Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1916 — ‘GOAT GETTING’ AN ART [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

‘GOAT GETTING’ AN ART

Former Champion Fitzsimmons Relates Story on Maher. Got oni Pete?s Nerves by TelllrisTHini About Bulls to Be Killed In Their Honor During Fight in Town of Juarez. Bob Fitzsimmons tells a story that proves “goat-getting”to be an ancient art. ~ ' Bob was training at Juarez for his fight with Peter Maher on the river bank across from Lantry, Tex. A couple of weeks before the fight both Fitzsimmons and Maher went to see a great bullfight in the Juarez ring. Fitz sat in a box near the governor of Chihuahua. While the bullfight was on he visited the governor, who told him the first bull was to be killed in honor of the governor, the second in honor of Fitzsimmons, and the third in honor of Maher. Fitz went over into the bleachers where Maher sat to tell Peter. “Pete,” said Fitz, "the governor says a bull is to be killed in your honor and one in my honor.” “I won’t fight the bull,” bellowed Peter in reply. “You don’t have to,” said Fitz. "The Mexicans will kill the bull in your honor, Peter. It’s the Indian way of doping things out. If my bull lasts longer than your bull I’ll win the fight from you; if your bull lasts longer than mine, you’ll whip me.” “All right,” growled Peter. The governor’s bull was killed. Then came the bull to be killed in honor of Fitzsimmons. It killed two or three horses and finally managed to toss the matador, giving him an ugly wound in the thigh. Four sword thrusts failed to bring the bull down, and the crowd

demanded that the "brave bull” be removed from the ring and its life spared. After that out came Maher’s bull, Which was killed at the first thrust of the matador’s sword. Fitzsimmons .went quickly around to where Maher sat. “Hey, Pete,” he called, “remember what I told you? That's a sign that I’m going to knock you out in the first round." . * He knocked Peter out in 50 seconds.

Bob Fitzsimmons.