The Washington herald., 1910-08-11

Baltimore. Aug. l0.-Joe Cans. the cold
master conQueror OF the best that the
worlds hstic lists could send against him
in the DAYS when ne stood undisputably
The premier lightweight pugilist Of all
nations has fought his last fght-in the
prize ring or out-and taken the final
count. the inevitable end OF all men
Battling 10 the very last with his char
acteristic gameness against the invincibie
and pitiless foe al whose mercy he has
been for months. the former champion
succumbed TO tuberculosis this morning
The end came shortly after o'clock. al
( the home OF his foster mother. 1926 Ar
gyle avenue
! DR.. SOuthworth. who accompanied Joe
on his race with death across country
from Prescott Ariz.. had recognized an
hour previously that the dying fighters
span OF mortality was nearly run. he
summoned 10 the bedside the weeping
/ wife and children. ana the sobbing foster
mother-almost overcome by her grief.
| There, too was kid" North. the former
training partner OF the PROSTATE glad
/ iator and his faithful attendant on that
run of thousands Of miles that he might
die at his old home In good old Balti-
more"
Lapses Into UneOnSeiOusness.
For fifteen minutes the physician work
ed with the oxygen apparatus. trying
vainiy to revive Cans. The wasted frame
Of the sinking mana mere pitiful husk
OF the sinewy fighting machine OF old
could not respond 20 Che treatment. At
7.S5 O'Clock Cans was racked by a severe
coughing spell and then lapsed into IN
consciousness. from which he never
emerged.
h 'Joe's" last words were spoken 10
kid" North shortly after o'clock. when
he called him 10 his side and whispered.
Kid. Martha will teach you how
His strength failed him and he was IN
able 10 finish the sentence. Just what
was upon his mind is not known.
The funeral Will take place on Sat
urday morning az the home. Rev. c. G.
Cummings, pastor OF the Asbury Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church, viii conduct
the services.
To the true lover OF the boxing game
the work OF Joe Cans In his heyday was
a JOY 10 behold. He had all the science
OF Jim" Corbett in his best days; he
would not duck a blow by the margin OF
a yard. but just avoid it. and great has
been the wonderment OF many at the
nicely OF his work along this line; his
ring generalship was always Of the keen
est sort. and men who have been in his
corner In big fights have commented on
how little they really could advise him.
/ Undoubtedly. however Cans greatest
| forte was his punch.
/ Ii had the force Of the proverbial kick
OF a mule. and this in The short hook
as well as in the long swing That was
what made the former king OF light
weights so formidable an opponent. His
short hooks seemed to come from no
where; yet they had as much power be
hind them as If delivered with a giant
swing-
Reserved, but Popular.
Always reserved to q degree. even in
the very height Of his popularity. Joe"
was well liked by all those who knew
him. He always took a keen pleasure
in telling Of what he considered the
greatest compliment ever paid him, a
Western friend who did not fear to ex-
press himself. saying, ice, you're the
whitest Niger I ever seen"
To the members of his family Cans was
always most kindly disposed. and while
he had sou II was theirs as we'll as his
His foster mother was his particular IA
vorite. and no little triae> that pleased her
was ever overlooked. He spent most OF
the money which came his way so easily.
but that he was penniless at his death is
absolutely not the case.
About a year or so ago it was thought
that Joe" showed signs Of tuberculosis.
but a physical examination did not bear
out the belief. When the dreaded malady
did make itself apparent il did not lag in
its work and Cans was soon a sorry
sight Incidentally il is a coincidence that
the last public appearance OF Cans was at
local theater, where he acted as referee
in a sparring exhibition for Battling Mel
son, the man who, through an abnormal
power for asstmilating punishment and
less years, finally trafled the Cans coIors
in the dust Cans left Baltimore fully
confident that he would return in good
health
Began as Fish Cleaner.
The man who gained his title by down.
ing Frank ETne in one round at Fort Erie
was born here on November 25. 1874. He
was a bit over seventeen years Of age and
working as a FISH cleaner In Marsh Mar-
ket when he applied TO take part in a
fight at the old Monumental Amphithea-
ter. His request was granted. and from
the beginning it was seen that ne showed
signs Of that so-caIled class" which diff
ferentiates between the passably good
boxer and the really good one. His real
name was Grant, but a mistake in an
nouncing 1t kept it Cans throughout his
life.
"Ar' Herford soon got hold OF Joe. 3"
and the two were associated during the
greater part OF Cans career. Though
they separated several years ago. they
always remained the best CT friends.
Cans never having a fight-including the
Nelson affair. after the pair had pulled
stakes-but "AI' had ''sinker" down on
the yellow boy.
IN 1895 his star was in the ascendency
and his game was bigger His meteoric
fight continued. His first big recall fight
was with George McFadden, which went
twenty-five rounds to a draw. This was
in 1899. Later in the same year McFad-
den termed the trick against Joe" in
twenty-three rounds
The year 1900 found Joe" continuing
his good work. However, he lost 10
Terry" McGovern in two rounds, and
tha4 Il Aho nrn Ln..A L. e.