The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-09
80 Years of Boxing
 Tn the Crescent City

Thanks to Tommy Burns, Tortorich and other promoters New Orleans has again assu med the place it has long held as the foremost pugilistic center of America. San Francisco, Los Am ge1es, Louisville, New York and other cities have at times robbed the Cres- cent City of its sportive 1aurels. but the old Louisiana metropolis has now pulled "corne-back," and served mo- tice upon it's rivals that it is hence forth to be reckoned the American center of the hstic game
 It was just four-score years ago to- day, on May 6, 1886, that the first great ring battle was pulled off in the vicinity of New Orleans. This fight was also the first affair of its kind of a truly international flavor to- be staged on this side of the briny As described by contemporary writers, however the contest was scarcely a credit to New Orleans or to the game and it left a bad taste in the mouths of the true blue sports for many years to come.
 Jem Deaf" Borke, the champion of England, and Samuel O'Rourke, the claimant to the Irish championship were the combatants on that day eighty years ago when New Orleans won its place on the pugiIfstic map a place that was, however, only a black snhudge. Deaf Burke had been
 
 York and Philadelphia theatre when. he received a challenge from O'Rourke, who was then running a saloon in New Orleans, after having fought and won fourteen battles on this side. Sam was doing a big busi- ness, and refused to consider a battle for anything less than a thousand dol lars The Deaf 'Un, although a cham pion, had never seen so much money in one bunch, but the money was raised by two New, Orleans sports. James Caldwell, owner of the St Charles Theatre in Camp street, and William Brandram. an English cotton buyer.
 The Irish of New Orleans we're strong for O'Rourke, although Burke, the English champion, was of Irish descent A description of the affair says:
 From an early hour swarms of men -Creo1es, ha1f-breeds, French ganb- Iers, Yankee sharps. Irish -roughs, and rowdies of every nationality under the sun, flocked out of the city for the rendezvous on the banks of the Missis- sippi. There was hardly a man there who did not have ruff7an stamped on his face and scarcely one but was armed-some with pistols and bowie knives; others with bIudgeons and slung-shots.
 'aThere were only three rounds fought In the second Mickey Car son, who was seconding O'Rourke, slipped behind the Deaf 'tJn and push ed him into the arms of his opponent who threw him. In the third round the Deaf 'Un caught O'Rourke a smashing blow on the mouth and there is no doubt that he would have soon Knocked Sam out had not Mickey Carson again got in the way Jem could keep his temper no longer, and with a straight left he caught the sec ond full on the nose, and down he went like ninepin. Then the fat was in the fire The woId Irish mob cut the ropes in dozen places and entered the ring. The Deaf 'JJn stood his ground for minute, knocking over two or three, when Jen Phelan cried,l Run, Burke, run; they'll kill you.' Jem took to his heels and dashed through the crowd with a bowling mob at his heels They would have caught and killed him had not friendly sportsman helped him | to get on a horse and ride away ITO the theatre whispered Caldwell, and hide there Naked to the waist, Burke | galIoped away to the city, where he 1 sought refuge in the theatre. At the ring there was free fight and lots of bIoedshed.s The police concealed [ Burke for three days and then snug gled him aboard a north-bound Mis- sfssippi steamboat.