Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-11
Thomas Molineaux, Ameri-
can Negro Who Claimed
The Championship, Threw
England Into Fright and
Forced The Then Jeffries
Into Retirement
nv BARRATT o'HARA.

for "the good old days" To what
low estates has the noble art of self
defense fallen in these degenerate
times, 1t is the spring of 1910, and
pugilism is dead dead, dead! Tom
Crib. sensible fellow, has quit the
game for shame at the suggestion OF
fighting such competitors as are now
springing UP. The latter, with Tom
out of it. are quarreling merrily among
themselves. one vanquishing another
and in turn being conquered by
third. who already has been beaten
by someone else. They are poor LOT
from which to pick champions. Hard
" can the veterans be blamed for
signing.
Unheralded, unfriended, hungry,
ragged and without money, Thomas
MoIineaux reaches London. He is an
American negro-a native of Virginia
and there, among other negroes, ne
has successfully tried his skill at box
Ing and risen to sort of American
championship. A big, broad shoulder
ed fellow he is, not tall, but built on
muscular lines, man of five rect
eight and a half inches who Will scale
at 200 pounds. His age is tWenty-
six.
Ragged Mr.. Molineaux loses no time
In making the rounds of the houses
freuuented by the sporting bloods.
He introduces himself as the cham
pion of America and challenges any
pne to meet him combat. The crowd,
setting him down as boasting no.
account suffering perhaps with small
brain power, laughs. Molineaux shows
anger.
aWhat," he cries, mot man in
England brave enough to fight Amer
lca's champion!"
This insinuation touches British
pride. Instantly it dispels the merrl-
ment. The sporting bloods proceed
10 teach the "black upstart' a lesson
In manners. Tom Crib, the retired
champion is commissioned to find an
opponent for the negro. Tom prom
lses to produce man who will trounce
The American soundly.
On July 4, 1910, the bout takes place
on Tothill Field. Molineaux is sec
onded by his negro countryman, Bill
Richmond, who enjoys repute as a
pugilist. Cribs man is introduced
as the "Bristol Unknown" His real
name is Burrows. He is big six
footer, with no end of strength at his
command But he is far from pol
ished boxer. Molineaux, too, is clum-
sy. The fight soon becomes of the
rough-and-ready variety. Gradually
the negro gains the advantage. His
inf1ghting is perfect. Holding his ell
bows close to his body and pummel-
ing at half-arm the body of his big
rival, he winds the Bristol man. The
latter reels helpless. Molineaux now
turns his batteries to the face and
head, Cribbs man is cruelty disfig-
ured, and at the end of an hour he
Burrenders.
Crib is deeply chagrined by the
negros victory over a man he him
self had selected and he announces
that he is not yet done with the Amer
lean. Nor, indeed, is he, as future
events will show.
Tom Blake, nicknamed "Tom
Tough" is sought by Crib as the
blacks next opponent. Blake is forty
years old, but he is as eager as boy
for the match.
If he's ever SO good it'll only be
one hiding more, and at any rate I'll
find out what stuff's in him." argues
Blake.
On August 81, 1910, at a secluded
spot on the coast, the negro and the
veteran strip for action large and
fashionable throng surrounds the ring.
Molineaux, showing improvement in
his boxing has poor Blake beaten from
the opening round. Blake stands
manfully to his guns until the eighth
session, when a terrific half-swing to
the head robs him Of consciousness
for half an hour.
Molineaux at once claims the cham
pionship of the world.
IF Crib is still champion let him
say so by agreeing to fight me- sug
gests the negro. "If anybody else IN
England thinks he's champion let him
run against my fists, and | reckon he'll
change his mind
All England straightway is excited
Ragged Mr.. Molineaux in few
months has replaced pugilism in popu
lar favor. He is the most talked o.
person in the kingdom, and, for his
boldness in claiming for the negro
race and the American nation the
title that long has been worn b.
Britons, he is the most hated Mol
sucdux5 duuS W lile pOPuldl rage DN
publicly branding Crib as coward
and threatening to whip him within
ten minutes If he ever consents to 6
match.
AS was to be expected, Crib gives
in under the press Of public opinion
agreeing to make one more match
onlyr-and that with Tom Molineaux
The news of Cribs decision electri
fies the nation. Never has more III
terest been shown in the outcome o
any sporting event in Great Britain
Politics and commerce are forgotten
The fights the thing, not because it,
fight, but because an American is il
1t and Britains supremacy is threat
sned in her own sport.
Some persons" says contempt
raneous newspaper, feel alarmed d
The bare idea that black man and
foreigner should seize the champion
ship OF England, and decorate hi
sable brow with the hardearned la,
rels of Crib. He must, however
have his fair chance. though Tor
swears that, for the honor Of old En-.
land, he'll be hanged If he will re
linquish single sprig except with hi