by four men H onch.greator than any of his prcdcccs- H Pugilism- developed afl did tho rcct ot 1 tho world. For a time niorv wore brought Hj logether. and it was a part of. pride for Hj llicm to stand too to toe, exchanging H clumsy blows until ono or tho other fell as a result of punishment or exhaustion, j Then some genius of his day decided that j 'it would be a better part of valor to H evade a blow rnther than accept its full j brunt- He wan called weak of heart and H was derldod as a coward by men who H wondered at his success and could not j understand how he could light his way i In victory against another of greater de- lermlnntion and more strength of heart. His methods, in turn, wore improved upon. Another gonitis arose, who not 1 only mado a study or how best to avoid H a blow but how best to accept a blow j and at" tho same time reduoo its weight Mi -to a minimum. Another Improved upon H the olfi-timo methods of preparation, and H when it came his turn to fight appcarcn HHj in the ring so perfectly trained that a 1 'rtter man than himself foil before Iilni. j And in tin's way, step by step, progress -vns made until the day of John L. hnlli-van. hnlli-van. Bv that time men who sought laurels In tho realm of pugilism made a B study of human anatomy and taught H themselves where host to laud a blow to bring momentary paralysis upon an oppo-9 oppo-9 nent. Sullivan swept across the contl- ncnt knocking out all comors, allottm; j in each otic less than four rounds of H lighting. , Then camo Corbctt, who developed the Hi science of boxing to a degree reached by H no other man before or ylnoc his time. 1 Following him came Fitzslmmons, ao Hl built as to constitute almost a physical freak. Far less sclent Iflc thnn Corbctt and twenty pounds lighter In weight, ho taught himself how to absorb punishment j and how to deliver a blow far out of pro- t portion to his size. A combination of Kltzslmmons and Corbctt would make an ideal pugilist, a man unbeatable. 1 Finally came .Tames J. .leffries. les l cunning than Fitzslmmons, much less selentltle than Corbctt. fnr lens nggrcs- jslvo limn Sullivan, yet capable of dellv-Bl dellv-Bl crlng a blow uiulcv which no man has Bj vet bnen found 10 stand; so strong that Bj his strength answered the purpose of sei- HHI ence, capable by the mere 'swing of his ponderous fists to . destroy his adversary's defonsf- BTjTaattit So huco of bulk is Jeffries that saB lit iiccopts punishment without tlislrcss tluit would mnan death jn to a man of loss vitality. The sir.c of Jeffries makes him -trJ great. At his best it is proba- JSrfw Ulo thai he was more than the CT equal of any man who ever pre- b -ffl ceded him, - Jeffries was first heard of by v the general public as a clever g" and willing youngster who had oniorcd tho Corbctt camp at Carton City to help prepare the champion for his battle with 1-itzsim- i At that time Jeffries was a big, good natured Ptriplltjg so awkward that he al-most. al-most. Ml over himself in the ring- Tils l strength had been developed In a boiler H fuvtorv and he had not been with Cor- H . belt long before tho champion learned s that it was dangerous to give the lad an t oppurtunlty io land one of his ponderous Hj Jeffries always was willing to take j punishnicnt and never lost his tempor when Corbett in practice kept up a rat-tat-laL on his head or body. He never B Tired. He kept walking into the eham- BHi plon and showed a power of resistance BBff ilia I atnu&icd and interested the observers. B f.Torbott as then being trained by "W11- HX ' iTam Doluiiey. who also took the young V. 