The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-01
HARDSHIPS OF TRAINING.
How Jack McAuIine Got Down t0
Weight and Won.
From the PhiladeiI,hia Ledge

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The writer, if space permitted, could
relate scores of instances where anna
teur and professional athletes who
started out to reduce themselves to
certain weight did not taste a morsel
of food nor drink one glass of water
for twenty-four hours preceding the
time to weigh in. One incident will
serve the purpose. The occasion was
September, 1891. The contest was be-
tween Jack McAuliffe, who was regard
ed as the worlds champion lightweight,
and Austin Gibbons. The scene Of the
contest was Hoboken, N. j. The
match was the result of an argument
in a New York hotel the month before.
The Paterson IN. j. contingent, who
believed Gibbons was a world beaten,
wagered freely that McAuliffe could
not beat their protege at 1875 pounds.
weigh-in at the ringside. McAuliffe,
who was present, told his friends TO
take all the wagers, and that he would
be at the ringside, weighing 135 pounds,
If he had to be carried there on a
sheet.
This was exactly four weeks before
the contest, and McAuliffe weighed Isl
pounds. The great lightweight could
not be banded. The match was quick
ly made, with a purse of SO, 500 for the
winner and $500 to the loser, and a
forfeiture Of $500 each IL the weight
was not made Gibbons had no trou-
BILE; 1t was his natural weight. AS for
McAuliffe, beginning with the next
day, it was four weeks of continuous
suffering and privation. He was as
persistent as he was plucky. Day after
day his chief adviser, Jerry Mahoney,
pleaded with him to abandon the con-
lest But he was obdurate. My
d1 ,. wa crarad and thew
shall win," was his constant reply.
The day before the contest arrived
MeAuliffe was still 21z pounds over
weight. He went about his work with
a determination that knew no failure,
At 9 %. M. exactly twenty-four hours
before the time of Weighing in, he re-
tired weighing exactly 134A pounds.
For one complete day no solid food
passed his lips. He was allowed the
puice of one lemon to allay the inward
fever, and was permitted to chew three
raw carrots, swallowing the juice to
quench his thirst, but expectorating the
pulp.
AT the hour to be weighed the great
lightweight had to be half carried to
the club house, and he tipped the
beam at exactly 1876 pounds. This was
p. m. Gibbons Immediately went TO
the ring, while a score of willing hands
had cubes of toast dipped into beef tea
ready to feed to McAuliffe. His body
was massaged with a liniment, which
was largely composed of olive oil, while
he was being fed, and all the while the
Paterson lightweight was sitting inn
patiently in the ring, every minute get
ting more nervous. At $685. o'clock
the Gibbons contingent began to get
WISE" and appealed to the referee, Jere
Dunn, and McAuliffe was given FIVE
minutes to be in the ring. 1t was
nearly 10 o'clock before the bout start
ed. The hours rest and miniature
banquet had worked marvels with the
champion. The story of the contest is
now matter of history. McAuliffe
was given the partially digested food
between each round, and the police in
terfered in the sixth round to prevent
Gibbons being knocked out. What Nc
Auiiffe did in his training, the self
denial resorted to. and the sacrifices
made to attain the one object should
be a good lesson to the professionals OF
to-day who clamor for readjustment
of the classes.