The Topeka State Journal

SPORTING
NEWS.

Pugilist Fitzsimmons Says He
Was Drugged.

Startling Statement Regarding
the Jeffries Fight.

DOSED IN THIRD ROUND

After That He Remembers
Nothing That Happened
Until the Tenth—John L. and
Corbett Believe It.

New York, Jan. 31.—Robert Fitzsimmons now
proclaims that he was
drugged when he was whipped by
James Jeffries for the championship of
the world at Coney Island last June.
In an interview last night Fitzsimmons
said: "It is impossible for me to
point to the man who was responsible
for my condition on the night of June
9, when I fought Jeffries, but this I do
know and I say it with emphasis and
with full knowledge of the conse-
quences, I was drugged by some one,
and it is only natural to suppose that
there was a conspiracy arranged to ac-
complish my defeat. I went into the
ring in condition. I was fit to fight,
and did fight to my entire satisfaction
for two rounds.

"In the second round, it will be re-
membered, I was knocked down. That
blow did not hurt me, and, in fact,
would not have even staggered me had
it not caught me at just a moment
when I was resting far back on my
heels. I came up not in the least dazed
and was feeling as good as new when I
went to my corner.

"During the rest between the second
and third rounds I took a long drink
of mineral water, and following that I
have only a hazy recollection of one or
two incidents of the fight.

"Just how I got through the third
round I can not tell, but when I went to
my corner it struck me as a very good
joke that I was there fighting before a
great crowd with a man I did not know.
I asked Julian what it was all about
and who I was fighting with. They tell
me that when he said Jeffries' I ex-
pressed my surprise and said that I had
no reason for fighting him. But of all
that I remember nothing.

Then, again, in the tenth round. In
hazy way I remember Julian saying,
stand up, Fitz.' I stood up, wondering
what it was all about and what partic-
ular reason Julian had for wanting me
to stand up at that time.

"The next day I was physically as
well as I was before I went into the
fight. My upper lip was a trifle puffed
but aside from that I was unhurt. But
my mind was almost a blank and con-
tinued so for nearly two months. This
condition gradually wore away and lit-
tle by little I regained my former
strength of mind.

"Finally, when the affairs of the night
began to come tangible I made an in-
quiry and I believe that I discovered
just how the drug was administered. I
provided for my use during the fight a
lot of mineral water in bottles. As the
gas was likely to distress me, I told
Julian to uncork the bottles and let
them stand for some time so that the
gas might escape. He told me that he
had done this, that he had given the
water to Clark Ball, who took it into
the box office to guard it. Ball told me
that while he was in the box office and
had the water under his care two of the
men who were most prominent in back-
ing Jeffries entered the room. One of
them engaged him in earnest conversa-
tion and for a moment he lost sight of
the other. He did not say that the wa-
ter was drugged at that time
and
neither do I say so now, but I am con-
vinced that the drug was given to me
in that water."

This announcement is certain to cre-
ate an endless amount of discussion in
the world of professional sports. Many
believe that the former champion was
not himself when he last entered the
ring, and even his enemies were sur-
prised at the poor showing which he
made when he raised his hands to de-
fend his title against Jeffries.

During the contest, Corbett, who had
his money bet on Jeffries, remarked to
a friend:

"If Fitzsimmons had made such a
fight as this against me I would still
be champion of the world. Something
seems to be wrong with him."

WISE BETS ON JEFFRIES.

All over the country the comment was
made that those who were known as
the "wise men" bet on Jeffries, taking
the best odds that were offered. Judg-
ing the two men on their previous work
Fitzsimmons certainly looked a winner.
and yet so confident were those be-
hind his adversary that a large amount
of money was invested in show print-
ing, and Philadelphia was actually
billed before the fight with large post-
ers proclaiming the coming of "James
J. Jeffries, champion pugilist of the
world, conqueror of the mighty Fitz-
simmons."

Under ordinary circumstances money
is not invested in this way on a mere
chance.

JOHN L. BELIEVES FITZ.

There are many good judges who be-
lieve that Fitzsimmons is still the best
of the lot of present-day pugilists.
Among them is John L. Sullivan, than
whom no one has a better right to
judge a fighter.

"I did not see Fitzsimmons lose to
Jeffries," said Sullivan last night, "but I
have seen him in the ring more than
once, and I know just how good a man
he is. I saw Jeffries and Sharkey fight.
and there is only one explanation which
I can accept for Fitzsimmons having
met defeat at the hands of one of Jef-
fries' caliber. I believe that he was
under the influence of some drug.
Fitzsimmons has told me that he was
in good condition when he went into
the fight, but was drugged after the
second round. I believe what he tells,
though I am sorry to think that pugil-
ism has fallen into the hands of men
who would stoop to such work."