Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-09
THE DEFEATED SLUGGER.
Jake Kilrnin's Real Patronymic-Rolling
Mill Hand, Oarsman, and Finally Pugil-
ist-His Fights With the Prus.
sian, Smith and Others.


Jake Kilrain's real name is Joseph John
KillioD. With that popularity for twist
ing, turning and mangling patronymics in
digenous to the average American boy, Kill
rains comrades in Greenport, Columbia
county, N. Y, where he was born February
9, 1859, as well as those in Somerville,
Mass, where he went at an early age with his
parents and worked in a mill, persisted in Jug
Cling with the family title until they eventually
reduced it 20 its present sounding.
When youth he worked in a rolling mill in
Somerville, Mass. In his leisure hours he took
to rowing working boat and a friend of his
a member of four-oared crew-falling sick,
he filed his place in the shell, the crew winning
in regatta near Boston. He rowed with the
same men two or three times, and then George
Faulkner, the professional oarsman, taught
him how to become a single sculler. He en-
tered the junior race of the National Associa-
ton. Newark, N. J., in 1883, and won the event.
He rowed in several races that year, and won a
closely contested event given by the Bradford
Boat Club in Pennsylvania. The fall of that
year Kilrain developed into
A Professional PugfIist
and obtained tn position of assistant to Tim
Mccarthy at the Boston Crib Club. He had
many glove encounters there, among them
being with Harry Allen and George Godfrey,
colored, which ne won, then he fought Jim
Goode draw, that being in 1884, after which
Charley Mitchell wanted a chance at Kilrain,
and the two came together and boxed four
rounds. also draw The same may be said of
Mike Cleary, although Kilrain felt that he
should have had the verdict in the latter case.
Jack Burke and Jake agreed to fight five
rounds, and the battle was commenced.
Sasa the Police it ana
gloves. Kilrain rested awhile and then
went TO Bangor Me-, where he met Jerry MUIR
ply. Kilrain won without much trouble. In
1856, at Cambridge, Mass, Kilrain met William
Sheriff, the ''Prussian," the bout being ar
ranged for six rounds. The "Prussian" was
knocked out in the second round. Then Kill
English pugilist; Jim McGlynn, at New Bed
ford, Mass, and knocked out in one round
Frank Herald in Baltimore.
kilrain afterward met Jack Ashton, Joe
Lannon and others. Previous to being matched
with Smith he was not adverse to meeting al
most anybody with the gloves, and after the
arrangements had been made he went sparring
around the country with Mitchell He arrived
in London on October 2, and after giving exhi-
billions so long as they could be carried on he
went into training under the care of Charley
Mitchell and Charley Rowell.
His Battle With Smith.
The well remembered Smith Kilrain match
was decided on December 19, 1887, in France.
No less than 106 rounds were fought. The
cream of English sporting society witnessed
the event, which ended in a draw. Kilrain and
his trainer, Charley Mitchell. made tour of
Great Britain, at the end of which Kilrain
seconded Mitchell in a sparring match with
Sullivan in England. Returning to the United
States Kilrain went spa1ing through the
country. Early this year he made another
trip to England. On his return home his
mother was dead.
Kilrain is a good looking man, feet lO%
inches in height, and when in fighting con-
dition weighs 1856 pounds. He usually wears a
stunning mustache. A noticeable feature is
his nose, straight, prominent and narrow. his
pretty brown eyes give a decided expression of
intelligence to his countenance Altogether.
he appears anything but q pugilist His chest
measurement is Al inches, upon and around the
Diceps l6 inches, forearm IA inches waist "a
inches, thigh 25 inches, calf Of leg 161< inches.
He wears No shoe and a No. 9 glove. 1t
takes III finch collar to encircle his neck
He is a first class swimmer and excellent
trotting horse driver. His love of dogs is one
of the characteristics of his nature.