Newspaper Page Text
Oct. 31, 1917.
FITZSIMMONS PLANNED
TO BE AN EVANGELIST
Was Contemplation of Famous
Boxer When Stricken With
Last Illness.
Bob Fitzsimmons, the former champion
heavyweight pubilist, who recently died
in Chicago, was contemplating becoming
an evangelist when he was stricken and
died.
It was through the efforts of Charles
L-ee, a former pugilist who battled in the
arena under the name of Charlie Car-
R'. Webley, of Camp Hancock
i. M. C. A. staff, that Fitzsimmons be
came a Christian. On Mothers’ Dav in
May 1916, Fitzsimmons visited Lee in
Camden, N. J., and was taken to call on
the Rev. Zebley, who was a personal
friend of Lee’s.
Mr. Zebley tells of the incident as fol
lows:
■ ,7 was Eitt ’ n K in my study when the
bell rang. 1 went to the door and there
was Charles Lee and his strapping big
friend. Charlie said, ‘Shake hands with
my friend. Bob Fitzsimmons.’ I replied,
Quit your kidding.’ Charlie said, ’No; it
is Bob.’ Fitzsimmons took off his hat
f
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13th and Broad Sts. Phone 615
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Diamonds, Wrist Watches,
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Next to Kress’ 5 and 10-Cent Stoio.
T R ENCH AND CAMP
and I recognized him. I gave him a
hearty hand shake and invited him in and
we spent la delightful hour together.
When they were about to go, Lee sug
gested that Bob had some great stuff
for Mothers’ Day, and I prevailed on the
big fellow to come to the Grace Baptist
Church and speak in the evening.
"He was there. After preaching the
evening sermon, in which the ex-cham
pion was greatly interested, 1 told the
congregation that I had a surprise for
them. I called Bob Fitzsimmons to the
nlatform. As near as I can remember
the great Welshman spoke as follows:
“ ‘When I was a lad my mother sent
me to the store. As I went along the road
some young men were playing football.
The ball came my way and I, bov-like,
kicked it. A great, hulking fellow struck
me in the face and knocked me down
I made up my mind right there that
some day I would whip him. After re
turning home I got an old leather apron
from the biacksmith shop and made a
set of boxing gloves, and began training
to fight the bully. Soon I had made a
reputation, and finally was matched for a
bout in the local athletic club. A purse
offered seemed a great sum of money to
me. I wanted to win it to lighten the
burdens of my old mother, who was a
widow with a large family of children.
As the time for the fight approached the
lad came to me and said, “Bob. I want
to win this fight for my mother, her
cough is getting so bad and they sav that
over in the city there is a great doctor
who might be able to help her. Let me
win it. Bob." But I could not. Many
were betting on me and some were my
friends, and I could not go back on them.
The night of the fight came and the bat
-le was on. For a while it was hard and
even. Then his white face showed up
before me and I cried out, “Go to it lad
and win.” I made that famous shift and
be went down and they counted him out.
while 1 stood by with tears streaming
my facP - When he came to, he said,
Bob I wanted to win for my mother’s
sake.” I replied, "You did lad; vou won
and I won. The fight is mine, but the
money is yours; I will not touch a penny
of it.” I went home and told mv mother
wnat I had done. She put her arms
around me and said: “Bob. I have always
tried to raise you to become a man. Now
I know I have succeeded,” and then she
kissed me good night.’
“After the service Lee and I had a long
conference with Fitzsimmons, who had
not been in church for twenty years and
who had never before spoken in one
As soon as his engagements in the east
permuted, he went back to California
to his wife, from whom he was separated.
In time the following letter came: ‘I am
going to settle down in California and
spend the remainder of my days. Do vou
know I was baptized last Sunday, and I
will be a Christian from now on. My wife
Trench and Camp
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is a good Christian and an evangelist and
does lot of good, wmnderful work. I am
proud of her. Give my regards to the min
ister. I am glad I joined the church. I
have never felt better in my life than
I do now since Joining. T will probably
become an evangelist, too.’ ”
CAMP~ HANCOCK
COMMENDED.
Pennsylvanians in the military ser
vice at Fort Oglethorpe and Camp
Hancock are well housed, well fed and
their health is very efficiently safe
guarded by modern sanitation.
This reassuring report is made by T.
DeWitt Cuyler, director of the Sanita
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ment of the Pennsylvania Committee
of Public Safety.
Electric lighting is one of the mod
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guardsmen are in training. In both
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708-710-712 Broadway
.Phone 1632.
Page 15
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