Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-07
FINAL BELL" RINGS
FOR GEORGE DIXON

NJ" 1ORh. January I-GeOree Dixon
once the greatest fighter of his weight and
inches in the world. died yesterday after
noon in Bellevue Hospital of 'heart dis
ease The body of the eX-champion nupi
list, whom thousands once paid dollars to
see, was removed to the morgue. where II
remained for several hours before anv Of
those who had been glad to pay him hom-
age when he was Little Chocolate, the
champion, came to care for the poor skele-
ton of the fallen idol. Then Mike New
man. manager of the Long Acre A. C..
accompanied by Mike Harris and several
o.ner sporting men, went to the morsue
and removed the body to the Long Acre
A. C.. from which the funeral will be held
tomorrow. Tom O'Rourke, who managed
Dixon when the latter was champion and
who always helped him, is in Europe
otherwise Dixons body would never have
gone to the morgue.
Dixon arrived at the hospital at about
IL O'Clock on Saturday night He came
In cab and was accompanied by two
men: lie was apparently suffering from
coholic ward. There it was discovered
that he was also the victim of an acute
attack of infiammatory rheumatism. Sum
day night he began to grow worse and he
gradually grew weaker until O'Clock yes
terday. when he died. He was conscious
to the end.
When he was brought to the Gospital
Dixon gave his address as 25S West 41st
street, and his place of birth as Halifax,
Nova Scotia. He was thrty-seven wears
old. DR.. Hooker, who had charge of
Dixon's case, asked the eX-champion what
he had been doing to get himself into such
a weakened condition. Dixon replied:
John Barleycorn Won.
1--WE been fighting John Barleycorn,
and he has got the better of me-"
Dixon said that he was following the
occupation of boxing instructor and that
his best friend was NJ A. Harris of 25s
West 41st street. He also gave the name
Of John L. Sullivan, former heavyweight
champion, as one of Ills friends when he
wanted money -
during MS career as a fighter Dixon
fought nearly $50 ring battles, and for
Twelve years he held the title of worlds
featherweight champion. He made and
spent more than 100000. and for the last
two years was practically penniless Last
year at benefit given for Terry McGos-
ern Dixon was given $500 by benevolent
sport" but this money did not last long.
After his defeat by Terry McGoyern.
who knocked him out in eight rounds in
this city in 1900. Dixon "hit the slide"
and he went down rapidly. He fought
many battles after that, but his old-time
and he won only three of them At times
in his fights he showed flashes Of his old
championship form, and in those in
stances he SO far outclassed his oppo-
nentS that he earned a draw
Dixon took to drink after his fight with
McGovern, and what money he received
for that fight vas soon squandered His
friends, whose name was legion when he
held the championship title, began to fall
away. and those who had been his most
ardent admirers in his prosperous days
turned up side streets when they saw
him coming. so as to avoid the touch"
they feared he would make.
Began at Sixteen. :.
Dixon began his ring career when he
was sixteen years of age by knocking out
Young Johnson in three rounds. Then
came long string of victories until the
latter part of 1889. when Dixon was
beaten by George Wright in one round.
The next year Dixon beat Nunc Wallace,
champion of England, and year later
he clinched his claim to the title of
worlds champion by knocking out Abe
Willis, champion of Australia and one of
the greatest little fighters of his day
Dixons longest fight was with Cal Nc
Carthy in 1890. 1t went seventy rounds,