OCR Text |
Show FITZS11NS ON THE RENO EIGHT Seattle, Aug. 8 Bob Fitzslmmons, former heavyweight champion of the world, arrived In Seattle last weok. With his wife, Fltx Ib appearing at a vaudeville theater. FItzslmmons, In going over the etory of tho Reno scrap, ventured the opinion that Jeffries was double-crossed, double-crossed, and by eorue of hla friends, too. Ho Is not of the opinion tha. Jeff was doped nor was he cheated In any way, but he does believe his trainers and friends advised him wrongly. "Jeff was never doped," frays Bob. "If 'e 'ad been doped 'e'd never gone six ronnds. Jeff outpointed the nigger nig-ger for six rounds, but ' was nevor the old Jeff. No. it was something back of that. It was in h.is ead." and hero Robert tapped solemnly on his shiny poll. "Thero was an awful load on 'Is mind, and 'e couldn't get hid thoughts on the fight "They never trained 'im rWh for tho fight, hanyway. No boxing, no mixing, no nothing. I'll hot if I 'ad 'im for fivo minutes 'e'd beat two Jack Johnsons. And if they ever rnnct again Joff will win." That Fltzslmmcms took the defeat of Jeffries vory much to heart there Is little doubt. He showed emotion when the matter was mentioned and even shed tears when he recalled how the big colored boxer had brought him down by degrees until he was finally knocked out. 'In the fourth round I saw Jeffs knees knocking together, anJ I felt mo 'eart go out to 'Im," muttered the Cornlshman. "All during the fight I wag trying to 'elp him, trying to throw out my own mind to 'is and tell 'lm what to do. "It was mental telegraphy, but It didn't 'elp Jeff that day," he Bald. "He was too far gone for mental " "Mental telepathy, Bob," said Mrs. FItzslmmons. Has Retired. Soon after getting away with this mournful tale Bob mastered his emotions emo-tions and .oon was chatting brUhtly. He says there la nobody In the ring today who can give Johnson a battle except Jeffries, who may not fight again, "and as for me," says Bob modestly, mod-estly, "I "ave retired forever." Somebody mentioned Jim Corbett and Jim's ".great unknown," who is going- to beat Johnson Into a dark brown spot. "Huh," snorted Bob. "That's Bill Lang, but 'e 'asn't a chawnce. Too small too small. Nobody left." |