The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-14
FANS ADMIRE
JAKE K|LRA|NS
FINE PHYSIQUE
Veteran Is Still Supple of Limb
and Has No SuperfIuOus
Flesh.
JOHN LIS OLD RIVAL AN
ATHLETE ALL HIS LIFE
Declares That SulIivan's Super.
natural Vitality Won the
Big Fight Years Ago.

II OCAL fight followers who have
seen lake Kilrain in action this
week in the sparring exhibitions
with his old-time ring rival, John L.
Sullivan, have marveled at the splen-
did physique of the Baltimore fighter
at this day. He is still supple of limb
and no superhuous flesh has grown
upon him during the many years since
his retirement from real fighting.
You handle yourself mighty well for
am old fellow said a prominent New
arker to Jake after his sparring act
yesterday afternoon.
odd" exclaimed Kilrain with a
grieved air; I'm not old. A man is
still young while he has health. wind
and vigor, and | reckon | can still hold
my own with some of your young chaps
of today
Kilrain's looks did not belle his
words. The way he pranced around
the ring. lodged this blow and that,
and occasionally landed n himself,
was a caution, and serves to show the
effect of leading a steady life.
Jake is now so years old. He has
been an athlete all his life. When a
boy he could run with h best OF
them, beat most of the lads in his
class at the fighting game, and as an
oarsman he was the amateur junior
champion. Even to this day he takes
his regular athletic exercises. That's
why he is a young" old man.
For many years after his defeat at
the hands of Sullivan the Baltimore
man held a grudge against his con-
queror. But with age came. sense, and
he has long ago buried the Ratchet,
realizing that the punishment melted
out to him vas only part of the fight
ing game, and not due to personal
animosity.
The fact that Sullivan openly ac-
knowledges that Kilrain gave him the
hardest fight of his life is In honor in
itself. In the early stages of that tight
Kilrain looked like a winner. His
blows upon the unbeaten John L.
caused the latter to vomit and stagger,
and it was only his remarkable vitality
that kept him on his feet.
AS the fight went on for hour after
hour Kilrain weakened. His own blows
gradually lost their power, while Sui
Ivan. with an almost supernatural
stamina, steadily assumed the upper
hand Kilrain Lacked that constitu'
tional power, but he was game to the
core. He would not recognize deteal
while he was able to stand up and
look out from his battered eyes.
The seventy-fourth round was
reached. Kilrain was a piteous sight
He was now totally blinded by the un-
relenting blows of Sullivan, and his
body was a mass of cuts and bruises
Still he fought on. They carried him
to his corner after that round, and
protesting to the last that he would
fight while life was in him, his seconds
mercifully threw up the sponge, end
ing that memorable battle.
In SIP packing of that light today MI
rain does not try to take credit from
his "It's this way" he said
1.-TWO good men meet. One finally
proves stronger han the other. and
when science goes with that additions
strength the other fellow must event
ually be conquered.
kilrain has not the long string of VIC
cries that are credited to Sullivan, but
he has beaten many a good man in his
day. and like John L.. the fight follow
crs honor him for his manliness, a
quality that has been connected Will
him from the time he first stepped into
the prize ring.