New Britain herald., 1915-04-03
RONANCFS OF THE
 "SQUARED CIRCLE"
Denis O'ktHy, Patron of Boxing,
 Once a Poor Servant.

lumlnatiOn Of her streets was still more than half a century in the future, and electricity was undreamed of Through one of the fashionable thoroughfares of this son,per city, on an autumn night in 1755, passed a procession that would now seem very strange, but was then d comm monplace. IL was composed of hundreds of covered chairs, with poles at either side, each chair carried by two stall wart men, one in front and one be- hind, and each chair holding some lady fair in elaborate costume or a powdered. silk clad masculine dandy, with toupee and curls. These sedan chairs were elaborate affairs. enclosed at top and sides to protect the occu- pants, all gilt and colors outside and the interiors lined with silk and cushions. Accompanying the process sion were scores of link poys, each carrying a flaming torch to light the way and give the populace a chance to admire.
 Arrived at the magnificent mansion in the west end which was to be the scene of the nights festivities, the sedan chairs discharged their occu- pants, the link boys thrust their fam beauN into the eXtinguishers which were placed at each aristocratic door in London and the chairmen withdrew to await the pleasure of their masters. On this occasion the handsomest and most stalwart of the sedan chairmen invited a dozen of his fellows to go with him to a tavern, and there pro- vided liquid refreshments with lavishness that aroused the envy and curiosity of his comrades.
 The sedan chairmen who served the aristocrats of London were paid but a miserly sum, but the comedy, dashing Irishman, Denis O'Kelly, was always we'll provided with funds. As they drank they chaffed Denis as to the source of his income, so unusual for a sedan chairman, but the son of Erin only smiled. Some guessed that some wealthy woman had been smitten by his handsome face and magnificent physique. And they were right.
 From Riches to GaoI.
 Denis O'Kelly was born in Ireland, but as boy he went to London with his parents, and began d career as full of romance, adventure and strange vicissitudes as could we'll be imagined. As sedan chairman, while still in his teens, a titled woman of great wealth fell violently in love with him, and showered upon him rich gifts and a small fortune in money. After time he abandoned the lowly profession of sedan chairman and devoted himself to gambling. For a time he basked In the. joys of success, but after 8 few months of notoriety his riches took wings, and Denis O'KeIly found himself in Fleet prison, convicted of the crime of debt.
 Again romance entered his life in the fair person of Charlotte Hayes-a beautiful, refined, charming woman who was his guardian angel through out his spectacular career, and who rescued him from durancc and again . set his feet on the path or success Ignorant and uneducated, unable to read or write until he had arrived at manhood, Denis OKeny found teacher as we'll as a sweetheart and friend in the woman who devoted her self so whole heartedly to advancing his interests.
 1t is as one of the greatest men of the British turf that Denis O'Kelly is chiefly known in history. He twice won the classic Derby, once with Eclipse and again with sergeant, and as breeder of horses he made with his stud more than $1.6OO 900, an inn mense fortune in those days
 From his youth Denis O'Kelly-Col ! O'kelly, as he was known in later life--was an enthusiastic boxer. and when he became a man Of wealth and an associate of the aristocracy, with a magnificent town house and a country estate of vast proportions, he did not lose his fondness for the | Af-z man boXes'' he took part in many houts, and once took part in a real fight with the notorious Dick England. "the gentleman ruffian.' Col. O'Kelly was then past forty, and suffering from gout. and he was terribly beaten by his cruel and ferocious opponent
 O'Kelly was tn epatron of many fighters, among them Peter Corcoran, the Irishman who became champion of England in 1769. Corcoran was a native of Galway, and might have lived and died there, content to dis play his fistic prowess upon his com panions. except for an unfortunate in- cident which occurred In his young manhood Peter was very much in love with one of the comedy, bare footed lassies of his village, but he had a rival. Corcoran resented the attentions of the latter, and with one tiow of his fist stretched him out. The fellow died, and Peter, with the few pounds which represented the lifetime savings of his father, fled to England. Col. O'Kelly was so pleased with the appearance of young Cor coran that he took him under his wing, determined to make a pugilistic champion of his protege.
 Promotes Championship Bout.
 After vanquishing some of the best men In England, Corcoran challenged Lyons, who then claimed the title.