Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-04-28
WASTED MILLION
NOW GETS PENSION
PUeILIsT RECENTLY PLACED ON
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANNu-
ITY LIST.
WINNER OF MANY RING BATTLES
GLAD TO ACCEPT
CHARITY.

hard drop from a champion pugilist
with $350,O0O in the bank to an ap-
plicant for an old-age pension, but
such is the lot of "Jem' Mace, one
time heavyweight holder of the Eng
lish silver tliamond-studded belt
which signified the best prize fighter
in the British isles.
Mace, frequently called the Gypsy
Champion his parents were nomads
was born at Beeston, near Norwich,
England, on Good Friday, April g.,
1881. In England there is an old-age
week to every person who is over TO-.
Ill luck has SO reduced Mace's for
tune that he is now an applicant for
this $1.25 gratutity.
1t was in December, 1896, that Mace
paid his last visit to America. While
here he boxed with Mike" Donovan
on the night of Dec. IA at the old
Broadway Athletic clubs home, which
was then quartered in what remained
of the "Old London Street" At that
time he was IS years old, stood five
feet IL inches and weighed 1872
pounds. The two old masters of the
art of self-defense spared some sci
entific rounds to a draw.
Final Effort of Long Career.
That was the final effort of a long
uugilistic career which ran from June
IS, 1861, when Mace fought Sam Hunt
| for 81 900 and the silver belt, en-
blematic of the English champion
ship Later he defeated Tom King,
Joe Wornwald and Joe Goss.
In 1869 Mace came to America, and
at New Orleans, in May, 1870, beat
Tom Allen for a $4,000 prize and the
title of champion The following May
he was matched to fight Joe Coburn
| in Canada, but fearing "frame-up
and a free-for-all fight, both pugilists
refused to leave their corners. The
eight" was called draw. Later
| both men really fought draw at New
Orleans, when after eleven not
rounds under London prize ring rules,
which consumed nearly three hours,
honors were divided.
Mace was matched to fight Ned
O'Baldwin. the Irish giant, in August,
1872. at Collyers Station, w. Va, but
he refused to name a.referee at the
ringside, saying that the men pro-
| posed were fixed to give the fight to
O'Baldwin,
A reporter inquiring recently for the
veteran was referred to tavern IN Is
lington-that decaying remnant OF DIS
appearing old London where the OLD
traditions still flicker. There, in the
sawdusted parlor of the Bluecoat Boy
the old warrior may often be heard
modestly recounting his exploits to
respectfully listening group.
Has Many Loyal Admirers.
Mace was not at the "Blucutt," how
/ ever. as it is familiarly known, but
plentiful information concerning his
merits was to be obtained. A tail
old man of forcible manner, in SIX
hat. introduced himself as "Jems
business manager" There was an
/ other friend who had been middle
weight champion of England himself
in days gone by, and another ad-
mirer who was able to claim the dis
tinction of having Hospitality enter
tanned the veteran in recent emergen-
cies.
The '.Bluecutt' was unanimously OF
the opinion that, despite the number
of his birthdays, it was not old age
that the old fighting man was surfer
ling from. 1t was the world that had
grown old and lost its youthful inter.
est in fighting, and not "Jem'' Mace.
Later Mr. Mace himself was en-
countered He had been taking his
j evening meal in the family circle OF
some professional friends in Clerken-
well, and was cleaning up his plate
| with what was left of the loaf OF
bread. A 1.-the erect, handsome old
man still, with fine eyes and wavy
gray hair above a good fore head.
and strong well-formed features.
'Since lost my wife," he said,
nothing has gone right. ! always
! wanted a MASTER he added, land
| since she uleu nave HOpouy " eOii
me-"
On the back of each hand below the
wrist there is a big bony swelling.
| Asked what aused that, he said,
Punching did that-punching men,
Punching more than 500 of them.
My memory is going, and | can't re-
member all of their names. More
than 500 | have battled with, and beat
! them all"
Beaten Only by Accident.
And were you never beaten,
| them
| 1.-TWO of them beat me. Bob Bret
tie beat me and Tom King beat me,
but they were accidents, and in other
battles beat both of them / was a
| bit careless the day / fought Bob
Brettle- took him too cheap, and he
caught EN- one with his right and
smashed my jaw. knocked me clean
out. But the next time / beat him
and beat him fair.
They never gave me no thick ears.