Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04

wrestlers among the coopers in the shop,
and among the Hibernian denizens of old
Williamsburgh. and it was not long after he
finished his trade that Jack became so expert
at the wrestling game that he determined to
adopt 1t as a profession. Practicing threw
him into contact with sparrers and boxers.
He soon became SO expert with the gloves
that he determined to test himself in the
ring. t..4
Champion of His Class.
Dempsey beat every one in his class
around New York during mis- first two years
in the ring. hut his right to be considered
Americas lightweight champion was not
admitted until he had defeated each Fogarty
of Philadelphia and George La Blanche of
Boston, THE Marine" who is a powerful
man, and up to the time he met Dempsey in
the Larchmont Yacht Club house had never
known defeat. To this day he claims that
he would rot then have been beaten had not
Dempsey struck him an unexpected. terrific
blow over the referees shoulder, while that
official was splitting them apart from a
clinch. Be that as it may. the victory estab-
lished Dempsey the lightweight champion
In San Francisco he went out of his class
and met Jack Burke, the Irish lad" When
Dempsey undertook to meet him many
thought that he was foolhardy. The result
proved that he was not, for he clearly out
pointed Burke.
An incident occurred in this contest which
to turn anything to his advantage in a fight
Early in the battle, noticing that the ropes
or the ring We're as taut as fiddle strings
he backed away from Burke until he nearly
touched them. Then by adroit tactics he
induced Burke to hit at him with full force
As he did this Dempsey ducked out under
his arm and turned quickly. Burke pitched
forward against the ropes, which threw him
back as though he were a billiard ball
caroming against cushion. This was just
what Dempsey had figured on. AS 1.-The
Irish lad came forward. Dempsey met him,
left and right, so sharply that he was hit to
his knees. He was almost dazed when he got
to his feet, and he did not fully recover from
the effect of these blows until after the con-
test was ended
Dempsey next turned his attention to
Charley NJ tchell. Though "England's box
irg char,pion" was by fully twenty pounds
the heavier man, he shook a fight at him
for over two years
His First Check.
The first check that was given Dempsev's
all cOnquering career, strangely enough,
came from Mike Donovan, a man who was
at least dozen years Dempsey's senior,
and who was even then called odd Mike"
Dempsey he'd Donovan so cheaply that he
made no adequate preparation for the con-
test, while Donovan trained faithfully
The result was a great surprise party for
the friends of 1.-The Norpariel" as Demp-
sey was then called. Just before Donovan
went into the ring he said, 81 am going to
fight as I never fought before, because
shall fight for my wife and babies He
kept his word, and to the surprise of all,
especially Dempsey, he fought SO well that
when the six rounds were over Billy
O'Brien, who was the referee, could only
declare the affair draw. From that
right l lost faith in the idea that Demp-
sey was world beater in his class. though
l did think that he would win with The
Marine the second time they met, which
in the ring of the California Athletic
Club in San Francisco.
Knocked Ont.
Dempsey had all the best of the battle
until about a minute before it ended
Twice 1.-The Marine" wanted to stop, and
once one of his emissaries had gone to
Dempsey's corner to find out if Jack would
give him anything worth while out of the
purse If he would give in. Jack, who was
as honest as the day is long, would not buy
his victory. He declined to give penny
out of the purse. The odds in favor of
Dempssy's winning were two to one, when
suddenly La Blanche snatched victory from
the fire by suddenly swinging around and
striking Dempsey a pivot back hand blow.
1t landed on Dempsey's Jaw, and the next
instant he lay senseless on the floor OF
the ring. For the first time in his career
he had to drink the bitter waters of defeat
which he had SO often commended to the
lips of naughty opponents. When he came
to and realized Indl Ic was DtaleH, lie
crossed the ring and with tears streaming
down his cheeks and ia most piteous tones
begged La Blanche to give him another
fight and a chance to redeem his laureis.
..The Marine was deaf to his entreaties.
and never ct him again..
He Fights Fitx.
Though defeated, Dempsey was Still the
middle weight champion lat 154 pounds),
for his match with 1.-The Marine" was at
"catch weights" and he consoled himself
with the thought that the blow which laid
him low was a foul one. ct has since been
barred by the rules of the ring) Then
came his match and fight with Bob Fitz-
simmons, who is now talking of fighting
Jim Corbett. This was very foolish
match for Dempsey to make, but the man
who had announced his willingness to meet
Jake Kilrain to a finish, and to stand John
L. Sullivan off for ten rounds, did not.
think so. The fight took place in New Or
leans. Dempsey, who only weighed 14212
pounds that night, had never set eyes on
Fitzsimmons until he entered the ring.
Both came in wearing long overcoat, and
it was plain to be seen that Dempsey was
surprised 1T Fitzsimmons' height and bulk:
and we'll he might be, fer the Australian
was just short of SIX feet tall, and though
pl1y weight he had the