The sun., 1908-12-06
FIGHTERS R0RN IN CITIES
CRACK PUd RS COME FROM
TENEN IsTRTCTS.
Nev YorI. nreeIsIs san Franol.o,

-Couulsy Lass e disadvantage.
Very few of the great hstio gladiators
are born among the green fields Of the
country. The majority Of them fret
zee the light Of day in the overcrowded
tenement house districts Of Our large
cities. Leach Cross. for example, who
has recently become prominent halls
from the Ghetto section of New York
city, while Packy Mcfarland. who beat
him the other day comes from the most
thickly populated part Of Chicago
Nearly all ring champions Of America.
England and Australia are either natives
Of big cities or have been. developed
where the hustle and hustle Of life has
been the most strenuous. Tom Hyer.
the first recognized heavyweight cham
pion Of America, was born in the old Ninth
ward, this city, which turned out so many
fighters half century ego, when Bill
Poole. the dead game Washington Market
butcher, was the idol and pet Of the
hght fans. On the night OF February
"a. 1885. Lewis Baker and some other
enemies shot Poole in Stanwix Hall.
opposits the old Metropolitan Hotel on
Broadway. He lived fourteen days with
a bullet In his heart and on his deathbed
his last words were:
Il die a true Amerioan!"
Poole's funeral was one Of the most
extraordinary ever seen in this city for
a man OF his class. II was attended by
the high and the low and reached from
Bleecker street to the Battery. The coffin
was wrapped in an American flag and
plays were produced later at various
theatres in which Poole's tragic end was
depicted.
Tom Hyer was a classy fellow as q
pug and was well thought Of, especially
by the Washington Market butchers.
When Tom got too old to fight and needed
h little money all he had to do was to slip
down to the market walk behind the
various stalls and help himself. to a ten
or twenty dollar note from each till.
Suppose some of the modern grab all
fighters had such a privilege?
Pious old Brooklyn has turned out more
than its share Of fistio champions. Johnny
Dwyer, who was born there, became
heavyweight champion Of America, Jim
Dunno. now a wealthy citizen and a
Deputy Commissioner Of Sewers. held
the heavyweight title before Dwyer.
Jack Dempsey. the Nonpareil, though
born in Ireland. was raised and developed
in the manly art in old Williamsburg;
together with Jack McAuliffe. also born
in the 'old country McAuliffe held the
lightweight championship Of the world for
twelve years, longer than any other man
In the history OF pugilism. Jack Skelly,
who became the amateur featherweight
champion. was a Brooklyn boy and learned
the trade Of cooper in the same Williams
burg shop in which Dempsey and McAu-
life worked around the barrels. Among
other fighters that Brooklyn has pro-
duced are Terry McGoven. former
featherweight champion; Liney Tracey,
Arthur Mullins. Billy Dwyer, Kid Carter,
Willie Fitzgerald. Sailor Burke, Tommy
Feltz. Matty Matthews. Kid Hogan and
Aleok Brown.
In England a majority Of the craoka-
jack pugs hail from Birmingham. the
fighting city Of Great Britain Charley
Jem Carney, Billy Plimmer,
AN Greenfield. Jem Mace. Ted Pitchard,
Dick Burge. Owen Moran, Joe Bowker
and other noted British fighters are all
dev veloped In that city can be recognized
as finished artists they have to make
sort of debut in London, II they grad
uate with high honors from the National
Sporting CluD OF London they are usually
considered top notchers.
Somv OF the best judges OF the game
in England are members OF the National
Sporting Club, and fighters must conduct
themselves we'll in order to receive a de-
osion in the clubs arena. A pug who
tries any unfair tactics there will find
himself quickly disqualified. also thrown
into the street without ceremony. No
outsider can witness contest at this
exclusive club unless first introduced by
O regular member who pays in advance
for his guests ticket. Tickets cost vari-
ous sums. They have run from $40 to
500 eacn.
Sydney, N. s. W., is the home city OF
Australia's most prominent pugilIsts.
Larry Foley, who was an old pupil Of Jem
Mace, is the chief promoter OF the boxing
game in the antipodes. Foley has turned
out such tistic celebrities as Bob Fitz-
simmons. Jem Hall, Young Critic. Peter
jackson. Frank p. Slavin. Dummy Mace.
Tom Duggan. Paddy German, Tom
Tracey, Dan Creedon. Jim Ryan, Tut
Ryan and Starlight, They were not
all natives OF Sydney, but il was there
that they got their chief knowledge OF
the manly art.
San Francisco for its population has
turned out more than its share Of ring
artists. Among them are Jim Corbett,
Joe Choynski, Abe AtteiI, Jimmy Britt,
Al Kaufman, Aleck Greggains and bunch
of others, while California can 80 lay
o.aim TO James j. Jefiries. Frisco is a
redhot fighting town. The cd Cai-
fornia Athletic Club was the first organi-
zation OF it's kind in America. Some Of
the most notable bait. es of the prizering
were fought in the clubs arena Among
them was the memorable battle between
Jim Corbett and Peter jackson which
lasted sixty-one rounds without decision.
Bob Fitzsmmons made his first American
appearance at this cub in a tryout with
Frank Allen. The latter broke his wrist
and Fitz was soon matched with Billy
Mccarthy, whom he defeated in nine
George Dixon, Solly Smith, Abe Willis,
George Dawson. Critic, George Godfrey.
Joe MoAuliffe, Patsy Cardiff, Billy Murphy,
Spider Weir. Johnny Griffin and nearly
every other pugiiist In his prime fifteen
years ago appeared before the members
Of the cd cub There have been dozen
big boxing clubs in Frisco since the
California A. c, closed its doors and most
Of them have been successful.
For long distance fights Frisco, Los
Angeles and Go.dfield are the only battle
grounds In America just now. In the East
and in New York only short limited round
bouts are permitted by the authorities
Any young fellow who can 60 bit finds
litt a trouble in getting N chance in one