Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-21
FORMER STARS
Of RING NOW
VERY WEALTHY
John l., Burns, Jeffries, Corbett
Are Worth Fortunes, While
Fitz Says He's Starving.
Bv H. NJ. Walker.
7 OS ANGELES. Jan. 21.-What
has become Of the old Timer"
NJ tho ring

has become Of the "old Timer
OF the ring?
few mornings ago a blood
thirsty Sioux chief" raced across the
plains" with moving picture
operator in hot pursuit
1.-TWO shots rang out on the sun
air" and with a loud whoop, the
chief" fell to the grass and took the
count.
Thirty minutes later, when the soap
and water had worked a transforu1a-
ton. the Sioux" emerged from his
dressing room white-haired gentle
man of dignified carriage-"Billy'
Elmer. the old-time boxer, now a
movie" star.
Probably but few OF the present
DAY generation of ring goers recall
Elmer. AS a boxer. physical culture
director and trainer, billy" stood at
the top in the day of Jim Corbett
and kid Mccoy" acting as sparing
partner to both these stars.
One unique feature of the Elmer
record is that he has been the most
knocked out" man in the whole
world. In 1897 he was engaged by
Jake" Lit TO play the boxer In the
nelodrama Sporting Life, Night
after night Billy" climbed through
the ropes anu dliOWth i''p
TO hand him the knockout in the
third round. At the end OF this pro
longed engagement Elmer figured
that he had taken the count exactly
$50 times
Surprised TO see the old man here,
are you?" said the veteran. well
you'd be surprised in more ways than
one if YOU were to dig up all the olo-
timers and see what they are DONG
now.
TIP IN a few months ago 'Peddar'
~ Palmer. the old English champ.
was working here in camp with me-
] suppose more than one of the old
BOYS are with the movies It's great
field for them.
And after this talk with Elmer we
ran a finger down the pages OF inc
record book, picked out the old tuners
and located a few of them as follows
John l. sullivan. Living on ms
farm near Boston. Is spending ms
retirement in case with no rear that
the wolf will ever reach his door
Wants TO make one final. vaudeville
tour of the country
lake KiIrain Well fixed In earthly
goods owes much to his ola rival
John L.. who used Jake as his stage
mariner for many years. Both heroes
OF the long Richburg battle OF 1909
viii spend the twilight of their liNes
in peace and comfort.
Bob" Fitzsimmons. Practically ~
his dotage Although born in 1879
and long since removed from ring az
fairs, "Fitz" is now trying 10 induce
the Eastern promoters TO allow MN
10 box. Declares that he Will starNe
unless allowed to re-enter the ring
at M CORBETT In vaudeville,
1t is his proud boast that he
earns $500 a week as an entertainer
and will command this salary Tor
years to come
Him" Jeffries Los Angeles cafe
owner. The richest OF all the veter-
ans. 1t is estimated that jeff is safe
IL over. the 100000 mark Spends
most of his time in hunting and fish
ing. Plans another Alaskan hunting
trip to last two years
Tommy" Burns. Recently acted
as manager for Arthur Pelky. Has
extensive mercantile holdings in cal
gary Has earned and saved Tor
tune.
Abe Attell Although one of the
shrewdest boxers OF his day, Attell Is
reported to have less than one tenth
of the money he earned in the ring.
Is living in New York, where he is
an inveterate poker player, being
recognized as one OF the nerNiest
gamblers that ever placed bet
Wants return bout with kilbane.
He is entitled to it.
D ATTLING NELSON, Lives at
ID Hegewisch, Ill, Invested the bulk
OF his savings In real estate and is
looked upon as being land poor"
Still clamoring for another chance
in the ring
Jack Johnson. Eking out prim .
rose existence in Paris by engaging
in doubtful ring and mat affairs. AL
so appears in vaudeville. Is an exile
from the United States with Fed
eral Court charge hanging over his
head.
Young Corbettf' Lives in New
York Is practically penniless and
exists upon the bounty OF his friends
The majority OF the "old timers
have lived careful and frugal lives
The only exceptions appear to be
Fitzsimmons, Young Corbett and
Johnson.
Here is an angle Of the game" that
the lovers OF boxing need not fee
ashamed of