The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-24
SPoRTOGRAPHY.
BY "Gravey."
McAuIiffe. Old lightweight King, Be
gins 5oth Year Today.

Many sport who sat at the ring
side not SO very long ago and cheered
Jack McAuliffe on to victory will emit
boot of incredullty at the statement
that the dashing Williamsburg Jack
will begin his 50th year today. Yet it
even so, pal. We are getting along,
and, although it seems but yesterday,
it was long, long time ago that
happy Irish Jack displayed his
prowess in the squared circle. Nc
Auliffe. the only lightweight champion
who retired indicated. was born in
Cork on March "a, 1866. In his youth
he worked In Palmer's cooperage in
the Williamsburg section OF Brook
lyn- There he wrestled and boxed
with the other workmen, including
Jack Dempsey, afterward lightweight
and middelweight champion, and Jack
Shelley, who became famous feather
weight. Jack received his first les
sons in the manly art from an old
cooper who was pretty good with his
fists, and who started the three fam
GUS Jacks on the road to fame and
fortune. The lads tied aprons on
their fists instead of gloves. and many
a thrilling battle was pulled OFF in
the cooperage yard.
1t was in 1884, when his friend Jack
Dempsey was the lightweight champ
ion, that McAuliife entered the pro
fessional arena. During his first two
years in the ring he fought 90 battles
and won all of them. In 1885 he claim
ed the lightweight championship of
America, Dempsey having become a
middleweight. III 1885 he whipped
Jack Hopper in II rounds in New
York and Billy Frazier in 81 rounds
in New York.
ri 10, Trfc all
of the several desperate battles of his
career. Harry Gilmore was his op.
ponent. and the fight was staged in
Lawrence. Mass. The men fought
with skin tight gloves, and after 2S
rounds Gilmores seconds tossed in
the sponge, their mans nose having
been broken. Jack was in bad way.
for his eyes were bunged shut and
he could scarcely see.
Later that year McAuliffe had an
other close call in battle with "Jem"
Carney at Revere, Mass. Carney was
the English champion and the fight
was for the worlds title. After IA
rounds had been fought McAuliffe was
about all in and his friends broke into
the ring and stopped the fight. Carney
had the best of it, but the affair was
called q draw.
In 1889 McAuliffe fought Billy Myer
in a little mining town in Illinois.
Early in the bout Jack broke his arm,
but he used his good wing SO effec-
lively that he got draw after Ga
rounds of fighting and stalling. Vast
sums had been wagered on the result
by McAuliffe's hackers and the miners
who looked upon the Streator Cyclone
as their hero. The miners did every
thing in their power to intimidate
Jack, and even threatened him with
clubs and slung shots, but he was
game to the core and saved the money
of those who had put their money On
him. Later he gave Myer a thorough
beating in New Orleans. tournament
in which Corbett defeated Sullivan.
McAuliffe retired indicated in 1896
and turned his title over to Kid La
vine. Betting on the ponies was his
favorite occupation and he won and
lost several juicy fortunes on the turf
McAuliffe believes that the boxers
of today cannot compare with the old
crowd, and declares that the pugilists
of the present period are lacking in
gray matter.