'iaul under his protection. Dclancy saw B in Jeffries promising material. Jeffries, HVVt 3ircr ogotistical, soon learned that the BVK i-hampion could not seriously hurt him Jeffffes.'Jabbed with . His Tdft, -which Hb -was mrrprTsc'd-'to aeo'tBo bTg fdt and, further, that while It was difficult for him to reach Corbett. It was possible for him to tire the champion .out and finally land a punch that might work disastor. Jeffries sat in Corbet t's corner during dur-ing the fight with Fitzslmmons. watched every move of tho two gladiators and tho next day left Carson City convinced in his own mind that he could whip cither the old or the new champion. Ho confided con-fided his confidence to Dclancy, who wont so far as lo say that with proper training Jeffries might bo made into a champion and cautioned him to say nothing to anybody of his aspirations, and the two then began a campaign of preparation that lasted for more than two years. Jeffrlcs's first efforts in tho. riiig wore barely good enough to make him worthy of the consideration of the public. None of his opponents could hurt him, but on tho other hand ho lacked speed and had not yet learned how to plant his blows, heavy though they were, in a manner to bring victory. Littlo by little tho big fcl ow was taught how to handle hlmsolf. until finally his manager, V. A. Bradv, i and his l miner. Dclancy. thought him worlh a tryout in the best of company. An invuylon of tho cast was planned, a loubl match was arranged, Jeffries undertaking to lop Bob Armstrong and Steve p-Donncll. each Inside of ten rounds In tho samo ring. Armstrong succeeded suc-ceeded in staying tho ten rounds, with rhV, lia'f 11,0 excuse of having Tho bout with O'DonnclI was called off h?? i r(?lW??d t0 California, hav- infre TOSi,,eJI 11 l,c reputation for hlin-sell. hlin-sell. Jeffries's thumb was broken as a result of his lack of knowledge as to how to land a blow. The accident was a real h"-U a? '! ,00k CT!n the in L i leir"'nS !ow to handle his fists ias..l ,do l,c ,n0f,t ''amacre to another and tnc least to himself. " rJrV . f.e,,,lso,n match was mnde Tor Jeffries with the champion. Kobcrt Fi z- wasnhefd SJVhe ni? 'J'ori'f coulclt Wai?. ?c ii at. Con?5' Island Juno 9. 1S93. l'cw believed that the big fellow would have a chance to wrest the title from ts llol.d,er" n facl u, srent majority were ?S lJIS 'V01? U,aL ,h0 f,sl,L uldmcre-O uldmcre-O give I'ltzHlrnmons another apportunitv other TSS? hiS "ncriority'ovcr ail onhf inn kIFT' hcrd a contrary opinion. Not for one moment did ho doubt his own prowess. Delanev also beloved be-loved hi hlnr and they succl-edod In convincing con-vincing those who helped the big rcllow to train that he had moro than an oven cl anco with Fitzslmmons. Tommy -Ryan, who had succeeded to the middleweight championship when Fitzslmmons stepped into the heavyweight division, and who was one of the craftiest of ring generals, engaged to teach Jeffries some of th flnor points of fighting, and entered his training camp at Allcnhurst, N. J. Jeffries Jef-fries occupied the same cottage that Corbctt Cor-bctt lived in when preparing for his bal-tlo bal-tlo with John L. Sullivan. Fitzslmmons. always a careful trainer, engaged quarters at Until Bcuch. where ho gavo to.hinifelf as careful a preparation prepara-tion as he received for tho fight with Corbett at Carson flty. No taint or suspicion' over attached II-?cir. II-?cir. P, ,u, battle that gavu the laurels to Jeffries, il is true that Fitzslmmons more than a year after the fight made the allegation that he had been poisoned after aft-er the second round by ono of his seconds, sec-onds, maintaining that ir It had not. been for that h would have retained Iho championship. Tho result or his second fight with Jeffries, however, fullv demonstrated dem-onstrated the fact that I he better man had won and that the only poison Fitzslmmons Fitz-slmmons hail received has been contained in Jeffries's knockout fist. Boforo one of the greatest crowds that ever witnessed a championship battle Jeffries and Fitzslmmons fought. Thero was llttlo gallery play that night; each man was eager for tho fray and neither attempted to overlmprcss his opponent, Fitzslmmons Mvns the flrHt to appear in the ring with his soconds, Martin Julian, Jack Et'erhardt and Yank Kenny. Thoi champion, however was hardly through tho ropes boforo Jeffrie was shouldering shoulder-ing his way down the aisle "With