The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-28
MEN, WOMEN

| such an amazing thing in reference book that l was afraid to use it be- cause it was unsigned, but going to the Encyclopedia Brittanica I found out that the statement could be relied upon.
 | The thing which floored me was the story of John Gully. It is one of the strangest which has ever come under my notice, and I have made biography a speciality reading all kinds of lives on the idea that there is always some thing of interest to be learned in any mans career irrespective of his trade or profession, or without reference to character or conduct.
 | Some years back recall reading series Of articles on American prize fighters. I think they were done by l Alfred Henry Lewis, and I found much 1 in them for revelation, and wish I had them in book form, as a matter of reference. If any one who reads this is aware of any such volume, I Will appreciate it if they will be kind enough to give me the name of the publisher. I find profit in reading the ! lives of the Saints and confess that I have received pleasure in reading the l lives of sinners; it is well, however, to- use the former as corrective for the latter.
 But back to John Gully for in spite ' of being the son of very poor parents, at the age of 23, he cherished three ambitions, to win the championship or the prize ring, to own Derby win her, and to obtain seat in Parlia- ment. There must have been some- thing in the Bristol lad to have put such dreams in his head. The average | fellow who has to fight his way up from obscurity is satisfied to gain dis tinction in any one line. but the Gully boy willed to pluck three of the plums which in his way gave distinction. | l wish I knew more details of John Gully, the English sportsman and poll l tician, who first came into prominence as boxer, and in 1895 was matched against Henry Pearce, the Game Chicken before the Duke of Clarence (afterward William IV), and numerous other spectators, and after fighting 64 rounds with bare fists, which occupied an hour and IF minutes, was defeated. but both were so severely punished that they could hardly stand at the close.
 | | pionship became his, and in 1907 he twice fought Bob Gregson, the Lanca- shire giant, for two hundred guineas a side, winning on both occasions Gull ly had no real hankering after the life of a prize fighter, but he set out to win it. He held the emblematic belt and cup for few years, and his ambi- ton being fulfilled in 1908 he turned | both over to Tom Cribb saying he was through with the squared circle for ever. Remember that in his time the English title carried the worlds cham pionship.
 | Retiring from the ring as the land ] lord of the Plough" tavern in Carey street London, he took to horseracing, which became passion, and was d. where his keen methods of calculation in betting were well known. He was evidently a "plunger," for in 1927 he lost 10000 pounds (around two hundred
 thousand dollars), by backing his horse, "Mameluke," (for which he had
 paid over s20,000). Mameluke was run ming for the St Leger when he dropped such fortune.
 But Mameluke gratified his dream of l owning a derby winner, and while nearly breaking him in the St. Ieger
 race on account of fluke, as four
 year-old won back for Gully all he had lost. In partnership with Robert Rids- laks, in 1892 he made nearly four hun
 dred thousand dollars by winning the
 derby and the St. Leger with "st. I Giles and "Margrave.'
 In partnership with John Day. he
 won the Two Thousand Guineas with
 Ugly Buck" in 1s44, and two years later took the Derby and the Oaks with
 "Pyrrhus the First" and 'Mendicant."
 No owner up to that time had ever scored double first at Epson. In 1851
 the Two Thousand Guineas with Her
 init" and "Andover."
 Having bought Ackworth park near Pontefract, he ran for Parliament against Lord Marlborough in bitterly fought contest his rival using for all it was worth that his opponent had been prize fighter. and was insistent to know if the constituency wanted to
 be represented by such a character Evidently Gully was apout as popular in his bailiwick as John l. Sullivan was in the days of his glory in Bos- ton. for he was elected by an over whelming vote. and strange to say,
 made good member at Westminster. | When the result of the election was
 announced, Gilbert A. Beckett said
 Should any opposition be manifested in the House of Commons towards MT. Gully, it is very probable the noes
 (nose) will have it." In those days in England this was thought to be q very good joke, and it was always lprinted as above, with the explana-
 tory words in parentheses thereby car ryins out the American contention tha. i it Is necessary to diagram a joke if you want an Englishman to under stand if