, 1888-09-18

his fellow workmen. His first fight was with
Jack DAILY, and he put Jack to sleep easily.
In the summer of 1888 he took to rowing and
competed successfully for the junior sculling
championship at the national amateur re-
gatta at Newark. N. ].
In the winter of 1888 he appeared as a pro-
f~essioual pugilist in Boston. He knocked out
Harry Allen and then fought a victorious
battle with George Godfrey, the colored
pugilist, who has Just been knocked out in
San Francisco by Jackson. He then fought
a four round draw with Charles Mitchell and
followed by another draw with Mike Cleary.
After this he tackled Jack Burke, but the
fight was stoppedby the police and was never
finished. Kilrain then took a rest; after
which he went to Bangor, Me-, and almost
killed Jerry Murphy, who weighed 200 pounds
and stood six feet one inch. In 1885 he
knocked out William Sheriff, the Prussian,
in two rounds, and in the same year fought
n five round draw with George Fryer, a
British pugilist, and punished Jem McGlynn,
of New Bedford, Mass. In 1886 he put Heard
to sleep in the first round, knocked on God
frey again and completely demoralized Tom
Kelly in four rounds. In 1885 Kilrain had
glove fights with Jack Ashton and Joe
Lannon and knocked them both out. His
memorable fight with Jem Smith, Of 1O4
rounds which was stopped by darkness, is his
toric. 1t was one of the greatest battles ever
known. 1t is said that If Kilrain had fol-
lowed up an advantage in the fourth round
he would have won easily.
Every one who has met Jake Kilrain in
Great Britain was surprised at his gentle
manly bearing and quiet manner. The En-
glish have been so used to tough specimens
of the sporting class that to see one who was
modest or quiet in his conduct was a revela-
ton. Jake Kilrain, however, has always
held a good reputation; in fact, he has been
known as 'the gentlemanly pugilist." His
neat appearance, good clothes, and his tall
silk hat, which he always wears, have be-
come familiar to his acquainJances in this
country.
In Baltimore, where he lived for nearly
two years prior to his fght with Smith, he
was not only well known, but won for him
self universal respect. Kilrain's reputation
as a trainer while he was still a resident of
Boston becoming known to several promi-
nent Baltimoreans, they decided that he was
the man they needed to instruct them in the
manly art, and, after a short canvass among
merchants and club men, it was decided to
have a Crib club similar to that in Boston,
and a committee was sent over to the Hub to
secure Kilrain for Il trainer. The club soon
had n large membership and Kilrain was in
stalled. The result was soon apparent in the
manner in which the members took care of
themselves physically.
He is a good judge of human nature. He
selected for n companion a little red haired
specimen of manhood in Johnny Murphy, of
Boston, and had him with him most of the
time. Murphy was such a diminutive fellow
that the Crib club members looked incredu-
louS when the big man told them that he was
II clever featherweight fighter, capable of
knocking out any of the Baltimore light
y-,,,l-a ~, t,rt .,.Nt--. Mn -
fair lightweight, was matched to spar Muir
ply a few rounds with small gloves. The
fight took place at the Crib club before a
select few, and when it was over the little
fellow was not bruised, and the Baltimore boy
presented n terrible appearance. Two days
after the fight the two principals and Eilrain
We're arrested, aud, after spending a night
at the station house, the three were put under
bail. Kilrain's next effort was with a Sc
lected scholar of his Nchool, whom he
matched with a member of the Baltimore
Athletic club. In this contest his man got
done up in short order. In a prize fight at
Point of Rocks between Pete LaIly and Al
Hartman, two Baltimore middle weights,
Klrain ofliciated as timer. In this fight the
principals and spectators were naked, as they
had TO swim a stream to reach the fighting
ground. He trained in and near Baltimore
for his fights with Jack Ashton, Joe Lannon
and Frank Hearld. On one occasion Kilrain
and Murphy were both training, and went
to Druid Hill park for a run. On reaching
the high service reservoir Murphy donned
hts sweater and started to run, when g
son of Erin who WINS at work near by re-
marked to Jake that che ought not to
let his son make a fool Of HIMSELF and
when Jake started off the man dropped his
shovel and yelled out to him, "Sure, and
You are n bigger fool than your son" In
both clubs he was a great favorite, his pc
culiarity being his modest demeanor and
gentlemanly bearing. Naturally he is one
of the best authorities on sporting events,
and is exceedingly entertaining, us he can
give dates and facts of every prominent
svent for many years past A few weeks