The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-04
CoRRErT's OWN STORY

CoRBETT's OWN STORY.
believe it is customary to begin a
biography with the date of birth. This is
really very important event in a mans
life, and don't mind saying that on Sept i
1892, was just 26 years old. stand
feet IL inches in my Stocking fest" as
we put 1t out west, aud am going to con-
vince my friends very soon that their con-
hdenoe IN every inch of ms is not mis-
piaced. don't mean by that that l an
certain of whipping Sullivan. only want
10 say that l feel as confident as do my
friends, and that l am going to fight the
contest of my life.
was born In the city where the setting
sun gllstens through golden gates at as
pretty place as there is in the universe
san Francisco. My father is Patrick J.
Corbett, a man about 50 years old and fully
| as tall as l am. He is straight as an arrow
and still very strong and active man. 1t
was in 1854 that he came to San Francisco
from New Orleans. to which place he had
come from his Irish home at Tuam Ny
| mother is still a young woman and as
proud of all her boys and girls as as they
are of her. She was married to my father
| in 1858, and the family consists OF mother
and father, Frank, Harry, Thomas, Joseph,
Esther, Theresa, Kate, Mary and myself.
am the third of the boys
l received my education ab Sacred Heart
College, from which institution l was
graduated, and soon after, when about Is,
l accepted position In the Nevada Bank
\ At IA / did a great deal of boxing, but it
was always in boyish, very amateurish
way, but repeatedly bested boys older and
larger than myself.
GAINING CONFIDENCE
After l went into the bank took part in
many amateur club tournaments, almost
| invariably meeting heavy weights, al
though at that time / was hardly a middle
weight. When l was eighteen l fought
| Dave Eiseman, now a pool seller, and
| finished him in two rounds IL was about
this time that joined the Olympic Club,
| OF which later became boxing instructor.
| Ny first fight of any consequence was with
Jack Burke, "the Irish lad" a man who
had stood up before Sullivan, Mitchell,
Slavin and Dempsey. The experience |
had had in the amateur RUG served me well
in this fight, but my failing to knock Burke
out was due TO my great carefulness re-
cognize now that still lacked that conf
dence which comes with professional work.
We fought eight rounds to a draw.
next fought Joe Choynski and whipped
him in four rounds. All told, have had
four goes" with Choynski, two Of which
| were during my amateur days aud two in
the professional ring. l whipped him every
time.
My next fight was with Mike Brennan.
the Port Costa giant. He had fought forty
rounds with Joe MoAuliffe and so we all
thought him a strong man. L think he OUT
weighed me twenty pounds and over bnt
three rounds sufficed to knock him out.
My next fight was with Capt. James DAILY.
and two rounds finished him. Frank Smith
Of Salt Lake succumbed to me in three
rounds.
A SUCCESSION OF VICTORIES.
AS recall it now my next fight was with
George Atkinson, who went into the ring
| weighing 230 pouads. l finished him in
two rounds, although l myself weighed
only 165 pounds. l then bested Frank
| Glover in two rounds.
kBIt was after this that l had my second
professional fight with Joe Choynski. He
weighed in at 113 and at 1859 There was
big money up in the fight and both the
friends Of ChoYnski and myself had a great
deal OF money at stake. The fight occurred
on barge in the middle OF the Sacramento
river. and, as is well known, was simply a
continuance of the contest that had been
stopped week before by the authorities.
broke both hands in the third round when
Jack Dempsey who was back of Choynski
threw up the sponge
Shortly after that resumed my position
as instructor IN the Olympic CLUB, and left
it to meet Jake Kilrain before the Southern
Athletic Club in a Ground fight for points
for purse Of $4,000. 1 came out of that
contest without a scratch, and could easily
have finished Kilrain. The purse was
awarded me.
THAT DRAW WITH JACKSON.
then started on my first sparring tour
and on my first visit as a professional to
New York. Here l basssd Domiulck Nc
Caffrey in four rounds, and my friends at
once arranged a fight with Peter jackson
for purse Of $40 900. We fought sixty
one rounds as everybody knows, and am
convinced, and so were all those at the fight :,
| that jackson was tired out and that had
the contest won. But 20 my CONSERVATION
and surprise it was declared draw. The
decision was an outrageous one, unfair and
| unjust to me and the friends who had
backed me. II was really an unheard of
decision. We fought four hours. Jackson
had weighed in at 20l and l at 11S, and at
the end jackson had lost So pounds in
weight. determined then never to fight
before that club again.
l then continued my spsrring tour
through the east. Offering TO stop anybody
in four rounds. For three weeks / met a
different man every night. They secured
the country for strong amateurs and good
professionals but | failed 30 find man who
could stand up for the stipulated time.
Then came to New York aud met three
men in one night at the Madison Square
garden. l finished William Spillings of
Muldoon's combination, heavy weight, in
IS seconds; bob" Coffee, a Philadelphia
boy in 90 seconds, aud Joe Lannon of Bos-
ton, another heavy weight, IN three rounds.
Then went as far west as California on
the tour, meeting and finishing at least
twenty men.
l was very anxious to get a fight on with
Charley Mitchell at this time, but couldn't
draw him out.
Then came Sullivan's challenge, and, as
would not admit that he Is my superior, /
accepted the challenge l feel as il had an
even chance, and IL splendid physical cons
dition, good hard WORK and careful training
count for anything, will make a good
showing IN the ring.
JAMES j. CoRBETT.
81 wonder why 1t ISL said old Tope TO