The Washington herald., 1916-01-30

| had failed him, and he had solved the
dfnculty by running out of the affair
The Great Leicester Hoax" as 1t was
called, so soured the public against Ward
that for a time he was blacklisted by all
decent sportsmen. In the meantime,
Simon Byrne claimed the championship
by default. and, with Ward barred from
fighting, 1t was generally conceded that
the big Irishman was entitled to the
honors. That was naturally unsa tisfac-
tory TO the Hibernian sports, however.
for they wanted their champion to win
by fighting. Ward, protesting his sorrow
for the hoax, begged Byrne to fight him.
but Simon declared that he wouldn't
meet such man for money but that he
would take pleasure In thrashing him
''for love" Ward was broke, and re-
fused to fight except for money, SO there
| the matter stood for time.
On st. Patrick's Day In 1890 Simon
Byrne met Ward In the Holborn Castle,
famous sporting resort. Simon. his
heart mellowed by Irish whisky and the
good feeling of the day. couldn't nurse
his eyes, he embraced Ward and promised
to fight him.
In the meantime, however, Byrne had
match on with Sandy Mckay,
Scotchman, who asplred to the cham
pionship. Mckay took such a beating
that he died soon afterwards from the
effects of II. Byrne was tried for man
slaughter and acquitted, but post
ponement of his fight with Ward was
necessary. On St. Pats Day in 1881, the
men met again and agreed to fight for
the championship the following July
Byrne. who had won the nickname n
The Emerald Gem" was too fond of
his native potheen for his own good, and
ne spent most of the intsryen ming time
In Dublin, engaging In drinking bouts
with all his cronies. He was "hog fat
when he reached England a few weeks
before the fght, and. according to the
custom OF the day. he was given a Sc
we're course of physic to bring him down
to weight. Shortly before the momen-
tous date he caught a severe cold, and
ne was weak and Ill when he entered
the ring. pouring rain, which turned
the ring into pond. added to his trou-
oies In the early rounds Simon fought
hard and well, but he soon weakened.
ana became mere chopping block for
Jems blows. In the thirty-third round
after magnificent exhibition of game
ness on Byrne's part. his seconds merci-
fully tossed up the sponge.
1t was a sad day for Ireland when the
Emerald Gem fell before the Black Dia
mond of England. You're a brave man.
simon, and I've had a hard time to lick
you,' said Ward at the conclusion of the
battle. 1t was Wards last battle, and
soon Deaf Burke, OF Irish blood but
English birth. came to the front Byrne
mad also retired and settled down on his
native heath. but in 1888 he was again
induced to enter the championship lists
against Deaf Burke
Such battle! Brutal, bloody, re-
pulsive, and yet magnificent! For one
hour-two-three-the giants baftared
each other. until neither could more than
stand. Youth had to be served, however.
and sixteen minutes after the battle had
passed the three-hour mark Burke put
all his strength into a blow that
stretched Byrne senseless Simon was
unconscious for hours, and. although the
greatest surgeon In the kingdom was
called in. his life could not be saved. As
he lay dying Byrne whispered with his
1nal breath: "1t-It-is-not-the-D
Un's-fault.i It-was-the-drink!"