Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-21
BY JAMES J. CoRnETT.

AS the gong sent me into action
against Jake Kilrain on that February
night in 1890, / knew that my whole
future as a puSilist was at stake. To
whip tho mighty ringman. and to do it
in decisive fashion. meant a giant
stride on the road toward the absolute
crest OF the pugilistic world. To lose,
would shattcr the ring foundation that
i had been building through the ear
liest years OF my youth.
kilrain was a powerful looking hu
man. one who inspired fear in the
heart of most OF the foemen who had
faced him. He was OF the old school,
tierce-looking in ring appearance hairy
went into that battle unafraid and
absolutely, certain of winning.
l had developed my, natural speed
TO its ultimate and had perfected my
self in the scientific end of the game.
Those accomplishments, | cslt, would
win for me over my bulky rival.
KiIrain Like Truck Horse.
Those who witnessed the battle that
was like n truck horse in a race with
a worlds champion thoroughbred"
prior 10 that time had heen touted as
really clever and shifty heavyweight.
Charlie Mitchell had schooled him in
1nE and blocking. and had speeded up
kilrain. But found klr;an jus,
about as awkward and Slow-movinC a
tighter as l ever had faced in all my
career.
In sizing up Kilrain had attempted
TO ngure out his weakness and his
opened l had mapped out my program
OF battle.
AS the first round began l rushed
a aaW what 1oo Sose ne, 70 klr@in Jake
nortunity for landing his powerful
right. He swung, and missed. perhaps
by three feet. -Four times in success
sion Tented kilrain, and always sue
cessfully. Jake was failing into the
trap.
Corbctt Makes Fast Attack.
kilrain iisured | would continue to
feint. And that was what l wanted
MIN to believe. | knew that as soon
as he decided that ! wasn't going to
mt aim that the moment had arrived
70 cross him with furious attack.
attack; and showered the big fellow
The attack was so fast and so to-
times TO the face and several times
10 the stomach btfore Kilrain got
away. One punch ripped open the skin
trickied down in stream.
AS the hrSt round ended and I was
hitting ki!rain when au3 where /
The crowd had expected 10 see me
siaug htered and had oeen treated TO
surprise, perhaps greater ;han il
test, K!lrain. the man Killer" hadn't
ianded q real punch in that iirst round
and ! had him cut and bleeding and
Could Not Land Any Blows.
The other five rounds of tina, con-
!est were mere applications OF the
!a!iia! one. kn!ain, angered beyond
aescE 2Gon because he couldn't touch |
me in me nrst, started The second
VIII q series Of frantic -1I.aec g., /
MAJ made il all the easier for me.
E1ioS sa sssS S0nt AZ in ana l hit him
found his target. VAS using nv
speea 10, the utnas,, and speed was
, nc E!hs the Wor!d-faH2ous ki!rain loo.. /
IKE & ring novice. Every futile sw,nr
that Jake made usuall.. vas reuards66
WITH ripping lab 20 the face or !,
ssinaah 10 the body. Ana each new
D'1 srS s!owed him UP more and more
M kilrain perhaps started 203 vicious /
puhches ior my head ana body 10;
one g, Of theH landed. II Ki!rain had
3,varSw wi he Couldn't have done a
more reaHstIc performances than he d!d
on that night IN New Orleans
Great Ovation for Winner.
me prediction Of Jack Dempsey had
nv Win he bang Of the bell tina, ended
t srann ed my right hand and lifted il
she fight was mine. ''"' 'i'"'
me crowd broke loose into one Of
INC greatest ovations that I ever re-
Ge ei, IN my LIE The ring swarrned
Win scores of enthusiasts, Who
cIlmbed through the ropes. lifted me
10 InGir shoulders and carried me
al 9uhu lhc arena in triumph.
But even before this happencd ,horo
sane q big protest from Kilrain. As
,iolett gave the decision to me Kilrain
rt OUT cry that only five rounds hnJ
peci fought. Somewhere duri,t. -,
contest he mad lost count. But Violnt,
ana an. me timeke"per showed him tina.
sin ROUNDS actually had been cUntestod
ne next day collected s.. 900. tho
,wSinners share of the purse. 1t was
me, me hrst money ever received as :,
IiHs performer, and IL seemed liEc
vast fortune to me ''Hc d
II was made" as pusilist.-Conv-
riEnt' 1919. by King Features Syndj