The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-19

thing, will place pugilisn, the art Of self
defense, among the legitimate sports Of the
day AS far back as 1879, when but 10
years old, was interested in sports OF
all kinds, but they did not then cut
much Of figure, being reported by the
minor class of reporters except in the case
of horse racing. / always took an interest
In the events and even as boy saw all Of
the amateur athletic Journeys, six day
walks, horse races and boxing bouts. Sui
livan / saw in every four round go he con-
tested in at Madison Square Garden and
other places and always had an excellent
line on him. / backed Mitchell to fight
q draw with him at Chantilly in 1888 and
backed Sullivan against Kilrain at Rich
burg in July, 1889. Ny prediction was
that when the clever man came forward
who could box, was strong, quick on his
feet, and, last, but not least, was intelli-
gent, Sullivan, the mighty, would so down
before him.
In the eyes of some people may know
nothing; Others may think I know great
deal My experience has been confined TO
Corbett, and as / satisfy him I don't lose
any slumber over what his contemporaries
think. AT least a dozen times when Cor
bett was training for Charles Mitchell I
was strongly advised by Corbett's friends
to drop the Englishman and take on Jack
son, but always held that a victory over
the Briton would be worth ten times as
much to Us as over any other man, no mat
ter how good he might be. / think this
has since been fully proved.
Compliments For Corbett.
There was never a plucllier fighter, a
Drawer boxer or a moro intelligent ring
- -4s. |, 80 10, .t>oI%
does not fancy he already knows it all, but
is guided by the advice Of his friends, and
no one who was ever connected with him
can say that 10 ever did them a wrong.
He has treated them too well, if anything,
even the men who have gone out of their
way to vilify him in tho public prints.
first met Corbett when he was 10 years
Did, at which time no was clerk in the
Nevada bank in San Francisco. 1 got my
first ''line" on him when saw him smoth-
er Jack Burke in eight rounds. After this
drifted into theatrical business, and when
In February, 1890, Corbctt fought Kilrain
at New Orleans wired him an offer to
tour with one of my companies at large
salary. To this he paid no attention, al
though at the same time offered TO match
him against any man in tho world. After
be fought the draw with Jackson I again
telegraphed him, and finally, about June,
1892, he contracted with me for one year.
That was the beginning of my relations
with him. When Sullivan issued that IA
nous challenge to the world, I accepted it
For Corbett.
Praise Tor Mitchell.
Charles Mitchell being England's only
recognized boxer, Corbett was also anx-
ious for a go with him, and when ''Chaw-
ley issued his challenge to the winner
of tho Corbett- Sullivan fight we deter
mined to take him on next. The features
and difficulties Of the matchmaking are
well remembered. Mitchell, like a clever
man, always wanted the best of it, but 1
think even he himself viii admit that he
never got it. He is certainly clever
matchmaker and rs comical n mortal out
of the ring as ever lived.
To my mind the best club this country
has ever known was the Olympic club of
New Orleans. The members were as
straight as a string. Every man knew his
place, and they never intcrfercd with one
another. Nothing could have had better
management than the Corbett-S Sullivan
fight and the other events which this splen-
did organization pulled of during its sew
eral years existence. But while the pres
ent governor of Louisiana retains his seat
it is unlikely that there will be any moro
boxing ut New Orleans Boxing TO n fin
ish in Indiana, Michigan, Washington or
some of the other places where clubs are
now offering heavy purses for the Corbett-
Jackson fight is entirely out of the ques-
ton. It seems to be agreed on all sides
that this great eventwiu come off in Eng
land before the National Sporting club,
but if It does that body will have to amend
its rules so rs to allow the contest to go to
q finish, as the San Franciscan will not
fight Jackson or any one else limited
round engagement.
Now, despite these latter statements,
am free to assert my belief that If the
proper men and methods were used, box
ing 10 finish could not be stopped ut
Madison Square Garden or anywhere else
in the United States, should it be desired
10 bring the matter 10 an issue. The late
decision at jacksonville exempl:fies this.
Boxing Is legal there until the next session
Of the legislature in 1885.
Cost of Training.
Boxing isn't what most people fancy 1t