him were his squires. Bill Delancy, Jim Daly i and Jack Jeffries, the last named being his brother. George Slier, who had rcferccd the light between Corbett and Fitzslmmons, was the third man in tho ring. No great amount of money had been bet on the light, which was for a purse of ?25,000, but In such wiigcrs as had boon made Fitzslmmons was the favorite at 2 to 1. As the two men stood side by side. Jeffries Jef-fries towering over his slender opponent, a fow bets wore made at the rlngijldc, the followers of Fitzslmmons freely offering of-fering their money at J0to I. When the gong sounded it was seen that Tommy Ryan hud taught his pupil a peculiar defense, one that was especially espe-cially effective against tho known tactics tac-tics of Fitzslmmons. Jeffries leaned far forward with his loft nrm stretched out. slightly crooked at the elbow, his left shoulder protecting his fhln. while his stomach was withdrawn from danger threatened by Fitzsimmons' fist. The big fellow In his preliminary movements move-ments looked slow and awkward, and the Cornlshman showed absolute contempt bv stalking forward without show of defense, started a feint with his right and then, moving toward hfs man, lunged rorward with his left. Right there came tho first surprise of the tight and tho first intimation- that Fitzslmmons might not ro-tain ro-tain his title. Jeffries' arm stretched and his glove smashed square Into tho face of Fitzslmmons, driving him back full two steps. Fitz Is Amazed. Fllzsimmcns came on again, swinging his left for Jeffries' stomach, which, however, how-ever, was far out of his reach. Then he brought, the right up, barely grazing the Jaw. They clinched and at the breakaway break-away Jeffries surprised and electrified the crowd by whipping a snapping left lo his opponent's face". The blow was so unexpected that Fitzsimmons was dazed, moro as the rosult of astonishment than from the physical effect. The round closed with I he honors distinctly In favor or Jeffries, who was roundly cheered as he took his seal. Fitzslmmons was plainly nettled., ami ns ho came out of his corner to open the second round he held his right (1st doublod and ready to land on the jaw. But again he encountered a surprise. Jeffries slniply straightening out his loft arm. whiHi he hold out In front of him like a jlbboom. He caught Fitzsimmons on tho nose, landing with much force. Fitz-Hlnimons Fitz-Hlnimons came back with Ihc first hard blow ho hod succeeded In landing. He reached Jeffries' ribs and thon clinched. He remembered his experience in the breakaway In the first round and was careful, but ho barely succeeded In escaping es-caping a right swing- for the body that was heavy enough to havo staved In his ribs had It landed. For a time Fitzsimmons kept at arms' length and succeeded In gelling his left V.co lcrtss to Jeffries's jaw with some Utile force. He was fooled into thinking think-ing that ho had solved tho big fellow's defense and stepped in with an attempt to swing what he Imped would bo a knockout punch. In effect the fight ended end-ed right there. Jeffries repeated his tactics, drawing Fitzslmmons on until he was well within reach, then straightened straight-ened out his lofl. landing on the chin with such groat foivo Hint the I'haiuploii was picked clean orr his feet and lauded on his haunches on the mat. Fitzslmmons fell so hard that ho was thoroughly shaken up. Later on. speaking of the fight. Fitzslmmons Fitz-slmmons said that while the blow was a terrific one he was more dazed bv tho effect of the Tall than as a direct result of the blow. It was plain (hat Fitzsimmons was hurt, but he did no( tako advantago of tho full count, offered by Iho referee. He picked himself up, anil with his characteristic- shambling gait moved In toward Jeffries, swinging savagely with his lefl, which missed and was followed by his right, which also failed to conned. Tho second round, like tho first, was all In favor of Jeffries. The big fellow was unmarked and uninjured. Fitzslmmons