The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-06
IRISH FIGHTERS HAVE WON
GREAT FAME IN FISTIC ARENA

1T has always been a puzzle to
historians where the Irish race ac-
duired its fighting spirit, and many
noted writer's have tried to solve this
much disputed question without any
decided result" said Jack Sicily, re-
Viewing the history Of the Emerald
Isle. -
According to the old legends Ire
land was in the, remote times peopled
by tribes styled the Firholgs and DAN
uns, who We're eventually subdued by
the Milesians and Gacls which after
some hard battling gained supremacy
on the island. These Wild tribes aft
erward became mixed up more or less
with the Gaels. who were famous in
those days for thcir restless fighting
spirit.
1T was the Gauls or Gaels who
We're the greatest gladiators OF the old
fully built lei with great gameness
and endurance. In fact, l consider
these old gladiators the Irish pugilists
of the ancient days. Ireland has been
a fighting nation as far back as we
can go. Most Of the old kings were
killed i'll battle II personal combat
and nearly all died with their boots
Oh like game fellows.
"lrishmcn have not only fought for
themselves, but for many of the big
nations of the modern world. Even
today the English army and navy is
largely composed of sons of Erin. In
fact, most of England's great gener-
ais from the Duke of Wellington TO
Gen. Roberts We're of Irish birth. We
all remember how they fought on
both sides in, the recent Bocr war,
with bravery and valor.
Famous Field Marshal.
The famous field marshal. Nc
MahoD. who afterward became prcsi-
dent of France. came. of an Irish fam
lily that was ruined by its adherence
to the Stuart cause. Long before his
day. however. the Irish had distin-
guished themselves on many 81 bloody
battlefield, fighting ligc demons for
France.
1T VAS John Sullivan who struck
the first blow OF the American rcvo-
luton in capturing from the British
fort the powder that was afterward
used at Bunker. Hill. It's a strange
fact that the same Sullivan came
from the County Kerry. where the ia
ther of my old friend. John l.. Sui
Ivan. was born. Read the history of
the revolution and yoll'll find there
were many brave lrishmen who
fought and died for American liberty
and Il great republic.
did not the. Irish furnish thou
sands of brave. fellows during, the
Civil war on both the northern and
southern sides? The grand fighting OF
the gallant. Irish brigade. commanded
by that cultured officer. Gen Thomas
Francis Meagher. will always be re-
membered by the students Of Ameri-
can history for their heroic deeds on
many a bloody battlefield. And the
names of Gen. Phil Sheridan and 9TH
er distinguished commanders of Irish
blood shall never be forgotten AS long
as the republic stands.
when we look back in the history
of flstiana we find it teens with the
names of great Irish fighters from the
days OF Tom Figg in Ireland. In 1890
Big Ben Ryan was the recognized
champion of Great Britain. a little
later the gallant Dan Donelly defeat
ed George Cooper. England's greatest
heavyweight. on the Curraugh of Kill
dare. where so many great istic bat
ties were fought in the old days. and
that sacred spot is known to this day
as Donely's hollow. Even the Eng
lish writer's and poets sang the praise