Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-08
GENERAL SPORTING.
CURRENT EVENTS IN VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS.
Tho Death OF the Marquis OF Qussns-
berry Recalls His Connection with the
Roles That Govern the Art OF Self.
Dsfsuss--Not the Real Originator

The marquis Of Queensberry. whose
lame was most prominently associated
in the public mind with the boxing
rules which bear his name, died on
Feb. 1. as announced by cable from
London, England. He was born July
20, 1874, and succeeded to the title in
1858. He visited America in 1882,
shortly after having been barred from
his seat in the house of lords as rep
resentative Scotch peer on the ground
that he had been heard publicly to
deny the existence of a God and an
nounce his adherence to free love doc
trines. That he was not the originator
of the boxing rules bearing his name
is shown by the appended extract from
Land and Water of London, written in
1886. not long after the death of ]. G..
Chambers, sporting editor OF that jour
nal, and identified with rowing and
boxing:
Nineteen years ago the marquis OF
Queensberry, himself good boxer.
taking much pleasure in the sport.
placed three silver cups as prizes for
sparring among amateurs in the hands
Of the late Mr.. Chambers. Beaufort
house grounds was the first venue
chosen for the contests, and the open
ing meeting. in 1867. gave sufficient in
dication that sparring competitions
among amateurs would soon become an
Institution, and an essentially English
pastime added to the category OF Brit
ish sports. For long time the
'Queensberry cups held their own,
and the annual meeting would, no
doubt, have been the chief boxing
event of the present day had the ar
rangements met with the approval or
the large number of boxers who were
called into existence thereby. When
the cups were given, the donor. II we
remember rightly, made no stipulation
as to how they were to be awarded
other than that they should be held Tor
year. There were no rules as to the
duration of rounds, and the decision or
the judges, who called time whenever
they pleased, were not always salts
factory. The Marquis of Queensberry's
rules therefore, of which we hear SO
much, as a matter of fact never ema-
mated from the marquis himself, and
his name has for many years been
made use OF for professional glove
fights in England, America and the col
onies in the most unwarrantable man
ner. His lordship. however, Is thor
ough sportsman at heart; consequently
his reticence in the matter may be ac-
counted for. During the progress OF
these challenge cup competitions,
which on and after 1859 took place at
Lille Bridge grounds. most Of the best
amateur boxers of the day until re-
Gently have Ntaken part in them; and
II sufficient reality was not ihstilled
into the earlier contests to please some
of the 'gluttons' of the present day, the
sparring generally was by no means
to be despised. At one time the uni
versities sent competitors to West
Brompton. but as boxing became more
and more popular the exclusiveness
which for so long was maintained was
broken down. Many amateur boxing
clubs were formed in London and diff
ferent pats of the country. and al
though at first their entries were not
always acceptable to the executive.
they could not be very well excluded.
and the old order Of things became
changed. The Amateur Boxing asso-
citation started about Ave years ago, in
stituting championships under fresh
rules and regulations, and as they held
their meetings in London the Queens