Evening star., 1934-01-21

interference. Pugiism seems to have been tao
lilly sanctioned according to an act of the City
Council of June 3, 1853, which provided IL
cense for boxing exhibitions as follows:
For a license for exhibiting the art of box
ing or pugilism, there shall be paid the of
$50 per week, and no license shall be issued for
less period than a week; and any person or
persons who shall exhibit teach the art of
boxing O pugilism for money, or anything in
lieu thereof, without license as aforesaid. shall
forfeit and pay for each day the same may be
exhibited the sum of $50: and each and every
person so concerned shall be considered as
separate and distinct offender, and liable to the
penalty aforesaid.
John L. Sullivan was another man who added
to the popularity of pugilism and in 1882 we
find him knocking out Jordan RenSler at Ker-
mans Theater (the old Comque). According
to The Star of November 18, Mike Collins ad-
vertised to stand up before the mighty John L.,
prudently was conspicuous" by his absence,
and after some persuasion P. j., or Jordan
Rensler, a Georgetown blacksmith, agreed to
take his place. He was strong and willing but
had had the gloves on only once before in his
life.
An immense crowd hand to the
pride OF the West End box with Sullivan, and
when he came upon the stage, he was clad in
flushed tights and looked the part of a gladia-
tor The band sensing what was to come,
played dirge. and then played lively air. and
the two stepped to the middle of the ring
Rensler put up his guard In approved style and
then the fun began, and at the end of round
one the police interfered to the black
smith, who was knocked down many times
that the police had to interfere. Strange to
say. he was comparatively unhurt. and even
sought an opportunity to go on the following
night, but in this he was disappointed
ONE of the best of the fighters Of 40 or so
- years William G. Nally. Billy
Nally a called. a popular lad
and had wonderful staying powers, in addition
to being skillful, and was fair and square
opponent He was born in lower Maryland
but his people settled in Georgetown at such
early date that he knew no other home
Like SO many upholders of the manly art
he learned blacksmithing. but soon left the
forge for the squared ring, and soon we find
him giving exhibitions at the old Dime Mu-
scum, where now stands the post ofhce, oppo-
site The Star office.
One of his earliest fights. which took place
at Odd Fellows Hall southeast. on January g.
1886, and which was advertised as a sparring
exhibition, did not end in his favor for he
was knocked out in three rounds by James
keenan,. undoubtedly man Of much greater
experience at the time.
Soon Nally became an experienced welter-
weight and had beaten about everything IN
sight until he came across Mike Ready at Dan
Henry's Theater in Alexandria. Previous to
this he was victorious over such notables rs
Billy Mcmillan and Billy Layton. the boxing
also fought the famous Paddy Duffy of Boston
Nally is said to have been the cleverest two
handed fighter that this city ever turned out.
About 81 years ago Mr. Nally decided that
fighting for a living was not all 1t was cracked
up to be. and so he secured employment in the
Library of Congress, from which he was re-
tired about a year ago. When the writer
saw him few days ago. he appeared to be In
the pink of condition, although he had tenn
porary cold. He showed no bad effects from
his many gruelling battles some of which were
fought with skin gloves except for a split upper
lip He said he believed he was the only man
left in the city who saw the fight between John
L. Sullivan and James j. COrbett at New
Orleans, in 1892, when Corbett won in 81
rounds after Sullivan had exhausted himself
trying to catch up with his more Shifty op-
onent. He is fond of talking of the past and
happy that he is great-grandfather. and Mrs.
Nally seemed to be just as much pleased as
her husband.
The writer also had pleasant interview with
Capt. Mike Ready, who had some lively expert
ences as a pugilist before going on the police
force, from which he was recently retired He.
too. looks though he had many years ahead
of him to enjoy life and dream Of his many
battles in the ring, which included his go with
Billy Nally in Alexandria and Billy Mcmillan
at the same place, also his fight with Jim Quinn
of Cincinnati, at Bryantown, Md, fought with
bare knuckles and Tom Mcintyre at Steuben-
er's read house. In 1889 he whipped Joe Ken
nedy of Philadelphia in four rounds, at
River View.
IN 1885 Billy Mcmillan, an unusually clever
man with his fists came to Washington from
New York He was born in England. and, it is
said. was of good parentage. For awhile he was