The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-05
Clan of Queensberry Has
 Produced Many Game Sports

To the boxing fan the name of Queensberry is a familiar one, owing to the association of the eighth Mar quis of Queensberry with the pugilis- tic rules which he drew up in col Liberation with John G. Chambers. But this particular member of the old Scotch clan was not the only Queensberry to entertain a passion for the ring. For more than a cen tury the Oueensberry title has been held by dead game >sportss and the present Marquis is no exception. In oldeu times the chieftains of the tribe of DouglaSNwhich is the fam lily name of the Queensberrys-we famous warriors, but their modern descendants have nearly all been famed for their connection with va rious sports.
 Perhaps the most celebrated of these titled sportsmen was James Douglas, Earl of March and after ward Marquis of Queensberry, who was born 1S9 years ago to-day, Nov 5, 1725. tOld O. as he was known in his latter years. was one Of the first patrons of pugilisnn, and there was hardly an imp portant battle pulled off in England during his mature life that he did not witness from a place at the ringside. The seat of hon or was reserved for "OId e. and he never failed to back his judgment of a fighters ability with coin of the realm in large hunks. On nearly. every important battle he stood to win or lose several thousand pounds. He was the patron of several of the ear ly English champions, including John Jackson. t%OId O." lived in a mouse of mystery" in Piccadil1y, and the stories that were told of the doings its depths Doubtless many of the tales had a basis of fact, for "Old O. we are forced to believe. was none too particular about his private morals
 sOld O. would rank in history as a dead game sport, who was never bluf- fed, except for one incident of his ca reer. When he was Earl of March, before he had acquired the Queens berry title, he had a quarrel with an Irishman over some matter connected with the turf. In those days the duel was considered the only method of settling differences of opinion between 1 gentlemen. and the EIibernian chal- lenged the Scotchman to fight it out out on the field of honor. The wea- ponss chosen were pistols, and the Irishman was known to be a crack shot. When the Irishman went to the duelling ground he took with him a big black coffin, on which was a plate inscribed: James Douglas, Earl of March, horn Nov 5, TIPS, died June 10, 175O.p When asked to ex- plain, the EarTs opponent said: Why. my dear chap. you of course know I never miss my man. and, as find myself in excellent form this morn ing for a bit of sport, thought it no more than fair that I should pro- vide an oaken overcoat for you, since you are certain to need it within a very few minutes" The calm assur- ance of the Irishman got tthe goat of l the Earl, and he rendered a handsome l apology to the Irishman- That incl l dent cured the Earl of the labelling habit, and he never afterward gave
 or accepted a challenge.
 I Another famous exploit of this ti-
 tied gambler was to wager a. large sum
 that he could have a letter conveyed I fifty miles within an hour. As this l was before the railroad era, such a
 thing seemed impossible, and the Earl found no lack of men toMcover his l money. He then enclosed a. letter l in a. cricket ball, which was thrown about a circle by a. number of expert l cricket players. The epistle covered 1 fifty miles long before the hous was up. and 'Old e. pocketed neat
 sum.
 Old reprobate that he was in some ways, "OId Q.'' was the friend and 1 patron of many a 1uckless chap, and
 he used his money and influence to l encourage young writers and artists
 as well as pugilists.