Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-12

IHA MA&l the prize ring. Dur
~ " ZyN EAI1gl ing the last few years
O. ~ ZsaE9 there has been won
derful revival of popular interest in scien-
tIhc pugilism, which less than a decade ago
was pronounced dead. The indications for
the coming season point to a succession Of
contests between game men for champion
ship houors in the different classes, from
eavies to featherweights. The public,
however, gives its preference to big events,
and pays but little heed to the battles among
the lesser lights Of the fstic arena. Middle
weights may meet and bear them
selves with Incompatible courage; light
weights may display rare skill with the
dukes; featherweights and bantams may try
conclusions and show finer work than the
giants of the ring, who are too often apt to
degenerate into mere heavy sluggers; but
the average man will 60 farther and spend
his money more literally to witness a bout
between two big-muscled, athletic heavy
weights than be will for any other attraction
in the whole category of manly sports. 1t
is part Of the old savage nature, suppose.
asserting itself when we make sacrifices
for the sake of witnessing an encounter
in which strength has sometimes more to
do with the awarding of the honors than
skill.
attribute the revival of popular interest
in pugilIstic affairs to causes wholly outside
the profession itself. 1t is due solely to the
fact that gentlemen amateurs are everywhere
taking up boxing as a pastime and healthy
exercise. Ten years ago 1t was regarded as
q sport beneath their dignity, yet to-day it
is taught everywhere. Clubs have sprung
up in all our large cities in which boxing is
one of the prime features of the system of
athletics. In New York, where a dozen
years ago one gentleman could spar, 20 can
row be found who can handle the gloves
with grace and dexterity, and with pleasure
and profit to themselves. But it is not my
purpose at present TO dwell upon the mani
fest advantages of an exercise that calls into
active plar the mind and body, confers
courage and GOODNESS on the student,
strengthens feeble nerves and acts as a tonic
TO the whole system. There are thousands
OF business men here and elsewhere who
can do this far better than I.
WORK OF THE CLUBS.
Three great American clubs, composed
of gentlemen amateurs. have given the i'm
petus to the new movement that has made
boxing so popular. These are the Cali
fornia Athletic Club, the Southern Athletic
Club, of New Orleans, and the New York
Athletic Club. Before they came into
existence the amateur field was exceedingly
limited. There was a very strict line
drawn between amateur and professional.
Such line exists to-day, but ii does not
prevent the two from acting in coni junction
for the improvement and elevation of the
sport. Of the three clubs the California
has come most rapidly to the front as
the special patron of the prize-ring.
1t has among its /, 500 members some of
the finest amateur boxers in the
country, and the purses it has offered
for noted professionals to come and spar
there have been handsome enough to tempt
the best of them. All the cracks have
fought in its magnificent gymnasium, which
is nearly 100 feet square, and the best
equipped and biggest belonging to any
club in the world. 1t employs three
teachers of boxing: Peter Jackson, now on
vacation; james Dempsey and James Car
roll.
The California was an outgrowth of the
old Olympic Club, of San Francisco, a
famous amateur organization. The lat
ter was very strict about not permit ing
professionals to spar in the club rooms,
and 1 remember that on one occasion when
1 was in San Francisco the rules were
changed so as to allow me to spar there.
Now it is altogether different, for the great
est events in the present club are the
matches made between professionals. Mr..
Fulda, the president. is an old Olympic
Club man and very proficient boxer. To
him more than TO any other person in the
West is due the revival of boxing in Cali
fornia. Mr. Williams, also an old-time
boxer, is another, and SO is Mr.. Scott. Mr..
MePrice, now dead, was one of the cleverest
boxers in the club.
A PUGILIsTIC BROKER.
A splendid athlete and a boxer who
would find few equals among the amateurs
of the East is Mr.. Lewis, a real estate dealer
and active club member. He has boxed
privately with almost every pro fessional of
note who has ever come to San Francisco,
and it is a saying in the club that nobody
knows what a pugilist is really made of
until Mr. Lewis has tried his metal. Cohurn,
Mcclellan, Dempsey and others have all
passed through this peculiar ordeal and
from personal experience can testify to the
fact that there are few harder hitters in the
Golden State than this big, energetic brok-
er. 1t was his custom to be introduced to a |
pugilist soon after his-arrival, and he would
then invite him to a bout, after which he
would form an opinion and make his bets
as to the likelihood of the professional win
ming or losing any match that might then
be on the tapis. A professional had to look
out sharply for this boxer, for Mr.. Lewis
was strong and agile fellow, with a quick
and long reach, and he could readily knock
q man out unless the latter were alert.
On one occasion, shortly alter McClellan's
arrival in San Francisco, Mr.. Lewis tried to
bring about a set-to with him. After re-
peated failures they chanced to meet in the
editorial rooms of a newspaper in that city,
and there they had very lively but good
natured bout. Lewis knocked his man about
at a clipping rate, was informed, and used
him rather roughly considering that the
match was only Tor bottle of wine. They |
were both capital friends after that, and Nc |
Clellan had no stancher admirer than the |
belligerent broker.
Another pronounced boxer Of the same |
club is Mr.. Keeney, a celebrated wine |
grower OF that State. In fact, all the men,
bers take deep interest in fstic science, |
and their unanimity in this respect has been |
the means of making the club one of the |
best known in the United States
AT THE CRESCENT CITY.
The Southern Athletic Club of New Or
leans is an organization somewhat similar,
in many res poets, to the Californis club. 1t 1
has fine gymnasium, larger than that of /
the New York club, being 100x75 feet, while
ours is 96164 feet. Athletics and sparring
are the main features. Prof. Dennis T. |
Butler is the teacher of boxing, and he has
mauy very clever pupils, among whom
Robert Lynn and Peter Kennedy are prob
ably the most proficient. Mr.. Wormsley is
President OF the club. and Mr. Campbell is
Vice President Many of the members are
men Of wealth, and nearly all are profess
sional gentlemen. Two of the most active
members are Mr.. Clarke and Mr.. Pell.
Mr.. Moneys, distinguished lawyer, stands
in pretty much the same relation TO this
club that Mr.. Lewis does to the California,
except that he has not Mr.. Lewis unique
habit Of demanding a .'go" with every pro-
fessional boxe- who arrives in town.
Bud" Renaud, one of the most famous
sporting men Of the South, is not member
Of any club, but is on familiar terms with