Fitzslm-mons went to his corner v.ilh blood flowing flow-ing from his UqstrilB and mouth. His seconds worked hard over him. but when he went out for tho third round blood still trickled down Ills chin. Ho was thoroughly enraged, and he made for Jeffries showing plainly his desire to gel to close quarters and swap blows. Jeffries waited for him. sighting along his left arm much as though It wcro a rlf lo. When Fitzslmmons came within ningu that mighty left agatn straightened straight-ened Itself and tho glove landed with damaging effect on tho nose. Jeffries's method of fighting was not particularly attractive, but it was thor oughly effective. IIu surprised his friends and astonished tho friends of Fitzslmmons Fitzslm-mons by outfighting and outpointing his adversary lu every manner. Fitzslmmons Fitzslm-mons was plainly puzzled. Ho scuffled about the ring, endeavoring- to maneuver the big fellow into giving him an opening, open-ing, lie tried a hard right for tho ribs, which was shorl, and accepted a hard right to the chuck in return. This, nettled net-tled the champion, who lost his judgment judg-ment and rushed forward, swung with his left, barely touching Jeffries's fueo. Tho big follow clinched and" landed a heavy rlshl on his adversary's body. In Jeff'rios waited for him, sighting along his left arm much as though it had boon a rifle. . the break-away Fitzslmnfons brought his left up to the chin with much force, but was driven back by a bard right under tho heart. A quick exchange followed, and the crowd did not fall to nolo that there was more force behind the youngster's young-ster's blows and thai he was not Injured by the gloves of the champion. Out of tho Croucli. This sort of work pleased Jeffries, and for a moment he came out of his crouch. This apparently was exactly what Fitzslmmons Fitz-slmmons had been hoping for. Ho teased the big fellow Into leading a left. Fitzslmmons Fitz-slmmons moved his head so as to escape tho full force of tho blow and thon swung a tremendous right that landed squarely on Joffrles's neck. Such a blow a this Fitzslmmons had never landed on any opponent op-ponent without sondlng him to tho mat. The gong clanged a second after tho blow lauded. FitzsimmonB, walking to hlK corner, stopped for an instant and looked back to see what effect his smash had had upon Jeffries. Uo was surprised to sec tho big fellow smiling and fully at case. Thero was nothing about him to indicate that ho had beon even 3haketi by the forco of the blow. Jeffiioa'n seconds cautioned him against pormltling Fitzslmmons to decoy him out of his crouch, and when ho wont lo the center for the fourth round he was back In tho position assumed at tho- beginning be-ginning of the fight. This round opened as did most of Iho others- Fitzsimmons walked boldly In. swinging for the ribs, only to run against Jeffries's Jlbboom left, which smashed into his fara again, bringing the crimson to his nose and lips. Jeffries was quick on his feet and forced Filr.Klmmons hack, driving his left to the ribs and then bringing it up to tho Jaw. Fltsslmnions shook his head, plainly showing' that he did net liko the treatment. Jlo hooked Jeffries on the chin without effect, then drove in a right and left to the stomach, causing tho big fellow to clinch. Jeffries wns angry and again showed his willingness lo swap punches. Toe to toe and body to body the two gladlotors stood, each swinging both of his fists. Fitzslmmons lauded a hard right on the car, while Jeffries scored a harder hard-er loft to tho stomach and then drovo his right with much forco to the temple Fitzsimmons was persistent. but was overmatched. Jeffries's blows were heavier than his, and do tho best that he could Iho champion was compelled to give ground under the onslaught of his gigantic opponent. The round Hosed i with the crowd on its I'cct cheering th'-newcomer. th'-newcomer. At the openlnc; of the fifth round Fitzsimmons Fitz-simmons rusliod clear across I lie ring, feinted with bin right and