Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-22
By JAMES j. CoRBEryT.

Jahc Miriam continued active as
linEman for several years after l beat
him in New orleans in 1880, but some
how or other 1t wasn't the iilrain OF
old who went into those tistic encoun-
tcrs. The earlier sublime faith in him
self was somewhat shattered. And
when that happens it takes something
vital from warrior
Losing 10 Sullivan had been a ter
riblc blow to the pride of kilrain
Through all the years of his puEilistic
endcavor he had Tough, along with
but ono, thought in mind, TO become a
l.. sullivan. Big Jake" ever had
Supcrlativc confidence in his ability
10 dcthrono sullivan. AT las, the .ep-
rain had failed.
The second blow to Kilrain's pride.
and perhaps even harder one. was
wnen ! defeated him in the Surrounded
IN the Crescent City. Defeat for Kill
rain then caused as grca; surprise
As would be occas Toned if some obscure
tighter took on Jack Dempsey and
whipped him in every round.
Manner of Victory Calling.
The nero fact that had won was
not the really sailing thing. 1t was
she way in which had accomplished
knocked him out with a single punch
there might have been the chance for
the nuke alibi. But through six
and whcrc | willcd, and never once
had Jake landed a solid blow
oncsd nFs' the rGeiie roy w1s ioa,h TO
pionsh'p possibility simply because
had defeated Kilrain. Rather il in
clined to the belief that Jake had
ness and that | had been fortunate
enough 10 grab him on the decline,
But tho public, quickly changed that
idea through the latter part of 1890
when Jake scored six SUCCESSIVE tri-
umphs.
Kilrain's victims in 1890 embraced
nan and George Mcclure. Three last
ed three rounds with the powerful
New EnE!andcr tho others survived
attack.
Corhct, Comes Into Prominence.
Each new Knockout for Jake over
men less obscure al the time than
had been when ! fought kilrain. made
in holder relief And very quickly the
sublic. shifted opinion and credited me
with being tirst-class ringman.
kilrains next opponent was George
Godfrey the sterling negro athlete
who was known as odd Chocolate"
Godfrey ranked As one of tho toughcs,
Of camcneSs. He had whipped n dozen
good men from 1877? until 1899. SO
splendid was his achievements tina I
several wealthy men wanted To back
i'm against sullivan Godfrey then
challenged John l.. That snapped the
answer:
Tell that chocolate drop il he wants
10 fight me all he needs to do is TO be
on hand IN the Boston Music Hail to-
morrow night"
Godfrey Emil, 10 Appear.
sullivan put in his appcarance-bu
Godfrey wasn't thcrc--Sullvan' friends
declared that this was because God
frey feared the white man and had
only heen bluning Ent Godfreys
.dhcrants insisted that the ncEro's
failure to appear aas dhc to tho fact
that nc hadn'L'takcn John LIS offer
seriously tina; he thought John L..
simply was joking.
\ few months later old Chocola C"
lost to Peter jackson after a great,
nineteen round battle Knockout vic
,ories over Joels Wanof. OF England
Zoe ashton, Patsy Cardiff, and Den
rc." Ed Smith follow cd. And then il
Was that kilrain and old Chocolate"
were matched for their battle in San
Francisco which was one OF the
toughest and most ficrccly contested
in ring history, slam bang affair
from gong 10 gong and one which kept
the crowd IN "a fever OF excitement
Copyright, 1919. by King Features