The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-09
OLD JAKE KILRAIN,
 56 TODAY, LAUDS THE t
 OLD TIME FIGHTERS

Jake Ki1rain, who was defeated by John L.. Sullivan at Richburg, Miss, in 1889 in the last great classic bare knuckle battle of the American prize ring. entertains the opinion that modern boxers are a. sorry lot com pared with the old time fighters of his heyday. A few months ago old Jake, while on a visit to North Da- kota to look after his land interests, told a reporter that there isn't a boxer alive now who could stand up under the grue1ling fighting of the old regime. Admitting that Jack Johnson is a, wonderful boxer and a steady, cautious fighter, the veteran added: But put Jack into the game as it was when we fought under the old London prize ring rules and he would be murdered.'
 Jake was born at Greenpoint, Long Island, fifty-six years ago today, Feb. g, 1859, but he has spent most of his mature life in Baltimore, which city hexstin calls home. Jake's real name mangled it to Kilrain, and he let it go at that. Jake began his career as an oarsman, and made quite 8 reputation as a scul1er before he took l to the ring in 1880- His first pro- fessfonal bout was with Dangerous Jack,'' a colored boy, in Boston. Throughout his ring career he never drew the color line. When you go over the ropes you are equals, and color doesn't count,'' Jake always said.
 Jalze,s first big fight was with George Godfrey, known as tOld Chocolate a native of Prince Ed ward Isle and a famous black fighter at that time. They fought a draw in Boston, and in 1884 Jake held Charley Mitchell, the English boxer, l to a draw After that he met 3. mum i- I5ous' contender for the title held by John l.. Sullivan. Jem Smith was then champion of England, and cha1- l 1enged Sullivan to fight for the worlds championship, but the match 1 fell through. KiIrain then offered to I meet Smith, and they were matched to fight in France in 1887.. Charley 1 Mitchell trained Ki1rain for the bout, I which was held on an island in the I Seine near Rouen. The men fought los rounds, when darkness ended the battle, which was called draw. Jake had all the best of it, however, and l in England he was recognized as the l worlds champion. Before going to France to fight Smith, Kilrain had been presented with a belt declared to be ernblematic of the premiere l pugilistic honors of the world. The
 presentation of the trophy was made | in Baltimore, and big crowd of
 sports acclaimed Jake as the new l champion. The belt was a scrump- tiousx affair, fifty inches aong and
 eight inches wide, and was made of 1 200 ounces of solid gold and silver. I After whipping Smith, Ki1rain was 1 cock of the walk, and Sullivan, who
 had sidestepped a meeting with Jake
 realized that he would have to come 1 across or be classed with the has,
 beens. Early in 1889 a meeting o1
 sports was, held in Toronto and the
 match between Kt1rain and Sullivan
 was definitely made.
 1 Richburg, 8 village in Mississippi
 was chosen as the scene of the dis
 turbance, and there about 5,00S
 sports from all over America con.
 gregated on a July day in 1889. The
 light was for $1O,00O a side and tht
 championship, bare knuckles, Lon don prize ring rules Charley Mitchell
 and Pony Moore accompanied Xiii
 rain to the ring. and Muldoon, thu
 wrestler, and Mike. Donovan, ex-mid dleweight champion, were John L.'
 packers Kilrain was far from well
 but he fought gamely for seventy 1 five rounds lasting two hours ant
 sixteen minutes, before Sullivan final
 ly trtumphed. Bat Masterson, nov
 sporting editor of the New Yorl
 Morning Telegraph was the time
 keeper. Kilrain's last bout was witt
 Frank sIavin, by whom he was de 1 feated in 1sse.