New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-20
The Late John FraHkIiD Of New Orleans
His Adventurous Career.

His Adventurous Career.
| The late John Franklin, who died re-
Gently in this city, vas generally known
here. For this reason the subjoined sketch
| from the Cincinnati Commercial of the nine
teenth instant vill be interesting to our
readers:
The subject Of this sketch was very well
known in this city, from 1867 until three or
four years ago, among all classes OF people
who knew anything about sporting mat
ters. He was a professional gambler, and
had been for many years; but his attention
was not always engrossed merely by the
gaming house or houses in which he hap
pened to be interested. BE was sport
ing man" in every sense of the expression
on the race track, in the cockpit and at the
prize ring He was man Of striking ap-
pearaDce, of medium height, erect, com
pact frame, straight and square. His hair
and whiskers were tinged with gray. His
features were regular, and his face was one
that would attract a second glance from
the most careless observer. His eyes, Ill
particular, challenged attention-small,
flashing, hazel gray eyes that penetrated
whatever they were turned upon, and
would light up suddenly into fierce blaze
when an angry thought passed through the
brain back of them
To this man Cincinnati, ST. Louis and
New Orleans were indebted - however
questionable the character of the business
for the occurrence of many prize fights and
attempts at mills" 1t was Franklin who
started the Jones McCoOle match, and the
McCoole- Coburn affair at this point. He
was responsible for several tights near St.
Louis, one of which resulted in the magnif-
cent drubbing of the giant mcCoole at the
hands of the game man, Tom Allen. And
finally he brought Allen and Coburn TO-
gether at New Orleans.
Until 1860, Franklin's career was one of
wild, and sometimes desperate adventure.
He was born in Albany, New York, in or
about 1896. His name was John Murray,
and when a mere lad, he was known on
account of his trim, compact form, as
"Taut" Murray. When yet child he dis
played that aggressive disposition that ever
after characterized him. From that time
forward he was always known as ready
and quick fighter who always went in to
win, whatever means had to be used. Early
in life he adopted his stepfather's name,
Franklin, and was always after known as
Johnny Franklin.
Before he arrived of age he becamea pro-
tessional gambler and adVenturer. We
have no positive data as to his career for
many years-oDly few points that serve
to show the wild career that he must have
led. In Buffalo, when he was some eighteen
years Vi dS6t IlS lau d lRuU WIFI d uOlOLIOuS
negro named Brickhouse Jack, whose skull
he fractured. Forced to leave Buffalo on
account of this affair, he went South,
through Central America and up to Cali
fornia. He was one Of the party that
started out thence on tillibustering expe-
ditiOn in the schooner GanecOck. This
party had Honolulu in their mind, but they
were routed as soon as they landed. Those
who were not taken had hard time of it in
Erank lin aTaupH n paoph AUc
tralia as a passenger on a whaler. He then
shipped before the mast, his money having
given out, and reached Callao, Peru. His
next step, after many privatiOns, was to
start drinking and gambling saloon on
one of the Chincba islands. In the course
of his career in CallaO, Lima and other
cities of Peru, in 1856 and 1857, Franklin
was frequently involved in quarrels, some of
which resulted in desperate work. In one
of them he had hole knocked in his fore
head with the butt of pistol, that was
plainly to be seen (when the hair that he
cOmbed over il happened to get out Of It's
place. until his death. 1t was the hint that
he received in this encounter that caused |
him, IN after years, to use the heavier pistol |
that he invariably carried as a club when |
ever he thought the emergency required it. |
1t was in one of his fights in one of the |
Peruvian cities that Franklin killed an at |
tache of the British legation. He was |
arrested and kept in prison twenty six |
months, until at last released through the |
efforts Of Lewis Cass, then Secretary of |
State.
Leaving South America, Franklin pro-
ceeded To Cuba, and thence after a short |
there to New Orleans. When he
came here, in 1862 and entered upon pros
porous gambling career in Cincinnati, he |
was suffering greatly with affected lungs. |
From that Sime until his death, which Oo-
CURED recently in New Orleans, he fed the
flame of his existence with ex-
element. He was not q heavy drinker,
but he was always on his feet in the midst
Of whatever excitement he could find.
If it wasn't to be found, he would create
it. AS he fingered on, year after year,
fighting the disease that was surely
upon the system with all that
nerve that characterized him, he
became subject of curiosity and wonder
10 all who knew him. When the news of
his death in New Orleans, three years ago,
reached the city it was generally supposed
to be true, and in some of the papers note
was made of it. But in the course of
month or so who should turn up in Cincn-
1ati but Johnny Franklin. He was pale
and emaciated. to be sure, and a cough
'acked him; but then he was as square on
lis feet as ever, and ready for any excite
ncnt to which he could drag himself. For |
about two years previous to his death, he |
lad kept gambling house or two, a drink
ng saloon and grocery store in New Or
cans. TO the last he clung tenaciously to
ife and its excitements. in July last he
vas taken, packed in cotton, to St. Paul
or q change Of climate. He experienced no
,ood effect, however, and died shortly after
i