then swims Ins left, which cut a long and deep gayh over Jeffrlcjv's eye. . .leffries was . not dazed, but was surprised. Fllzslmmona took advantago of ibis nnl smashed lu two heavy loft blows lo his opponent's chin. -Any one of these blows would havo beon sufficient to distress another, but they had no other oTfect upon .lof-fiies .lof-fiies than to c.auso him to fight wlhllv. A coll from his corner steadied the big fellow, and ho drovo Filzslnimoiis back, swinging his huge arms like piston rods. Ho lodged a. heavy rljrlil hand how under un-der Fitzslmmons' heart and then accepted ac-cepted a left to the race In order that ho might laud a 'similar blow. Fitzslmmons Fitzslm-mons slipped to the- floor, bul was quickly quick-ly on his feet. Jeffries backed him clear across tho. ring, placing three, lofts on his moulh. Just juj th'i gong sounded l Itzsimmons straightened the big follow up with a heavy 1jow Inimedlaloly ovr tho heart. "Phis wa tho hardest round "f, ,L .'?.aUI- ,,ml M, thus far hi which b Itzsimmons had an oven break. When thuy went to their commr t was soon that Jeffries was In no maimer distressed. dis-tressed. The botling had changed and Jeffries money was offered in sreat quantities without favor being asked. Mtzslnunons opened the sixth round, forcing Jeffries along the ropes. The champion made two very wild left swings a I tempting (o persuade Jeffries to give hfi" An otHSHlm? for his right. The blg follow fell into the trap, and tho blow that ho received just below tho point of tho Jaw could be heard in all parts of tho arena. It- staggered him for "a mo-mr.n,i, mo-mr.n,i, ,!ul; as ,,,c ,1nir sounded he was still fighting with much vim and full or willingness. Jeffries failed to huirl man blows in Ibh: round, which was all lis favor of ln chaiuplon. Neafiug tho End. Fitzslmmons, hoping and apparentlv expecting to follow up tho advantage thai had been his fn the preceding round. OBcncd the aevcuth with a solid left to the mouth. Jeffries had exaggerated his crouch, but. enraged by this blow, he straightened up and struck out with his left, landing with great force upon the stomach. This halted Fltzsinimons. who also received a blow on tho Jaw that Too to toe aaa Uo3y to "body,- Gia a glerdiatma stood, each sffiaagiog batm bfa fiats. i made hJs head rock. Fitzsimmons continued con-tinued the aggressive, however, and Jeff-ties Jeff-ties was contont lo protect himself from damage for the rest of tho round, Just before tho gong sounded Jeffries caught Fitzslmmons a stinging blow on . the mouth with his left, but as ho smiled his elation Fitzslmmons came back with a left that drovo the flesh of Jeffries' upper up-per lip between two of his teeth. His seconds had difficulty in remedying this, and when he came up for the eighth round a trickle of blood showed at each corner of his mouth. Filzslmmons was over anxious and swung heavily with both hands as he came to tho center. Jeffries wns coy and escaped Injury. Suddenly he straightened straight-ened up and drove the champion's head back with a heavy left to tho nose that came near resulting in a knockout. The crowd was on its feel cheering wlldiy. Fitzsimmons. angered through and through, rushed Jeffries to the ropou, swinging without effect. A straight left to tho champion's body was followed by a right that reopened the cut over his eye- Jeffries scored right and left to the ribs and Fitzslmmons countered and camo noar going to tho mat. Fitzslmmons Fitzslm-mons was distressed and nonplussed, but attempted to appear thoroughly satisfied with the progress he wiis making. During Dur-ing the Intermission ho talked with hln soconds and mo3t of the time stood loaning loan-ing against the ropes, refusing to sit In the chair that had been placed for him, At the. opening of the ninth round the champion swung his right and hold his left ready poised for a posslblo knockeat blow. His satisfaction, hownvar, was completely lost when Jeffries rapped him over tho nose with a left that almost sont hm to