Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-01
JOHN l.. TELLS
Of FIGHT THAT
LASTS Il YRS.
Old Gladiator Describes Long
Standing War Between Car
ney and McAuIiffe.
BY John L. Sullivan.


DOSTON. San. 31.--I am told that
k Jem Carney and Jack McAuliffe
have shaken hands at last l
am glad to hear this because 1t was
foolish thing for these two great bat
tiers to remain enemies for q long
years. and all as result of bout in
the prize ring.
never could understand why these
men should refuse to talk to one an
other for so many years 1t was fool
ishness.
The battle referred to took place al
Revere Beach in 1887. That year and
the following year l was in England,
and therefore do not know the inside
particulars of the battle, but | re-
member that many disputes over the
contest were held in sporting circles
at that time and years later.
Jem Carney was in America on his
second visit and if ! remember cor
rectly his bout with McAuliffe was
pulled off on the sly in building that
was situated on the beach where the
old Atlantic House now stands.
| do not remember whether this
bout was for purse or side bet,
out | know that great rivalry existed
between the lightweights and it was
vicious battle,
Crowd Stopped Struggle.
The bout went IA rounds, and | was
told that they were good rounds. At
this period tile crowd, that had be-
come overexcited, jumped into the
ring and interfered with the contest
The referee, who I think was Frank
Stevenson called off hostilitieS and
declared the bout a draw.
This is what started the feud that
lasted q long years, and it was up to
Dick Burge. the old-time English
lightweight. to make them join hands.
In 1883 Carney returned to Eng
land. and he was at my camp when |
was training for my fight with Mitch
ell in France. Carney was with me
for a long while. but he was not a
very talkative man and did not mem
tion the affair to anyone of his
friends.
We had heard little then about
the trouble. but never bothered to
pump him for information. Carney
once said that he did not get a fair
show, and seemed angry when he
said this, but that was all ! heard
from him.
Gave Carney Best of Bout.
Carney was a wonderful battler in
his day. He was as strong as an OK,
was fairly clever. and could stand a
great amount of punishment. He
fought many long bouts, and was the
gamest boy in his day.
He came from Birmingham, Eng
land, and had a great crowd of adj
mirers He made two visits to this
country, but was not very successful
From what l could hear, Carney gave
McAulffe one of the greatest fights
in his life that night down in Revere.
and il was also the opinion of many
that were at the ringside that Carney
had a sliNht lead when the referee
stopped the battle.
To beat McAuliffe was a great thing
for any lightweight, and one could
not blame Carney for feeling sore at
that time, but it should not have last
ed 81 years.
7 From what I could learn, McAuliffe
was not in very good shape for his
battle with Carney, and that he was
in the poorest condition of the two
when the battle was brought to a
| close.
Battle for Old timers.
McAuliffe was a great heavyweight,
and won the championship by fight
ing the toughest boys in his class, and
these We're some real fighters.
McAuliffe first came into promi-
| hence in 1884. and for the next three
years he went through all the light
weights in the East and in easy fash
ion To start 1887 he fought IS hard
rounds with Harry Gilmore in Law
renee. and finally won by knockout.
| He then engaged in four round bouts
| in Philadelphia that all went to draw
| decisions.
Toward ;he end of the year Jem
Carney came to this country, and in
November they pulled off their great
| 14-round bout a Revere
1t takes the real old timers to re-
member this battle. and / think but a
very few remain on earth that wit
messed the event.