Evening star., 1953-03-06

seems assured that Bartlett'S Familiar IL
Quotations takes cognizance of it. The
Bartlett editors, however, must have the
idea that the anky Coishman employed what radio comics
call twist ThucydideS for the Fzsmmons line
red footnote the material credited to the ancient
Greek,
What Thucyddes wrote in the fifth century before Christ
It is the lofty pine that by the storm
Is oftener tossed, towers fall with heavier crash
Which higher
Since Fitzsmmons had been blacksmith for some time
before he turned to prizegng at 49, it's pretty safe to
the line was strictly his own.
THE GREAT JEFFRIEs died the other night at IT and
the story didn't get the newspaper space might have
expected passing many consider the best
fist fighter that lived Probably this because he died
the night that Moscow the of Sans
But the story brought back memories for odimers and
in the middle SOS and able to recall just
what they did the afternoon of July 1910 That was the
day JEFF lost to Jack Johnson IN his advised attempt to
regain the championship he when he retired unde
feated more than five years before.
Excluding exhibitions part only pro-
fesonal ghts-ths number exceeding by two the
engaged in by Man O. War; 1t didn't take appearances
for eachthe 6foo1a bolermaker and the great stake
horSeto leave ndebe impression the sports world
Each lost only
Apparently JEFF colorful himsef-at least by
comparison with John L. Sullivan and Jack DempSeybut
most Of his eight championship fights dramatic in the
he surrounded by colorfu group topped
his manager william A. Brady, theatrical pro-
Brady, the Then,
Jerie -Fitzsimmons Jim Corbet and Sailor
Tom sharkey otherscoud be counted ON for plenty
of dramaucs
AT THE TIME OF THE Joey Maxim-sugar Ray Robinson
bout last summer several ome fight FANS in discussing
the 1OO-degree that prevailed, recalled the Jeres
sharkey fight at Coney According the
odster the newfangd keg lights around the ring caused
heat intense yet Sharkey IS pounds lighter and
about five inches shorter than the great champion went the
full 25 despite several broken ribs and lost haine
didn't get big either The before
this shborn sailor had fought another bruising battle
with Jes San Francisco losing the decision in 20 rounds
Sharkey quite the fighter afterward
and he always another cham
pion Jefries would have licked Jack Dempsey and
Joe Louis on the same night he often has
strong bull and quick his feet as cat He could
knock out with a left ab"
After their ring days, Jefries sharkey teamed up
boxing exhibition act They toured the country with circus
and later got together again and played the vaudeville
circuits If memory the two old buddieS here
recently the early 1885, getting
big hand for "reminiscences and small talk. Now
Sharkey nearing co. is reported death himself in San
Francisco hospital The last alive who fought Jeres he
may 60 soon following Jeies just Sullivan and Ftzsim
within months of each other during World
War l.
THE JEFFRIEs-SHARKEY friendship gives insight
into Jes character according Jimmy Lake, washngons
avorte who knew most of the fighters
the gaSlght Jimmy Corbe and Jefries also
the closest friends after their fighting days
although there incidents involving the two that might
easily have made them enemies.
thing JEFF Corbett's sparring partner when
Gentleman champion helped him get ready for
losing fight with Fitzsimmons Later jeff got Brady
time manager, handle his interests, and
Brady Jeres in two fights against Cobett
when the regain the title after retiring for
couple years. Lake. the first of these
battles and that the clever Corbetin much better shape
than antcpated-cut the xbolermaker face to ribbons
for % rounds before the big champion nailed him against
ring post and finished him in the 23d.
Lake also recalled travelling with Jefries act on the
bueSque circuit for three weeks back around 1915 He
he met modest who more clean
living Apparently the only fighter jeff pummeled with
than usual Jack Munroe big miner, who
given the champion rough time in ourround exhibit
Butte Mont. 1903 JEFF not in condition
presumably felt he had been double
knocked out Munro in the second round the next time
they met then didn't fight again until he met Johnson
JEFFRIES' FIRST APPEARANCE here was in 1909 when
he and Frank Gotch perhaps the greatest of all wreser
staged exhibition at old Convention Hall the present
Market frankie himself fighter in those days
later boxing promoter match maker, well
bers their visit.
Boxing illegal Washington" frankie recalled.
You couldn't touch another jim merely shadow
and exhibition of ropeSkpping. He getting
ready for the Johnson fight the following Big he
then remember him telling Pat OConnor he could
100 yards in under IL seconds.
Goch favoriteS his part of the show
and his opponents Turner and Rob Roy Mackey
both dead now Joe and Rob Roy made small bet as to
who would last the longer Joe made the mistake of shaking
hands when he got in ring just grabbed him
pinned him. So when Mackey climbed through the he
started running around and it took Gotch
couple of minutes to catch him and put him down. o.
Naturally, Rob Roy collected the bet"