Douglas daily dispatch. [volume] (Douglas, Ariz.) 1903-1961, 1927-11-02
SPIDER KELLY,
FAMOUS FIGURE
OF RING, DIES

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. l H0-PaSS-
! ing OF Spider Kelly in Rochester
Mimi, today removed one of the most
famous figures of the ring and at the
same time severed a boxing partner
ship that was endured 40 years.
Tim McGrath, who shook hands
in partnership" with Kelly four de-
cades ago, today narrated the story of
two immigrant Irish lads, one from
county Limerick, the other from coun-
ty Kerry, who met in San Francisco
at the age of Is. Kelly, from Kerry,
was two months older, and a born
leader. The pair became probably
the greatest team of seconds the game
has known.
Shortly after arriving here, Kelly
started boxing at the old Maynard's
club. In those days, four round box
ing was popular, ard the Spider"
met such men as mysterious" Billy
Smith, Billy Armstrong and others.
When Is round bouts became the
vogue, Kelly traded punches with the
greatest lightweights Of the day, in
Guiding the Seattle Cyclone and Jack
Eyerhart.
Still later, Is round boxing had it's
day and Spider Kelly was one of
the leading contenders He fought Joe
Cans when that great negro was IN
his prime, and McGrath tells the
story of how Kelly's resourcefulness
helped him in avoiding knockout
Coming up for the tWenty-fifth and
last round, barely able to hold up his
hands, Kelly whispered in Cans ear,
sits lucky for you it amt ten rounds
more" 1t so surprised Cans he ejacu-'
lated, listen to the man, will you"
The negro was SO upset he was unable
to score with a telling blow during the
round
Kelly also fought Young Corbett an
other notable, but around 1900 gave
up fighting and began the seconding
career that was to carry him to the
top Of the ladder. AS a manager and
second, he had under his wing at
various times, such ringsters as Abe
Attell, frankie Neil, both former
champions, Jimmy Britt, Peter Maher
and Tom Sharkey.
Kelly is credited with bringing Jack
Dempsey and Jack Kearns together,
and the latter of the two Jacks piloted
the former to the heavyweight cham
pionship.
AT the time Dempsey fought Gun
boat Smith and made sorry show
ing, the Spider" predicted that the
then little known youngster would be-
come a champion.
Kelly always was ready to wager on
the outcome of a sporting event, and
an insight of his genial character is
given in letter written to McGrath
from Tucson, Ariz., his home for many
years, just before he left Tor
Rochester to be operated upon. won
the price of this operation from the
doctor he wrote. Continuing, he said,
~won the bet on Tunney. They still
say, if they started the count sooner
some say if Paris was little far
Their, Lindbergh would have drowned"
Kelly will be buried in Holy Cross
cemetery here, where his. father ana
nonther rest. Three sisters and son,
all residents of San Francisco, sur
vive.
TUCSON, Nov. l (P)-James Pat
rick Curtin, Spider Kelly who died
today at Rochester, Mimi, was
resident of Tucson for the past eight
wears, coming here for his health
Ten days ago Spider" and his wife,
accompanied by Mark Judge, OF Min
neapolis, a protege Of his, left Tor
Rochester where Kelly underwent
maStoid operation.
Prior to his coming to Tucson, Kelly
for many years was a resident and
property / owner of San Francisco,
where he got his early start in the
fight game.