New Britain herald., 1915-05-13
OpOYfOgTaphp .# BY "GRAvY."
Birthday of Harry Forbes, Former
 Bantamweight Champ.
BY "GRAVX.

Harry Forbes, one-t1me bantam weight champion of the world. was born thirty-six years ago today. May 13, 1879, in Rockford, III. The ring career of the little Illinois fighter cov- cred fifteen years. He made his first appearance as a candidate for the favor of the boxing fans when he was seventeen years old. In his sec offd year in the ring he fought Ia six round draw with Casper Leon. the great little Sicilian, and was knocked out by Terry McGovern. He gave the Brooklyn Terror a hard tussel for fifteen rounds before McGovern land- ed his soporific punch. In 1893 Forbes again tried to wrest the ban tamweight honors from Terrible Terry, but on that occasion he sgot his" in the second round.
 Tn 1900 McGovern entered the featherweight class, and the bantam crown was left ownerless. There were number of candidates for the va cant throne, but in 1901 Forbes was awarded the honor, after having twice defeated Casper Leon. Late In 1SOO Forbes tough a 20-round draw with l the Italian in St. Joseph, but g little 1 later he defeated him in Chicago and
 early in 1901 Forbes won by knock out at Memphis.
 After this victory the new cham l pion met all corners. He whipped I Abe Attell in fifteen rounds at St. I Louis, knocked out Danny Dougherty | in the same city, and stopped Billy Rotchford in Chicago. He began the 11902 campaign by again whipping
 Dougherty and by defeating Tommy IFeltz in St. Louis and Kid Goodman in Chicago. These bouts were fol- lowed by string of other victories, although Johnny Reagan and Abe At tell held the Chicago boy to a draw l Late in 1902 Forbes made his first I trip to the Pacific coast, and at Oak land defeated Frankie Neil. After I several battles in the east and middle 1 west, Forbes went back to San Fran. I cisco in the summer of 1903, and was again matched with Neil. This time i the Native Son was victorious, and
 Forbes lost the championship. Nei ( put over4a knockout blow in the sec. z. ond round that ended Harrys careel
 as the king of the bantamweights
 Forbes continued in the ring fol nearly ten years after losing the title < Tn 1904 he fought Abe Attell agair | in St Louis and was knocked out b, 1 the little Hebrew. Frankie Neil ther gave him a return match, and Forbe was put away in the third chapter He lost to Attell again in 1905. Forbe temporarily retired from the game I 1907, but after a rest of nearly thre' years he again put on the gloves, an' showed much of his old time form D. knocking out Joe Coster and defeat ing several other good boys. Il 1911 the old ex-champion made ! good showing in ten-round contes
 with Johnny Coulon, who was thel bantamweight chief, but the followin year he met Coulon again at Ken osha, Wis, and was knocked out T the second round. This practicall J ended Harrys' long career althougl | he tough a few second -raters afte \ that
 l Jimmy Archer's Birthday.
 James Peter Archer, inventor of tn | squat throw and in the days of tn
 Cubs glory acclaimed by admirin i multitudes as the greatest backsto in captivity, was born in Dublin, Ire land, ti1irty-two years ago today. Ar
 cher began playing ball with the Tor
 onto City league, and played his frs professional engagement in 1903 wit | Fargo, N. D. Tn 1904 he was wit
 Boone, Ia, and was given try-ot ' by the Pirates, who loaned him < M