The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-20
JOHNSON AN OLD MAN
AS PUGILISTS GO
Age Of 81 Should, in Theory, BE Hand
leap to Him in Coming Battle with
Jess Willard-0ther Sport
ing Notes Of Interest.

his coming contest with Jess Willard for
the worlds heavyweight championship.
pugilistic records show that no former
champion OF modern times has been able
TO successfully defend his title after
reaching the age of 81, which in John.
sons case will occur on March 81, With
the exception of the negro, the present
day champions in all classes range
around rs years of age
Beginning with John l.. Sullivan, who
lost his title TO James j. Corbett, the
records show that Sullivan was "a years
of age when the Californian defeated
him at New Orleans on Sept. 7, 1892 IN
81 rounds. Corbett was 26 years OF age
and the odds were three to one against
him on the day of the battle. At the
age of 81 Corbett fell before Fitzsim
mons at Carson City, New, on March II,
1897, with the betting 100 to 65 in his
favor.
Fitzsimmons reigned as champion from
that date until June 8, 1890, when Jim
Jeffries defeated him at Coney Island,
N. w. in II rounds Fitzsimmons was
81 years of age against Jeffries' "a, and
the betting was 100 to go with Fitzsim-
mons the favorite. There has always
been controversy ag to whether Jeffries
ever relinquished his title, but the fact
stands out that johnson claimed The
championship as "a result OF defeating
Tommy Burns. Jeffries retired from the
ring at the age of 20 and made his dis
astrous return on July 4, 1910, when he
was 80. johnson was three years young
er but again the champion was favorite.
the betting was Two to one on Jefries
to defeat the negro. The collapse of
Jeffries in the 18th round is part of pu-
gilstic history.
In these four championship battles,
covering a period OF Is years, four title
holders, Sullivan, Corbett, Fitzsimmons
and Jeffrios were dethroned in turn with
the average odds in their favor a triflc
more than two to one. The average
number of rounds was l5h ard the aver
age age of the champions at the time
Of defeat was 34H years while the aver
age age of the victors was 29A years
At the present time Johnson is within
a few weeks of 81 years of age and in
the early wagering On the coming contest
he has been quoted as high as three
to one favorite. Willard is few months
over 81. The question that is puzzling
ring followers is therefore, whether pu-
gilistic precedence is to be observed or
the negro titleholder prove an exception
TO the rule OF the ring.
The annual report OF the committee on
student affairs at Cornell university
shows that 937 undergraduates partici
pated in athletic and other official aetiv-
titles during the l9l3,l4 college year. In
group of Is social or athletic societies,
teams or fraternities, the average NUM-
Der Of days leave of absence for the ac
Invites listed was 1923, as against two
in l9l2-l9l3 and % days In. l9ll-l2.
This is far below the limit set by the
university faculty. which allows any
freshman two days leave of absence IN
each term and other students seven days
in each term for such purposes. The
maximum athletic schedule seldom ex
ceeds five days leave of absence, and
the committee is constantly exerting
pressure TO reduce the limit Of all SEIZED |
ules.
The National league schedule for the |
coming season required the eight clubs |
TO travel s3,5g3 miles. The western |
eastern teams. pittsburg leads with |
1885 miles and the New York Giants |
have the least travelling to do their TO- |
tai for the season being put at s,s25. |
Figuring on teams of n players and /
four others, including manager, trainer |
and secretary. this gives a total Of 2,0sg. |
So for the 900 players and others in
the league. At two cents mile, the |
.s..E. sLa he \
sum 10 be- expended by the clubs between /
April IA and Oct. win amount 10 s4l.- /
1860. Meals and sleeping berths will 4
add many thousands 10 these figures.
The football statistician Is still busy /
notwithstanding the fact that the grid 4
iron season closed three months ago.
The latest compilation covers the de-
feats Of Yale, Harvard and Princeton by 4
college elevens other than the big three
Of the East According 20 these figures
Princeton has been defeated II times
since ls69. Cornell and Dartmouth have
triumpbed over the Tigers three times
each; Pennsylvania twice and Columbia,
Lafayette. Rutgers and Navy once each.
Eight outside defeats are found in the
Yale records. which extend back 20 1872.
ne ARMY HNNHH AtAf NfAN WIN INV w .
tories over the Els; Columbia j. second
with two. and Brown, Colgate and Wash
ington a Jefferson each hold one game
to their credit. The Harvard teams have
suffered less defeats Of this type than
either Yale o. Princeton. Since ls14
but seven football combinations Of this
class have triumphed over the Crimson.
The Carlisle Indians have two victories
70 their credit. while Amherst Dart
mouth. Boston A. A.. Tufts and Wesley
an each claim one. A peculiar feature az
thc tahulation is that Princetou defeats
By ponnsylrania are included, While IL.
victories II the QuaEers over Harvard
are not rsc0rded although Pennsylvania
ven from the Crimson seven times b.
tween 1881 and 1876
A. all-star bowling team composef If
New YORK. experts util tour the country
this sprne rolling exhibition and mateh
games IN various cities where bow llmg q
fupuinr Nor mrf Liulsey national
champion af 1912 wl ~ Sire Iced -
ruTaf. sta Lee 1ohus thf worlds rpr
ord haifer for s,r rames in compet 'tiun.
sarnud William Beers uemhar ui sef-
HFai rllsup iuusbir teams, uGIl rul tt'ri
nrH John koatff. faH natEumal ftlaeu
rian an1 heiaar 81 ls FasFlelt seurts. WI
g. So f1urth mnn Jimmy -mlth. f'res-
rrt nlisruund rhaurian. wa1 b. snrhor