Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-25

= After losing in Il rather inslorious
Afay to Frank Slavn in June. 1891. Jake
sIilrain decided upon retirement from
he ring, and for nearly four years he
Jas inactive as Il warrior
ii But in 1895 the lure of the game be-
anne a little too strong for him. Jake
silrain decided upon comeback"
Coming that he could prove that he
saiil was a topnotcher.
:. He seized upon Steve O'ponnell as
INC trial horse" The pair hattied TO
n eight-round draw in Boston on
ffarrh Is. 1SH5. The showing which
tiilradn made in that nsht heartened
i'm considerably. and so interesting
siad been tho claeh that there was a
7ubl!c clamor for another meeting be-
ween the two. They were rcmatchcd
ISLAND on May 6, 1895.
u Kilraiu put UP a stubborn contest but
- was useless. o'DonncN, much
!oungcr, much faster and more aegrcs-
fave, slowly beat down kilrain. 1t was
ia thrilling battle in the carly rounds,
Fstit soon II became evident TO the ring
i ide crowd that ODonncll would be the
Ultimate winner. And in the twenty
tsount.
Jake's Inst Brittle In 1906.
X In September of the same year Kill
i9ain fought Abe Ullman a tcn-round
5i.o-decision bout in Baltimore. winning
Inc popular verdict hy Il small margin.
q The last battle which Jake kilrain
saged in q prizerinr was on September
"a, 1896, dramatic and pathetic climax
10 the career of marvellous ringman.
alsho9gh he Vas "a ,hir Ii us
sloved from tho superb condition OF his
sSouth, Kilrain still insisted upon an
ether trial with Slavin, who had con-
stuered him ivo years before III Iio-
soken. And Slavin obliged
- Slayin walked out at kilrain, jahbcd
Fim couple OF times. drove a right
sander TO the body then to the head,
set himself for finishing punch, de-
fSivered 1t, and tho fight was over. Jake
stilrain had gone down TO dcfeat--a
knockout victim In the last fight of his
;5sarecr In n trilc more than one min
Sgste after the first gong had banged.
~ unlucky In Financial Matters.
u Kilrain was one of the greatest
1sghters that ever lived, and one OF
The most unfortunate in financial af-
!sairs. He waged scores of battles dur
Sihg his career, most of them against
fsopnotchers.. Yet in all the years
tEtretching from 1881 to 1896 Kilrain
gathered in less money for his pugilis-
8sie efforts than mediocre fighters OF
4 ,oday earn in single year.
S. kilrain's earliest fights were in the
Nays when guarantees were almost un-
ssnown, and when most Of the battles
E5ere for side bets. He went against
n 1en whom he defeated easily. but in
I'll these battles the wagers that he
ZION were trifiing. The other fellows
9ad whoiesone respect for big
axe" and they refused to put up any
y liable side bets.
Kilrain failed In every really i'm.
.ortant contest of his lifetime. Sew
Siral times he was within the shadow
~ the goa! o: fortune but ne never
fteached H. often big money" was
within his grasp, but y. didn't get il.
Biggeat Stake Was $4,000.
When JAKE mixed u with Jcm Smith,
Temple s o.: E E5G I'd, 4 Vas for a
l.. ass his ne' ,S q, %Pe SO hii!s!n dd3t pu;
= Fox vas MS hacker. The agreement
Y the time was that II k!lrain won.
Seo1 vas 70 se; back his 5000. and
ssiirs.9 was - receive he $500 lost
~ Smith. The battle ended In draw
g1owsvei, Fox showed true sportsman.
mp Az: the ha:t!t,bry e!Eing TO Xii
suEnea BY the z,s;;::et'.c'.aa.:s. Ana si' ths.
sake k.irsi7 ever got
Fox mace NE same condition With
sSnrs.n aae1 Big lake fought S,j
Ivan In Rtcabnrg, Miss. Had Jake won
sfea';E e;gEt champion OF the world
End 5000 -!cac- u none. RY. Jaks
lost, and s.5oU: AL b. 70, out of i, Vas
81 bsating and a i!t,!e "soiacs" money
3 Lost Money 10 sIa,in.
II the first frh. with Slayi, ~.
1acle was for side bet OF s. O0n
just who put up the money for KiIrain.
81 DO not know. Somc stories had i,
nat friends put up s2,50o. ana that
TAKE usios all of his available cash
nade Up the balance. KiIrain los,
q hat fight and the So GOO
kilra!n left The rug, according to re-
oorr without dollar 10 show for NJ
sen years OF battling. Bu, when
lake ki!raln LAID down his gloves Tor
ne last time nc did SO knowing fu,i
SEeil that he had established hImseit
the TOP ~ the hearts OF the mil.
IONS OF sport lovers nnd tina, he had
Tritten his name indelbly IN purlilsm',
5ali OF Fame. And that is sometime
more TO be valued than poid.-Conv=
igat' 1919 by King Features syndi.