The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-22 00:00:00

A PRIZE-FIGHTER'S FUNERAL.

At Kensal-green Csmetery on Saturday, thousands
of persons congregated in token of respect to the
memory of Jim Barry, a noted light-weight pugilist,
whose decease, on the 6th inst., was generally re-
gretted by those who are interested in all that apper-
tains to the ring. Barry was in his 26th year, and
in spite of his fine physique, he succumbed after
an illness lasting only three weeks, the cause
of death being rapid consumption. He was
a labourer, and lived with his father-in-law in
Devonshire - street, Marylebone. This narrow
thoroughfare, together with every street adjoin-
ing, was on Saturday afternoon crowded to ex-
cess by people who discussed the sad event in all its
phases. They spoke appreciatively of Barry's spirit,
his nimbleness, and his gentleness, lightly passing
over his failings. His last public appearance, on New
Year's Day, 1885, when he fought Bill Goode, near
Barnet, was mentioned as a victory which should be
set down to his credit, although the iuterference of
the police had led to the battle being declared drawn.
Similarly Barry was asserted to have gained an ad-
vantage over his cpponent Hayes at Newmarket two
years ago, when on the day of the Cambridgeshire the
police also broke into the ring at "Six Mile Bottom."
Although Barry engaged in other fights, invariably
beating his man, the two already mentioned were
the only occasions when there were money stakes.
By the time the funeral procession began to be formed
arrivals of sporting men from all parts of London
had swelled the crowd. The band of the West
London Foresters preceded the open funeral car,
drawn by four horses. Two mourning coaches,
containing the relatives of the deceased, fol-
lowed. The coffin, of polished oak, with the inscription,
"James Barry, died May 6, 1886, aged 25 years,"
was covered with floral wreaths and crosses, the gifts
of many friends, including his chief backer, and the
gentleman who was understood to have made himself,
responsible for the expenses of Barry's training. One
wreath enclosed a photograph, and was accompanied
by verses "In memory of poor Jim." Another tri-
bute was sent by a social club in Lisson-grove which
he frequented. After the hearse and carriages came
a drum and fife band, and then followed a long line
of omnibuses, hansom cabs, wagonnettes, traps, carts,
donkey barrows, and nondescript vehicles. The pro-
cession took a route through the bye-streets of Mary-
lebone out of compliment to the neighbours, and
finally emerging from Bell-street into the Edgware-
road, thence at a slow pace it passed into the Harrow-
road , accessions constantly augmenting its length. Long
before the cemetery had been reached there must have
been 2000 men marching at the head of the first
band. Fearing lest general admission to the burial
ground might be refused, hundreds of people hurried
in advance and so made certain of an entrance.
Pedestrians, however, were admitted without limit,
the only restriction being that which applied to all
veh:cles, except about a dozen which were not ex-
cluded. The interment took place in the Roman
Catholic portion of the cemetery, with the usual rites
of the religion to which the deceased belonged. Close
to where the grave was situated a large mound of
clay provided places for those who could obtain stand-
ing room upon it, and on all sides the crowd extended
to a great distance.