The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-19
Jill, THE CHAMPION.
lie VIII Retire From the
Ring Shortly.
A PROMISE GIVEN HIS FATHER.
All he Wants Is to Meet rlitchel!.
Ills Parents Denounce Price
fighting.

Il shall be delighted" said Mrs. Coroett,
the mother OF Champion James Corbett,
last night to CALL reporter. eff it is true
that my boy has given a promise to his
father never to fight again.
luis prze-fghting was never approved
OF Dy us, as such thing is entirely again ST
our principles. The way it is carried on in
America is revolving to me. and Jim is far
above assOciatiDg with the professional
prlze-hghters. His upbringing has been SO
different.
lie is one OF the gentlest. kindest and
most unseltsh Of human beings" continued
Inc fond mother. 'and we never dreamed
lor moment that such career would come
10 MN. But all our protestations were use
less. lie would have it,"
How did it happen that such a thing
came into his mind?"
wei, 1t was while he was in the Nevada
Bank. He was member of the Olympic
CLUB and was very fond of boxing and all
sorts OF athletic exercises. When Mr.. Wat
son came from England as trainer in the
cup one OF the members, W ho was q sort of
Duilys challenged Mr.. Watson TO q fight
with the gloves. MIR. Watson had not re-
covered from the long trip. and he had all
ne could do to hold his own. After 1t was
over he said to the bully: You have taken
an unfair advantage Of me, but I'll tell you
what can do. In six months i can train
one oil these boys TO lick you He looked
among them and his eyes lighted upon jim.
he TOOK him In hand, and in six months
jim and the bully met and jim beat him.
we did not think much about that, as
he was only stripping. and supposed he
woutu not carry II any further But just
before Inc Sullivan kilrain fight took place
at New Orleans he told US he was going
there TO try for a purse of $1,000. We ex-
postnlated with him, but he pleaded 10
strongly that we had reluctantly TO consent.
he said lie had nothing to lose. as his ex-
penses would be paid. and II he won he
would be 5000 in pocket.
We'll, he went and won the $1,000. And
so after that be took to IL, but never treated
II from brutal standpoint. He always
looked upon II rs a science ald was never
guilty. l am glad to say. Of ungentemanly
conduct"
But You know It Is said that prize-fght-
Ing, as a Iuie, has a brutalizing tendencv?"
III all depends upon the man." said Mrs.
Corbett with emphasis. II see no reason
why pugilist cannot be a gentleman. with
gentiemanly instincts. although most OF
Instincts and behavior"
w hat mortiieS me Is the class of men
that II compels my boy to associate with,
knowing. as only mother can how utterly
aohorrent to his nature anything of the
kind must be. But feel every confidence
that he VIII always remain the same good
and honorable Jim.
Il have had letters from his father telling
me how much the boy is made of by the best
people wherever he goes and how proud he
is TO see his son without having his head
turned by all this t1atIery and attention.
How l wish he were back among us
again" She added, pathetcally, "as he was
the life and soul OF the house, never hap
pier than when he was trying to make
others happy"
but he says he must fight Mitchell be-
fore he gives up prize lighting.
well, / suppose he will have to get his
own way about that he seems to have
some personal grudge against Mitchell for
something he did in New York, and won't
rest satisfied till he meets him. But do
wish 1t was ali over. You have no idea
how the prospect Of one OF these fights
worries me-"
ways thinking OF you before his fight with
Sullivan"
yes" she said with all a mothers love
In her tones. Jim is my favorite boy and
man who is fond of his mother will never
go far wrong. He knew that was always
il drew US closer together. When he fought
jackson 1 suffered intensely, not alone
from the fear of any injury that might
come to him, but that he might be disgracsd
by being beaten by colored man.
II did not feel nearly so bad when he
met Sullivan and wouldn't have been very
much disappointed II the fight had gone the
other way. From the time Jim saw Sulli-
van give an exhibition here he always said
he could beat him. He told us he sized him
up thoroughly and wouldn't be afraid to
meet him.
"On the night of the fight naturally felt
nervous and anxious and when a message
came over the telephone that Jim had won
l told our friends, who we're In the house,
not 10 shout too soon. But when all doubt
was set at rest j felt natural pride that
our boy..a mere stripping. had beaten such
q man..
had won enough honors In that line and
should give it up altogether and settle down
IN business. AS he is O man of strong do
mestic tastes and Is happily married l can
not tell you how happy 1 will feel" she
said, with sparkling eyes, IF the promise
he Is said to have made his father turns out
to be true. will know for sure when my
husband returns on Monday.
on can have no ides," she continued,
'how hate this notoriety In the papers.
To read that COrbett did this or 'Corbett
did that IS sickening. And then a lot Of 1t
Is only newspaper tall. Everything the
bog does is magnited and il must be nause-
atDg to him as Ii Is 10 US 10 have his name
SO often in the papers and false construc-
tons put upon what he does"
How / do wish he was back with his
vile in his old home again." the fond
mother feryently said as she bade the re-
porter goodnight.
There is n something in Mrs. Corbett's
conversation when speaking of her favorite
son that Is inexpressibly winning and
touching. While proud of the position he
mas won for himself by sterling merit and
honorable conduct, there Is strong under
current OF feeling that in her opinion he is
entirely out OF the sphere he is more fitted
to adorn and that she will joyfully well
come the day when he makes his final
| pugllistic appearance.
What led to the conversation with Mrs.
Corbett was dispatch from Chicago giving
the result OF an interview with the cham
plon's father, in which, speaking Of prize
| fighting, he said:
1t is the province Of the brute to fight.
TO step into ring wiilfully, trained into
condition TO beat and whip his fellow man.
| My boy instinetively Is above and beyond
| this. My mission East has been accom-
piisned, and l am returning homo to bis
mother with tidings that will make her
heart glad. went 10 the East In order to
OBTAIN from cur boy promise never to fight
again, ana am gong home happy man."
mere was one provision attached TO the
premlsa-that he should be allowed to meet
charley Mitchell next September.
Inc interview continues: Il insisted,
and al frst would consent TO nothing but an
unconditional retirement from the unnoly
| calling. reasoned and talked of the in
fanny That attached itself to the professional
hghter; how they all found their level Ia a
drunkards grave. and how decent people
| summed and ostracized them. He listened
| to my talk and then told his story. OF the
| insult he had been subjected to at Miners
IheRter, on the Bowery. New York; how
he had borne up under the stigma Of tho
sffront, and then, as he clenched his teeth
firmly, he added: Father, this right arm
of mine I would willingly sacrifice to
| satisfy the merest within of mothers
You must. however, get her approval
OF the match l intend to force that
foreign biackguard into. / will solemnly
promise to ignore Jackson, Goddard and ali
the rest. and will assuredly never again
sign articles to fight IL you will get her to
consent to the Mitchell match. l don't