Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-09
JOE CORuRN. HE PuGlLlsT.
The Record lie Won for Himself with III.
Fists.

list twenty-five years ago. he was born
on July 4, 1885. in the County Armagh,
Ireland, and came to this country when
eight years OF age. He grew up in the
Sixteenth Ward Of New York, and at
the age OF eighteen years he became
prominent as fighter by whipping all
the boys of the ward. He joined the
volunteer fire department of that city
four years later, after learning the trade
of bricklayer. lie was a member OF
Croton Engine Company No. 1G, at that
time located IN west Twentieth street,
New York. While in the fire depart
ment the firemen matched him against q
Brooklyn boy, whom he whipped easily
in four rounds.
COburn first became notorious as a
fighter 10y defeating awful " Gardner,
one OF the cleverest men Of his day, in
SIX rounds with gloves in Hioernia
Hall, on Prince street, New York. He
was then looked upon as coming
champion. About this time Edward
Price, a noted English boxer, but now a
well-known criminal lawyer of New
York, challenged any man in the world
TO fight him. Coburn went TO Boston
and arranged a match. They fought at
Still Pond, Mass, and after three hours
end twenty-five minutes Of desperate
fighting the referee declared the battle q
draw on account of darkness. Both men
were confined TO their rooms for two
weeks from the terrible punishment they
received. Coburn issued challenge to
fight Price again, but the latter refused.
This was Coburn's first London-rulc con
test. and the battle was one Of the great
est ever witnessed in America up TO that
period.
In the later part of 1853 Coburn whip
ped Harry Gribbin in half hour at Har-
per's Ferry, Va. 1he battle was for
81 900 a side. Hen Wrinkles. the west
crn crack fighter, WAS next beaten by
Joe in eighteen minutes, under London
rules, fora 81, 900 stake. COburn WAS
then matched to fight McCool, the "Ier-
ror of the Mississippi" for 81, 800 side
and the championship of America, He
defeated McCoOl In one hour aud ten
Column escaped without
The battle took place in the
summer of 1863. he was matched to
fight McCool again year later. The
battle was TO have taken place on the
outskirts Of indianapolis, but a sheriff
upon the scene and arrested
both principals. They were sentenced
10 forty days imprisonment. After their
release the match feel through.
Patsy Flynn came over from England
in the spring of 1867 and issued chal
lenge. Coburn accepted, and they
fought in room for 81, 000a side. Flynn
lasted two minutes and thirty seconds.
A short time after Coburn whipped Con.
q New Yorker, with two
III the stomach and the
other on the neck. His next important
match was in England withJem Mace for
s., 900 a side and the Championship OF
tine world. Before making the match,
however, the Mace party pitted Joe
Goss, Tom Allen, and Bill Rayel against
Coburn TO see what he could do. He
whipped them all. Cobun tossed for
choice of battle ground with Mace,
which was to be within five hundred
miles of London. Coburn won the
toss. and he selected the county in which
he was born. Mace finally forfeited the
600. Coburn returned to America end
Mace, but the latter wouldn't
accept. Finally Mace came to America
and opened saloon on Iwentythird
street near Sixth avenue, New York.
This was in the spring OF 1870. Mace,
upon being challenged continually by
Coburn, replied that he didn't come TO
the United states to fight, but to live in
peace. Dan Noole, prominent sport
ing man, who subsequently died III pri-
son in London, was warm friend OF
Coburn's. He bet Joe $50 that he was
afraid to go over 10 Mace's saloon and
punch him in the face. Coburn ac-
cepted the wager in an instant Coburn
met Mace and tried to draw him on 10
fight, but Mace declined. Coburn finally
called him cur and then blackened his
eve by blow of his fist. Mace could
DO nothing after this but challenge Co
burn. Joe was only too glad to meethis
old rival, and match was speedily ar
ranged. They me; at Port Dover, Cana
ia. After fighting one hour and fifteen
and neither having struck a
blow. the sheriff and n posse OF depu-
ties appeared and ordered them OFF Cana
dian soil. Dick Hollywood, the referee,
the men to meet at the
Reade House, Erie, Pa, at o'clock the
following morning. Coburn, on arriving
at the hotel, went to Mace's room
and offered to fight him then and there.
Mace refused TO do anything but what
the referee ordered. Hollywood then
named Kansas City as the place OF fight
ing. COburn declined, as 1t was viola
ton of the rules, which called for the
to be within 900 miles OF
New York The men were matched
again for IS, 900 side and the champion
shin. The battle took place at Bay City,
Miss, IN the latter part of 1872. and du-
ring IA terrible rain-siorm. After fight
ing three hours and thirty minutes, and
a greater part of the time up to their
knees in mud, the referee called tine fight
D draw. =.
Coburn after this battle made tours OF
the country with combination companies
During the year of 1884 he went through
the United States with John l.. Sullivan.
OF late years he was in the saloon bust
ness.
Coburn had large number of friends,
and was generally considered good-na-
tured man. He got into many disagree
able scrapes. however, the most unfortu-
nate one of which was his shooting OF
policeman, for which he was tried, con-
sicted. and sent to the New York State
prison for short term.
He was man of wonderful agility.
One of his favorite tricks was to stand in
a flour-barrel and with single spring
lump clear out of it to the floor. he
was known to stand close TO bar and
with his heels kick the top. Coburn was
well known in Baltimore, where he had
A number of friends, who often be-
fnended him when he was in need.
TlED TO TREE AND WHIPPED.
Er-Mayor PritcIsard, of Windsor, \. c.,
MerciIessIy F,oxged by Three Men.
A telegram to the Herald from Wind
Drt4rhar1 ~