Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-04
CHARLEY MITCHELL
TAKES FINAL COUNT
Famous English Boxing Champion
Passes Away at
Brighton.

london, April 4-Charles W. Mitchell
IN his youth, one of the most noted box
crs in the world. died yesterday at Hove
after protracted illness, resulting in
tocomotor ataxia. He was 81 years old
While never officially champion of Eng
land, Mitchell WAS recognized as the
greatest British boxer of his time.
Mitchell was born in Birmingham,
England, on November "a. 1861. and was
q student of the Mace school of boxing.
He early developed unusual cleverncss
with his hands, and although at the out
set of his career he seldom weighed
more than l35 pounds he never hesitated
TO engage heavyweights In battle
A most remarkable performance of the
Briton was his defeat of Caradoff. known
as the Belgian Giant, who scaled pa
pounds. The bout took place in Antwerp
IN 1881, when Mitchell was 20 years Of
age, and the young Englishman, who
weighed but l33 pounds, beat the burly
Belgian In four rounds
After winning q heavyweight tourna-
ment staged by Billy Madden al Chelsea,
England, one of Mitchell's victims being
a 240 FOUNDER named Jack knltton,
Mitchell set sail for America lie arrived
lnrNew York March 25, 1888.
MET JOHN L. IN 1883.
John L. Sullivan was at the height of
his popularity, and Mitchell lost no time
IN challenging Sullivan TO a bout for the
title according to London rules. Sulli-
van refused TO make a bare knuckle
match, but consented to a glove bout in
Madison Square Garden. The men met
(on May Il. 1888. Sullivan scaling POI
pounds and Mitchell 143 pounds
Mitchell Knocked Sullivan flat IN the
first round and was holding his own in
the third round when Police Captain
Williams stopped the contest. Although
Mitchell had given Sullivan a beating
the referee declared the American the
winner. and it so appears In the records:
Sullivan twice tried TO throw Mitchell
out of the ring.
After besting William Sheriff. the
PrlIssian, in sIx rounds at Flushing,
L. l.. on October >. 1883, Harry Hill,
the referee. gave the decision 10 Mitchell
and then changed his ruling TO draw.
Mitchell outboxed Dom McC affrcy in this
CITY on October Is. 1891. and the referee
gave the decision to the Pittsburgcr.
Mitchell boxed q four round draw with
kIirain and SIX round draw with Jack
Burke, but won both on points.
These contests clearly showed the
class of the Brlton, who not only was a
clever boxer but a hard, accurate hitter
with either hand.
TOURED COUNTRY WITH KILRsIN.
Failing to get on a match with Sulli-
van for the title, Mitchell returned TO
England on July Is. 1886, but came
back here the following April and toured
the country with Jake Kilrain. Mitchell
returned 10 Europe September p, 1887,
and three days later Sullivan sailed for
England. On the arrival of the Ameri-
can champion match was made, and
the men met st Chantilly. France, March
10, 1855. Sullivan weighed 200 pounds
and Mitchell LOO pounds.
The contest lasted thirty-nine rounds,
st the end of which Sullivan was q beaten
man. Under London rules, 1t was permis-
sible for the principals TO consent to n
draw, with the understanding that the
nehters should meet again NJ the call Of
the referee. II has been charged by those
AT the ringside that Sullivans backer,
Harry Phillips, convinced his man could
not win, purchased draw from Mtchells
handlers Mitchell was eager TO resume
the battle al later date, but Sullivan
sailed away.
Mitchell again appeared in America
after the battle with Sullivan, and sec
onded kilrain in his Richburg fight with
the American champion.
Aiitchells last ring battle was that
With Corbett at Jacksonville, January
25, 1894, and the Briton. who had lost
his form and did not weigh more than
$50 pounds, was stopped IN three rounds.