The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15
KILRAIN,S BUSY RING CAREER.
Man VINO Fought Jim Smith 100 Rounds
In France Now Empty Handed.

Jake Kllrain, who went into bankruptcy
the other day. at one time was pretty well
oh. His home is in Baltimore. where he
has always done his best to support a family,
which includes a son, a would-be fighter
just out Of his teens. Kilrain's family
name Is John Joseph Killon. He was born
in ~Greenpoint. L. l., in 1858. Kilrain began
fighting in 1880, but did not attract atten-
ton until three years later, when he mixed
1t up successfully with George Godfrey
In Boston,
It was In 1884 that he fought a draw with
Charley Mitchell, also In the Hub, at the
same time taking part in drawn battles
with Nike Cleary, Jim Goode and Jack
Burke. the Irish lad, In 1887 Kilrain de-
cided TO issue a challenge TO John L. Sullivan
to fight for the championship, but as there
was nothing doing Jake in July Of that
year sailed for England. where he OF on
q match with Jim Smith.
This memorable encounter was decided
on French soil, London rules, and after
the men had battered each other for 100
rounds the referee, George Atkinson,
raised his hand in a commanding way.
stopped the fight and declared it q draw.
The crowd wanted the contest TO 60 on,
but Atkinson was obdurate, The affair
had lasted for two hours and thirty minutes
Of actual ring work. and both men were in
terrible condition. Charley Mitchell was
one Of Kilrain's seconds.
Kilrain came back to America after that
and decided to got after Sullivan In earnest.
Accordingly they we're matched on January
7. 1889, to fight for the worlds champion
ship, London rules. The following March
Kilrain hurried over 70 England and ohal-
lenged Smith for q return match, agreeing
to take the Englishman on after the SuIli-
van min In this country. 1t was on July
8, 1889, at Riohburg, Miss. that Sullivan
and Kilrain fought for q side bet OF $4,000
Sullivan winning in ~seventy-hve rounds.
This was ono OF the last big ring battles
decided under London prize ring rules.
The referee was Johnny Fitzpatrick. Sui
livan's seconds were Mike Cleary, Billy
Muldoon and Dan Murphy. while Kilrain
wa handled by Charley Mitchell and Nike
Donovan. The fight lasted two hours and
sixteen minutes.
Kllrain did not appear in the ring again
till February 7, 1890, when he tackled Jim
Cor ett then q euppoSod novice, but
Corbett was 30 fast and scientific that he
made Kilrain look like an object OF pity
This opened the eyes Of sporting men in
New Orleans, where the fight was held, and
many Of them did not forget 90 back Corbett
when he ran up against Sullivan two years
later. IL wal not long after Corbett
trimmed him that Kilrain met Frank p.
Slavln In Hoboken, who knocked him out
after subjeoting him to a severe punching,
Kilrain meanwhile had defeated George
Godfrey In forty-tour rounds in California.
Since those days Kilrain has had a pretty
tough road 70 travel, Sullivan, his old
rival, saw him In the street last year AND
offered Kilrain a chance TO appear az his
sparrinR mariner. KilraiD as a result
has Loen working ever since and Is sharing
some Of old John LIS popularity while
swinging around the circuit OF burlesque
shows.