The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-03
THE WIFE OF A PUG|L|SI
Mrs. Corbitt Tells Of Her Life
With Her Late Husband.
When She Met Him Fame Knew Him
Not. When Notcriety Came He
Was Tormented by Women.
A Story With Good Deal
of Pathos In II.

There has been great deal in tho pa
pers recently concerning suit brought
by Mrs. Corbett, wife Of the pugilist,
for an absolute divorce from her hus-
band. Mrs. Corbett, il may not DO gen.
orally known, WAS born in Amsterdam,
n. T., when her parents wero visiting
relatives in that city, but was raised in
Santa Cruz, Cal. and was graduated
from the State Normal school in San
Jose. In an interview with her in the
Gan Francisco Examiner she says: Il
expected TO begin teaching, but jim
came to Santa Cruz and changed every
thing. De was Il big, handsome boy
then. L met him one night ut an enter
talnment, and he began to pay attention
to me at once. We used TO go 10 hops
and had lovely times. Jim was ono of
the best dancers l ever knew. He was u
bookkeeper in the Nevada bank then.
Before the summer was over we he
came engaged. During the winter my
sister went to San Francisco to study
music. went up there to visit her, and
saw a good deal of Jim. lie used to
take me around. He took mo to the
Olympic club. and l saw him box. That
was the first knew that he was a boxer.
my father was opposed to my mar.
rying Jim, so l ran away and met Jim
in Salt Lake City, and We were married
there.
For two or three months we did not
do anything. We lived with his father.
For part of the time worked in the
hall of records. earned IS or SO n
week. That was tho ouly time in nv
life that over worked.
We all persuaded jim to give up the
boxing. he secured place in tho An
slo-NeVada Insurance company Then
we went to live i'll little fiat At that
time | think Jim received 500 n month.
1T was not long after that when he
was offered the place of instructor i'll
the Olympic club at n larger alary than
he was getting. | was rather glad that
he should have that, because ho was
fond of boxing, and l thought he would
be much happier i'll place liho that
Jim used to say L will be great
tighter some day. / feel it. know that
j shall be great. And l was rs sure of
it as he Was
When the Olympic club arranged tho
exhibition between jim and Jack
Burke, | didn't like it at all, but Jim
said 1t was part OF tho business Of the
instructor, and thought that anything
the Olympic club did waS all right Jim
was tlckled TO death about it, The night
OF the boxing L staid at home and WAS
very nervous. Jim came home when it
was over He Rugged and kissed me
and was as happy rs he was. He
seemed to think that it was tho step
ping stone.
After that he drifted into profes
sional fighting go easily and naturally
that | hardly knew il. When the mitch
was made with Choynski he was so de-
lighted that l knew il had n strong hold
on hlm. was badly worked mp that
night staid ut home, rs always did.
and waited i'll fear and trembling for
the news. When jim came i'll. nearly
tainted. 1t seemed To me that he was in
horrible condition. One side of his
face was all cut up That was tho only
tlme that he was punished Ut all
II have always hated fighting. !
would have been glad had Jim never
made name for himself After each
OF the fights begged OF him to give
them up. He would half promise
After the Mccartney fight. in New
York, he came back to San Francisco to
act as instructor in the club again. He
was paid $225 month But Jim had
made name for himself, ana men and
women were anxious to do him honor.
Women have always been particu-
larly fascinated by him, and the man
ner in which they have pursued him is
almost beyond credence. This became cs
pecially noticeable after his match with
jackson. felt dreadfully over TINT
match. l did not like to have NV fine.
big husband box with colored man,
and feared as he did that he would
not be given fair play. 1t was after this
contest that jim joined the Thatcher
Primrose & West minstrels, and from
that time we have been but little to-
gether.
Il made up my mind that | would no
longer stay out i'll California alone. SO /
came east as we'll. We had "a Quarrel
but we speedily made it up. AS jim S
fame Increased we were together less
and less. He has never liked me 10
travel with him. He has insisted unon
his freedom. And yet | know that he
was very fond Of me. He never be-
grudged me anything. l had all the
money wanted He has ALWAYS been
very generous. know how he was be-
sieged with attentions of women. mud
that he was too gallant to fly from them