the mat and again covered him with blood. Fitzslmmons threw all caution to the wind and attempt! to force the fighting, swinging with so much forco lhat when ho missed b. himself half around, leavlntr hIrniV?MLtf ror tho bcavy blows of his XtbJKS, right under the heart and a heavMftv to tho face weakened FltzslmmanMS' feigned, helplessness. Joffrics iiKL ened himself up, sotting to d8llM& knockout. Fltzalnvmona dodgod and then electrified tho crowd bVeffiMF homo a solar plexus blow Just anSM had won the championship for SfiKP Carson Cltt. when he knocked out-WTit bett Jeffrie did not attempt tc the fact that tho blow hurt him ThRf, little distressed wlmn ho Tnt corner, ."K i Somo thought that FltzslmmonK feigning weakness when ho shnmMK. flf h s corner for tho tenth. JeffrlHSt cautious, and. taking advnnlago of WFi swing on the part of his opsoK clinched. This maneuver ahovvedfi big fellow that tho champion r-ealh.W weakened under the rmnlBhmont o2tflkW istcred to him. Jeffries backed out clinch still holding his left out ME him. Fitzslmmons again stepped lnM noso crusher, and. shaking his fB" made a charge upon Jeffries as thouaK would annihilate him. Jeffries tlmpiES rush and brought I1J3 left up idHE. 'In5!1 i. thi, eVln- Wtzsimmons' K fell to his side, he awayed for a nurBsi and then dropped back full IcnrrhVB' tho floor. Many thought tho ehanEi was out, but he succeeded In reiraJiEto his feet before the count IIq was'SKr Ing. however, and It wns apparentW?? tho end was merely being delayed tried lo clinch, but Jeffries pusheijK off with his right, swung his left teE Jnw and again the champion meaSHK his full length upon the floor. smg,- Again Fitzslmmons regalnod his sP " and attompted to stagger Into a cllKt Jeffries was a bit over-anxlonirsMj missed his left swing. Then he.hroKS a hard right, which threw the chanBnl against the ropos. where ho was awjiBK' when tho gong fent him to his conS1 Some of those ncarost to him u!K?e Martin Julian to glvo up the contcaE Fitzslmmons. This advice was nothfei however, and Fitzslmmons went ouKii ihe eleventh round apparently someiBP freshonod. He swung with his leftSIs'; ran Into a clinch, attempting to hurflW opponent with short arm Jolta toaBk stomach. As they broke away Jeffries -taME. with tho left and had his opponetiMf? distress. Fitzslmmons did not taSMt note that he was In desperate candllHil and. summoning all his strength, he.'ibc ed Tor Jeffrl03 to swing hie left AtfiB'k blow started, Fitzslmmons cut loastiMr-own loastiMr-own left, putting every ounce of.BtreBsT behind tho blow. Each fist landod-Ki Jeffries was unshaken. Fitzslmmons, oji the other hanu.'fflfr hurt. He steadied himself for a TnorMKr and then attempted another swIngTfWW fries again timed the blow, and, tnmmi Ing up his left, caught the CornlahMgj flush on the point of -the chin. PitaSSy rnons' arms dropped to his side, hcflj half round on his heels, then regalneR!; strength and attempted to fall lm,f clinch. Jeffries jabbed with hiiJK which made an opening for the rBR that landed with, full force on' thelm of the Jaw. Fitzslmmons stlltenedBEi; fell at full length, his arms outstretflH on cither side of him. Julian ranH way round the ring and from a saH throw Ice cold water on liim, uH him to get up. Tt was impossible, JH ever. Nature had dono her best fbH champion .and he had no reservc.H count was. completed and a new cnanH had taken bis place In the ring. tH Fitzslmmons' seconds forced thehMH through the ropes, picked up thaCorB man and carried him to his cliaIr'..H monia had to be used to revive blm Jeffries was well on his way to his dH ing room before the former chanjH had sufficiently recovered his cbnsdH ncss to enable him to realize that lieH lost his laurels. ')H Although they fought a second bfH which in effect was a repetition oQH first, Fitzslmmons and Jeffries worejH friends after the Coney Island flght.lH In his subsequent battles Jeffries much of the cunning and gencraljH taught to blip by the CornlaliiTian.,"1J |
