The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09
IDOL BREAKERS UNPOPULAR.
Prejudice Showed Against the Pugilist Who
Mhipncl Oscnr GnrLner.

America is supposed to be the land Of
square sports. but there is one thing that the
American sporting man canno. take gracefully
and that ia the defeat Of a popular champion.
who has held his tito long enough 10 mako
him a sort Of idol in the puhlicbeye." said a race
track man. This Ia true OF animals as well
as men. but particularly true is it of prizefght-
ers. The American people never forgave James
j. Corbett for the druhbing he gave John /.
Sullivan. Even when Corhett fought an alien,
Charley Mitchell. II majority Of the people Sc
crotly hoped that he would he whipped. Take
the case Of George Dixon. the wonderful col
ored fighter. He is the sporting mans idol
to-day. When he is whipped every sporting
man in tho country will Grieve over It. save
the partisans OF the man who whips him.
- few weeks ago | witnessed n fight In
Brooklyn that illustrated this feeling better
than anything that has come to my knowledge
n a good MANI years. Just at present n popu-
lar idol in the fighting line is Oscar Gardner.
This young man has fought his way to the top
OF tho ladder. but a few weeks ago there came
q report from the West that he had been
whipped In a ten round light by n young pugi-
list named Jack O'Brien. who halls from this
city. Jack U'Brien was remembered here AS
n fighter, OF mediocre ability and the sports
mnrvel!ed at his getting II decision over Gald-
ner, His victory. however. made him "A de-
slrhpN i'tTitIlDtl. anu u bfNDKlYn cllb brought
him CT. here. to iiZht one Whistler of Phlladel-
rh!nH&. This 5 tie iiglt that | sreak o..
When Whistler came into tho ring he was
greeted with tumultuOus applause and there
we're shouts Of ,kiil him. BLY, Eat tho lob
ster ul and Put him GU. in n hurry"
II didn't understand tho unpopularity of
OErien until he came in the ring and was
greeted, with boots and GroanS. turned to Il
man behind me then ana asked whnl Il meant.
the sloh that says he licked Gardner last week
linen | un !~erstnud. For doing his best
and getting n decision over Gardner, the pouu-
lar idol. O'Rrien had earned nothing but the
hatred, of he sporting public, When the fight
started Ohrien, rs lice looking q young man
rs rvcr saw in. n prize ring. swung for Whis-
TORS head and missed. lmmeliaiely.t there
were. wells md groans from the crowd.
YOU'RE n nice lobster to lick Gardner. amt
YOU" cried out on" man, and Did he lay down
for YER Ia that how yer did it, called anOthAr,
"A moment later Whistler got in a blow on
OHrien. and the house shook with applause,
Ana so II went on Tor twenty rounds. O'Brinn
was q game little rooster and did all the tight
ing. his opponent standing purely on tho de-
Any, way You took. II. ON points. on 'eads. on
landed blows, OHri"n won the fight. yet at tho
end of tn" last round the whole house Joined
in one loud "ry 10 the referee 10 give the fight
- Whistler He had the doccurY 10 make Il a
draw, which ENvc OBrien half OF q fight
which he had really Won.
Questioned II number, Of neople alter the
fight, hut no one could tell me anv reason for
DIrion y uupOUulari'y. outside ~ the fact that
h" WHIPPED Young tiardncr. so ! ma ie IN my
'nind, that that victory alone was responsible
Tor the remarkable prc. ultCo shown against
MN. eel YOU what, it isn't safe TO bowl over
Il popular champion nowadays