Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-08
Some Interesting Details Of the Life
of Coburn, the Famous Ex-
Champion Pugilist.
HIS FISTIC FIZZLES WITH MACE.
Curry Foley Writes Some Entertaining
Baseball Gossip About the Pros
poets in Boston.
Q. OF P, FOOTBALLISTS MAKE MERRY.
The Proposed McCsb;- kcclsllsnd Race Declared of-
General Sporting News.

A few details about the ii e of Joe Cnburn,
the famous pugilist, whose death was an
nounced in Yesterdays DISPATCH. are sure
70 be of great interest TO all classes of the
Fatrons of sport. In many respects Coburn
was a remarkable man, and he was one of
the few links that connected the last DAYS of
what IS called ''the good old prize ring style"
with the new generation of glove pugilists. He
was well-known to old Pittsburg sporting men;
in fact he was known all over the world where
ever pugihsm was talked of.
Joseph Coburn was born at Middletown,
Armagh county, Ireland, July %, 1885. When a
mere boy he left his native land for the United
States, ano located in New ork. He was from
a rChtinC stock on his mothers side. her
brother, Captain Saunders, being one of the
Camest men who ever faced an opponent
Coburn became bricklayer, and good one.
He soon developed into a promising pugillst
however, and was matched to fight. His hrst
opponent was Edwin Price, Of Boston, now
well-known criminal lawyer in New York.
Price was ) years older, u pounds heavier and
more than an inch taller than CnbuTn. He was
also a courageous man, and fairly scientific.
The battle was a desperate one. and lasted
nearly three hours. 1t resulted in draw Price
being very badly punished.
HIS SECOND VICTIM.
Coburn next met Harry Gribbin, of Liver
pool. England. The Englishman was beaten
in a few rounds
In 1868 Mike McCoole was the champion Of
the West. having defeated among others Bill
Davis Tom Jennings and Bill Blake. Coburn
was the recognized champion of the East, and
they were matched to fight for the national
championship CoDurn weighed LOO pounds,
and was about feet inches high. McCoole
weighed 1876 pounds and stood fee+ l inch.
They fought about an hour and 81 minutes.
when McCOole was beaten, Coburn not having
even 4 scratch on him. In the battle Coburn
proved himself to be one of the best wrestlers
ever seen in a prize ring, and he threw the
giant at will.
In 1864 he challenged Jem Mace and as re-
suit Coburn and Jim Cusick set sail for Eng
land. Mace and Coburn were matched, and
Cohurn was engaged to box six nights in an
English music hall. He met 1resh opponent
each evening. COburn knocked all SIX out in
short order, and the list included Jem Clarke.
who also had previously defeated Harry Crib
bin. The day of the Coburn-Mace battle ap-
preached, and Coburn won the right TO name
The battle ground. He selected place in Ire
land and made his selection public This put
the police on the alert, and when the fghtlng
nartv arrived in Dublin kilograms informed
them that powerful force of policemen was
at the battle ground Mace and Nat Laugham
knew 1t was not only useless, but dangerous to
20 near the battle ground, and returned TO
London. Coburn and his friends proceeded to
the battle grounds and claimed the stakes. but
as no referee was chosen he only got his own
expenses for coming to fight"
BOTH WERE SENT TO JAIL.
Coburn and Cusick returned hom' and the
former opened a saloon in New York, his place
being known as the White House. He COM
menced to drink exceedingly. His business was
a failure and in 1865 he and McCoole again met
in the ring at Cold Springs Station, Ind. The
principals were arrested before the fight was
finished and each was sent 40 days to Jail. In
1863 Mace arrived in this country, and year
later defeated Tom Allen for the championship
near New Orleans. Mace then opened saloon
in New York opposite Booths Theater. He,
too. failed, and subsequently he and Coburn
arranged what turned out to be huge pugil-
istic fzzle and fraud. They were matched To
fight at Port Dover, Canada A tremendous
crowd went to see them fight. 1t was on MAY
IL ISL and after they had been IN the ring
hour and 20 minutes without striking blow
about 5UO policemen arrived. The latter had
been DELAYED, and this fact caused CohuTn and
Mace TO remain in the ring so long. The prin-
cipals had arranged for police interference.
Dick II Ollywood was referee, and he ordered
the men TO resume the contest at Kansas City.
1nis was not done, and they met again in the
ring in November. 1871. near New Orleans, and
after burlesqueing three hours and half in
which u alleged rounds were fought the affair
was called draw. They had a share of the eX-
CurSIon fees to both places and they cleared a
very large amount of money.
The pair in December, 1871. arrived in Pitts
burg and had benefit in Old City Hall. which
was well attended. In an exhibition contest
Mace showed his vast superiority over Coburn.
and It is now generally admitted that Mace
was much the cleverer of the two. Coburn
knew he could never defeat Mace, but 1t rs
safe to say that he could have beaten Goss.
Without doubt Cohurn was the third best
puCili>t the United States have had. 1t cannot
he claimed that he was the equal of Heenan
and Sullivan. He was remarkably active,
being a good Spriuter and leaper. He could
stand with his back TO a counter four feet high
and leap on the top landing on his feet. He
knew how to train, and had he been reared
among the present generation of alleged train
erS he would have been a l70-pound man at
least. He was twice in the penltentiary once
about a year for stabbing a policeman, and
again about eight years for shooting Two