The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-11
Tom Cribb's Monument Finest Ever Erected
 To a Pugilist

This is the sixty-seventh anniver- sary of the death of Tom Cribb, the first to fight an American for the worlds title, and who was in many ways one of the most remarkable men of ring history. Many of Ene old time bruisers of Merrie England have been remembered by the erection of fine monuments but the most nnagni- ficent memorial ever dedicated to 8 pugflist is that which stands over the grave of Tom Cribb at Woolwich. In the forest of. gravestones at Woolw1ch churchyard, where lie many of the military and naval heroes of Britain, the monument to the old gladiator of the ring is the most irnpr ressive.
 The design of the memorial repre- sents a, lion grieving over the remains of the hero. The selection of a, lion to guard Cribb's resting place was es- peciaI1y appropriate, for, as George Borrow, the famous author, wrote. Cribb had "huge, massive figure, and a face wonderfully like that Of lion" The inscription on the monu- ment reads: Sacred to the memory of Thomas Cribb; born July 9th, 1871. died May 11th, As48. Respect the ashes of the brave.''
 The tomb is a colossal affair, sculptured from solid block of Port land stone, and weighs about 40,00 pounds.
 
 through his two famous battles with Tom AIolineaux, the American negro and ex-slave who was the first Amer ican to seek the heavyweight cham pionship of the world. The first con test between Cribb and the black was fought in 1S10. The negro wore him down and for a time it seemed that the pugi1istic championship was to leave England, and become the pos session of a black American. The crowd was frantic with excitement and rage at the prospect Tn the twenty-eigath round Mo1ineaux fairly won the fight, by all the rules of the game, and became the champion of the world Cribb was unable to re- spond to the call of time, although the referee gave him more than the l allotted time. In defiance of all jus tice, Cribb was permitted to resume | when he had recovered, and Moh- neaux, exhausted, finally fell and struck his head against a stake, and was unable to get up. It was general l ly recognized that MoIineaux was the rightfu1 victor, and in the following year he was again matched with Crfbb. In the meantime, however. dissipation had wrecked the negro's health, and he fell an easy victim to 1 Cribb.
 MoIineaux was the only tighter who ever stood a chance with Cribb. and he held the title longer than any other man in ring history. From ] 1898 to 1929 he was recognized cham pion, although during more than hall I of that time he never put up his fists 1 and he finally retired undefeated. After retiring from the ring. Cribk became the host iof the Union Arms
 in London, where he held court ir
 what has been immortahzed by Pierce Egan and other writers as Tom ECribb's ParIor.'' This t'parIor'' was long 8. resort of authors, poets, actors
 artists and other distinguished men l as well as of the sporting nobIes Later | the place was reproduced on the stage first at the AdeIphi in London, and | Tom Cribb's ParIor'' has since beer seen in theatres all ever the English. l speaking world. It was the most sue. 1 cessful sporting piece ever presented on the stage, and even now is oc. | casionaIly revived. It has often beer seen in New. York and other Ameri. can cities. As it used to be presented I at the theatres on the Bowery in New
 York it didn't offer much in the way of dramatic interest. but the stage setting afforded an opportunity fo, the introduction of all the sportinl l celebrities at the show.