The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-11
bhnI,.asZuepHu McJanlos J.CorbeH

enough in that for me. I want to set tie down for while and take things easy. There is no one left for me to fight except Jackson and I won't light a negro. No, guess I'll loaf and enjoy myself" a m
 And John l.. did
 After the Kilran fight John L. quit living the straight laced life that had been his routine while under the hand ling of Billy Muldoon. But though the champion took things easy he didn't in- dulge in so many of the wild drinking orgies as in his earlier days. Muldoon's s lectures had made their impress. John l.. had come to realize that his superb physique had it's limitations under the attacks of dissipation. And he became fairly moderate in his intemperance.
 And it was just about then that the greatest spender in America came to the realization that his bank roll was becoming emaciated. The champion, up to that time, had earned something like s650,o00 in the ring and on the stage
 But he didn't have more than $15,0OO left So he became a little more careful as to his money and the occasions of his wild squanderings began to grow fewer and fewer.
 John l.. was becoming a wiser man as the years crept on.
 The though of meeting John L. Sullivan Tn a battle for the heavyweight cham pionship never entered my mind until trifle more than a year before the contest was staged. John l.. had no greater admirer than my father. He re- garded the mighty Bostonian as an un- beatable warrior. And through all the early part of my career as boxer shared that belief.
 But fate works strange pranks.
 Other chapters told how I first saw John L. in San Francisco when I was F, and. kid-lilSe. trailed him through the streets for hours. That was in 1884. Two years later l saw him again and my reverence for him was increased by his quick and decisive victory over Paddy
 Ryan m the California city. And then John l.. went past leaving me disappointed because I had not been
 fortunate to be among those who shook his hand.
 Through 1886, 1887 and 1888, I worked as few kids ever worked to perfect myself as boxer. But the thought of becoming E a champion some day never entered my
 mind until long afterward. I knew that to rise to the top l had to hurdle John l.. and, like millions of others, I felt tudts ouiitNdu cOuiun pe DedteI. but that oiGnt halt me in my efforts to become the best boxer that my ability would permit.
 It wasn't until 1889 when I whipped Joe ChcyEski in our hard-fought Bencia Bay barge fight, that l decided to become a professional My folks had other ann bitions for mo. They wanted me to stick to my job in the bank and become "A l great banker some day" I also had a rnt t.,t,,< ~H h>
 an actor. I had made a fair success in
 amateur theatrcals in San Francisco and many of my friends predicted a glowing future for me in that profession. Eut the victory over the wonderful Choynski convinced me that had within me tke nakings of successful ring warrior. boxing just then was emerging 1 from the ban under which it had been placed in bare knuckle days and I knew that successful performer could make big money-and make it quickly. So l became professional boxer. 1 was fast and shifty in those days and was credited with introducing many new tricks into the ring. Those traits made me talked about in my home town ard several victories over some fairly l good fighters of that era finally won l for me chance to go six rounds with Jake Kilrain. who figured was some 1 thing Of an over-rated lemon. and | that he would have an easy time beat I in:, me.
 l But kilrain got a rude awakening. Be fore I left New Orleans to fight Kill ram on February IS. 1899, Jack Dempsey, I who had boxed, with me and also had
 seen Kilrain in action, made this pre- diciion:
 i "k'lrain never will lay glove on Cor bett.',..
 And Dempsey's prediction came true. My ictory over xilrain was the means of Kfving t0 me my first nation-wid falnA The -fans and writ ere q h roii ' houf