Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-19
MANY IN SPORT
RANKS COUNTED
OUT DURING '18
Grim Reaper Exacts Heavy
Toll from PugiIistiC Frater-
nifty, Including Sullivan
and Mitchell.

memory of the Oldest sport follow
ers there has never been another
year when so many prominent mem
bers of the pugllistic fraternity took
the final count as in the year now
drawing to a close. Former cham
pions and near champions, active
ringsters in all divisions, together
with numerous managers, veteran
trainers and others prominently
identified with the game have been
included among the victims of the
Grim Reaper during the past twelve
months.
At the head OF the list stands the
name of John l., Sullivan, the former
Champion pugillSt OF America and
the greatest fighter of them all"
who passed away suddenly at his
home at West Abingdon. Mass, on
February 3. Until an autumn day
g years ago, when Jim Corbett put
him down and out at New Orleans
IN II rounds, Sullivan had the repu-
tation OF being the worlds greatest
fighter. That was his last battle. He
never made any effort to regain the
lost laurels, the crown he had de-
tended so successfully against all
corners for many years. When his
career as ringman ended he took
to the footlights, where he was no
stranger, because back in those great
ring days he had his own companies
and toured the world, reaping ire
mendous financial returns.
Manager Dies Too.
A few weeks after the demise of
Sullivan saw the passing of Billy"
Madden, who had been Sullivan's
manager when the latter won the
championship. Madden. i'll addition
to having managed Sullivan, also
handled Jack McAuliffe and Jack
Dempsey.
In the early part OF April Charley
Mitchell, former English middle
weight champion, died at Brighton,
England. Mitchells most famous
fight was with John L. Sullivan, at
Chantilly, France, March 10, 1888
He held the famous American heavy
weight to a draw in 80 rounds. Five
years later Mitchell was knocked out
by Corbett in three rounds.
Terry McGovern, former worlds
leatherweight champion, died in
Brooklyn on February p, after a
brief illness. McGovern was one OF
the most popular fighters OF his day.
As a bantamweight he was supreme
for several years, and in 1899 won
the undisputed worlds title by
knocking out Pedlar Palmer, the
English champion. In the next two
years he twice beat George Dixon,
the greatest of the negro feather
weights, and won from Kid Broad,
Eddie Santry and Frank Erne. The
career of McGovern as champion
was brought to an abrupt end in 1901
by Young Corbett at Hartford,
Conn.
THE Marine"
George LaBlanche, "The Marine"
and one of the greatest middle
weights that ever lived, passed away
in the city hospital at Lawrence,
Mass, on May 3. Although but $50
pounds when in his prime, La
Blanche defeated some OF the great
est boxers the world has ever
known. His greatest feat was i'll
San Francisco, August u, 1889.
when he knocked out Jack Demp-
sey, The Nonpareil," in 81 rounds.
Jim Stewart of Brooklyn, who at
one time was considered a likely
candidate for the heavyweight hon
ors, died of pneumonia at Camp DIX
on September 26.
Matty Baldwin, the New England
lightweight who in his day had met
nearly all of the best fighters i'll his
division, died at his home IN
Charlestown. Mass, on October 8,
II victim Of the influenza.
Billy" Layton, who held the well
terweight championship of the
world for a few months in the early
nineties. died at Little Rock, Ark,
March p.
Clarence Forbes of Chicago, at
one time prominent featherweight
boxer and later we'll known as an
instructor, died on February IS, at
the Illinois State Hospital at Elgln.
All Thomas, one of the best light
weights England has sent to Amerl-
ca, died at Camp Dodge, October
20, of influenza.
Victim of Flu.
Another victim OF the influenza
epidemic was Terry Martin, the
Philadelphia welterweight, who ap-
peared in the ring for more than IS
wears. Martin died at Elizabeth, n.
J.. October IA.
Tommy Mowatt, a widely known
lightweight. died in Chicago, April
20. Dick O'Brien, a noted middle
weight in the '90s, died at Lewis
ton, Me-, November II. Battling
!, HIM Johnson. negro heavyweight,
died at Lowell Mass, November
|. Joe Tuber, a HEAVYWEIGHT OF con-
siderable reputation, died in Phlla-
delphia, October So Eddie Camp
San Francisco bantamweight, was
accidentally killed at HOLSTER, Cal
June 20. Texas Tate" heavy
weight boxer, was shot and killed al
Little Rock, Ark, October II.
Mike Donovan, one time middle
weight champion but in later year:
better known as boxing instructor
die IN New York OF pneumonia OF