The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-22
SPoRToGRAPHY.
BY Gravy"
Abe At:cil Celebrates Three Annlver.
saries Today,

While his fellow countrymen are
celebrating Washington's birthday,
Abraham Attell will observe three an;
niversaries today. First, as a patriot.
&c American, the little Hebrew will do
obeisance TO the memory OF the pa.
ternal ancestor OF his country. Sec.
ond, Able will celebrate his own birth.
day, the thirty.iirst since he arrived
IN this world by the OF San Francisco.
Last-and this Is source of grief 10
the once mighty scrapper = today
marks the third anniversary OF that
fatal day at Vernon when he lost the
featherweight championship of the
world to Johnny kilbane.
1t was few months after his I'M.
fortunate session with Kilbane that
Attell met Oliver Kirk In st. Louis,
and, after fighting six rounds, refused
to continue and declared he was
through with the ring forever! Abe's
swan song was very pathetic, and It
brought tears OF anguish to the eyes
OF the boxing fans all over America.
Able never fight again? Boo.hoo, But.
then, forever isn't such a long time,
as measured by puGilists and primal
donnas. In Abie's case It was less
than four months until he was back in
the ring. m
In his prime Attell had about as
much ring cunning as was ever ex.
htbited, and he was as full Of tricks as
fox. He probably made at least $40.
oo0 year while he held the title. His
own declaration at st. Louis that he
was all in as a fighter seems to have
been borne out by his subsequent ring
proceedings. for his showing has been
very disappointing to his old admirers.
The old boss of the featherweights
was master Of speed, which seems
all the more remarkable when It is
considered that he began his career
as messenger boy. In his early days
as fighter, when he was only six.
teen, he had a punch that stretched
most OF his opponents out for the
count in one of two rounds. Later
he depended more on speed and skill
than on his punch, being very careful
about his valuable hands. So
Attell made his first ring appear.
ance when he was fifteen. at the club
IN the back room OF the San Fran
cisco saloon conducted by Alec Greg.
gains. the old.time stx.foot middle.
weight. The little Jewish messenger
boy won his battle with one punch.
Johnny DAILY. the New York bantam
who aspires to the crown Of Kid VII.
liams, Is "a native Of the American
metropolis and will be twenty-six
years old today. Johnny has been in
the ring over ten years. and has
fought on both sides OF the Atlantic.
When hes started his career In 1904
he won six of his first seven battles
with knockouts. In 1906 the little
Irishman paid his first visit to Eng.
land. where he became q favorite. He
fought Johnny. Coulon in 1909 and
again in 1911, and made q good show.
Ing, but wasn't quite good enough to
dethrone the king OF the bantams.
In 1913 DAILY made another trip abroad
and was whipped by Cirque, o French
bantam, in a stwenty.round bout in
Paris. A couple of months ago Daily
fought Kid Williams, but the Balti.
more Dane was at no time In danger
OF losing his honors to the little New
Yorker. Against the champion DAILY
didn't show much but gameness, and
he needed all his courage, for VIII
hams gave him q thorough lacing
from start to finish.
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