The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-21
Veteran Flynn Battles tuberculosis
AT West Virginia State Sanitarium
oHI-ruH KEAvYwEIaHT oAAA-
P1oN WINNING OUT IN ToUoA-
EST 1I6HT or CnGGA-
1svtsws 1ing 1soord-stsreo ou'
Harlv -Ninstiss In the
Southwest.
C1x 1uos rEHTB)

Clarksburg, W. Va, Dec. -u'-ns tH
Nest Virginia state santtarium AT leIFA
Alta, near here, AN o!d-tme puslis'
ons NJ ,he greatest the west ever turned
out from an amateur STANDPOINT. Is Vat!
By day winning his greatest hght-A
sght for life against the white plague
tuberculosis. ami
Who remembers Jim Flynn. Ihe
Miner" former middleweight and later
beayyweight champion of Arizona. Mex
leo and New Mexico, who met all chai-
lenpes until he retired from the ring.
more than fifteen years ago: In lsil
Flvnn was working at the TURKISH
Baths in Pittsburgh before the big nre
destroyed them.
A few weeks ago Bob Martin. heavy
weight champion Of the \. f. r. whose
home Is at Terra Alta. was doing a
reyulor afternoons workout Wneh a
visitor casually strolled into Martin =
camp. The visitor took keen inter-
es; In the youthful Martins boxing, ana
finally drew the interest Of Martin ana
his trainers Flynn introduced himsel'
and was given cordial reception Dy
the ex-soldier battler. 1t was here that
Jim Flynn was found. after quietly
keeping out Of sight for nearly score
Of years.
Only Frame Remains.
E1ynn's Story Is best told in his own
words. \ giant in stature. Flynn today
Is hut n frame for the old pugiltst who
ut one time was the pride of the west
ern states. His eyes still sparkle with
enthusiasm as ne pictures various ones
Of his more than one hundred ring hat
ties Great wrinkles are about his neck
where once massive muscles stood. Yet
the old miner still walks with sprngy
steps. and with an old cowboy nat
perched jaunti!y on his head. il pt'-
ture of the grim determination which
mas marked his hight for the past five
years against tuberculosis.
Telling his story. Flynn says: Many
people confuse the with Seiglent the
Pueblo fireman who fought under the
name OF Jim Flynn after had retired
from the ring and who fought Jack
Johnson. the negro. at Las Vegas. New
Mexico, for the worlds championship,
some ter or twelve years after / left
that section OF the country"
Then with n quaint smile lighting up
his face as he toyed with frayed bit
Of his hat band Flynn continued. II
never was what you would call pro-
fessional prize Fighter. but always
plain miner. looking for nuggets or In
later years diGgings black diamonds at
so much per ton. was middlewetght
and later heavyweight champion OF
Arizona. New Mexico and Mexico and in
those days I accepted all challenges
both from professional and non-profes-
sional boxers.
Well. arrived in California in 1897,
and late that fall | met The Pride OF
California" middleweight by the
name OF Jimmy Morrisey at Sacra
mento. The odds were four TO one on
Morrisey. and the bout was attended by
a great crowd. most Of them miners.
Morrisey was picked to win. but 1 lurki-
~ got in good one in the second round
and put him To slccr.
Becomes Trainer.
From Sacramento ! drifted TO Carson
City. Nevada. and there took a contract
to train lightweight by the name Of
Dave Elaherty. to boy Dial Hawkins irt
one OF the freliminaries 10 the corbett-
FitzSimmonS worlds championship bout.
However. through misunderstanding
Dave and I disagreed and | had moth
ing further to do with his training. |
found employment aud when the big
bout came along. failed To so to see il.
thus missed seeing "Lanky Bob" and
Gentleman Jim" scrap. I have always
felt sorry that 7 missed that big battle.
The ring lever came back ana tihai-
Is drifted to Butte. Montana. There
: / was offered a contract TO help train
slim Henry for "A bout with Ed Cuff
the middleweight. | got into real
battle over that contract. We had
Henry all pointed and polished for
the battle with Cuff. but on the might
Of the bout ne was III and unable TO
box. I was otferes the chance 10 take
! Henry's place and~ readily accepted