Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-30
John Jackson, Champion Who Stayed
Retired, as Told by BavaH OHara
nv HARRATT O'HAR.A,

Copyright, 1909, by Barratt " Hara')
Summer, the summer of 1888, is ap'
preaching. Some boxing matches are
soon to be contested at 'Smitham bot
tom, near Croydon, and one of the
prospective combatants has half made
I'D his mind to withdraw. What has
he in common with the pugilists? HIS
father is an eminent builder OF
bridges, and his family has social
standing. Surely there is something
better in store, for young John Jack
son. handsome as an Apollo and mol
vet nineteen years Of age, than the
career of a boxer?
Still in a moment of boyish enthusl-
assn he has agreed 10 meet the re-
nowned Fewterel at Smitham bot,om
on the 9th of June, and his friends
have soaked their money on him. Few
terel is from Birmingham, profess
sional who has fought eighteen battles
and won all of them. He is being
groomed for the championship. For
Jackson to break the match with MN
will invite charge and appearance Oh
cowardice.
In his uncertainty the boy goes for
advice to Colonel Harvey Aston, an
army hero, who is also distinguish
ed patriot of the ring. The colonel
urges him to keep his match, and il
successful to seek others. He excltes
the bows ambition, with stories OF
the glory of being champion OF the
world.
Jackson is now decided. lie contin'
ues with his training. On the aaE Sc.
he appears at the scratch full OF con-
fidence. He is five feet eleven inches
tall. and he weighs close to 2oo
pounds. Fewterel is several inches
taller and twenty or thirty pounds
heavier. Those who have wagered on
Jackson begin to chide themselves for
lack of ordinary astuteness In BACK.
Ing green boy against an opponent
surprising him not onlysin experience,
but in bulk as we'll.
It is not long, however, before ali
can see that the boy of eighteen is
more than match for the veteran.
Jackson spars handsomely, carefully
avoids the big fellows fire and now
and then plants stiff right and lefs
to the head and stomach. Fewterel Is
SO badly beaten up that there is moth
ing to do but surrender. The actual
time of the fighting is one hundred
and seven minutes, almost two hours.
The prince Of Wales, who has sat
breathless at the r!ngside during the
fray, hurries Major Hanger to the vic.
torious boxer with bank note and
his compliments Others Of less dig
nifty to uphold give jackson ride on
their shoulders
81, Young Jackson is now matched witt
George Ingleston, the brewer, "a pew
erful man acknowledged to be a ire
mendous hard hitter" The fray is
staged in the yard Of an inn in Essex
on May -, 1889, before large crowd
Jackson floors the brewer in the frs
and second rounds, and the odds &c
to 7 to 4 in his favor. In the thlrc
round he sets dazzling pace, and al
hope of Ingleston gaining the victory
Is abandoned by the mans friends. \
The boards of the stage, however
are extremely slippery, heavy sair
having fallen in the forenoon. Sud
denly, while making fancy side-step
Jackson slips. His ankle is dislocat
ed, and the small-bone of his les
broken.
Unable to stand on his feet, he beg:
his second to tie him in a chair ant
let him continue fighting.
"If only you will fasten us both tt
chairs, we can soon see who's thu
better man." cries Jackson.
But Ingleston will not agree to thi
proposition Of being tied to chaN
and pushed within range of anothe
fellows fists, and poor Jackson i
forced to surrender.
Six years pass. Jackson apparent.
has forsaken the ring Mendoza, tn
Jew, is champion. The former, III
blood again rising with the fever D
battle challenges, and bout to de
termine the championship is fixed TO
April Is, 1895. Jackson's victory il
less than eleven minutes creates
sensation, which is not lessened b
Mendozas charge that the trump
was unfairly gained, since Jackso
had no right pulling his hair.
Jackson Is now twenty-five years G
age and champion of the world, tn
seventeenth in order. But the glorie
of the office do not appeal to him. Oh
rather, he realizes that if he conti1
ues to defend the hopors he mus
sooner or later lose them, as othe
champions have done before him.
he announces his retirement from tn
ring, and not again will he be seen 4
an active participant.
Mendoza, too has gone into retir'
ment, and the sporting world Is left
confusion as to whom to call chan
pion. To settle the matter Jackso
takes Tom owen. a likely GILMAN,
hand. grooming him for battle wit
Bully Hopper, who is making lou
boasts of his superior ability. An
indeed Hooper is a good man, havin
thrashed most soundly Bob Watso
VIII Wood and other worthy heay
weights and holding the great B
Ben Brain to draw in contest las
ing three and half hours. Hope
however, for year or more has bee
giving himself to excuses, and it
not believed that he can fight Wi
his oldtime skill
Jackson puts Owen through a hal
siege Of preparation, finds friends
post his $500 stake, and, on Mover
Der IA, 1896, pits him against Hope
Az this contest is to determine JAG