THE SAN FRANCISCO NEWS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1933 JIM CORBETT DIES

Death of Former Champion Recalls Colorful Rise of Bank Clerk to Kingship of Ring

Learned First Boxing Tactics at Olympic Club Early Bouts Under Ban of Law Were Career Highlights

Special to The News _ BAYSIDE, N.Y., Feb. 18. - The death today of James J. Corbett ended one of the most colorful careers the fight industry has ever known. _ "Gentleman Jim's" life was onne of contrasts. _ Mr. Corbett's father, a livery stable keeper, had intended his boy for the priesthood "or some genteel business like banking." Instead he became "Gentleman Jim" - the colorful heavyweight prize ring champion of the world who boasted he "could lick any man in the world." _ Mr. Corbett was destined to be- come a champion who could pound the mighty John L. Sullivan to the floor, but he also was to introduce a new chapter in the history of prize fighting. His refinement and his efforts "set an exaple" for Ameri- can youths and made him a unique and towering figure in the history of a sport which previously had been in disrepute in America. _ The boy begain boxing when he was 12 years old - in school yards from which he was twice ecpelled; in livery stables and in firehouses. _ In the early 80s, which he was obediently trying to become "a gen- teel banker," Mr. Corbett joined the Olympic Club and took his first boxing lessons. In four years he had advanced to be the first middleweight and then heavyweight amateur champion of the club. _ It was Jack Dempsey (the Nonpa- reil) who gave Mr. Corbett the thought that he "could lick any man in the world." A practice bout with Dempsey - 30 minutes without an interruption or rest - showed the youth, who then weighed 160 pounds, James J. Corbett that he could stay with the cleverest boxer of the day. _ The entire west - wilder than it is today, although the fighters had to cross state lines, fight in barns and sometimes on boats in order to escape the law - rose in admiration when Mr. Corbett settled an ancient grudge with Joe Choynski, in a fight on a barge at Benicia. Choynski wore skin-tight gloves, "having lost hi own pair." Corbett wore five- ounce gloves, and fought with a bro- ken thumb through 28 rounds, finally to knock out his opponent with the left hook he had perfected. _ Later came his historic fight with Peter Jackson. A few words, Mr. Corbett's own, furnish a fitting de- scription of the match; "In the 50th round I loosed a left-hand hook as Jackson was letting the right go for my head... That is the only inci- dent of the 10 periods from the 50th to the 60th that I regard as impor- tant." And in the 61st round the referee called the bout "no contest," three seconds before Jackson col- lapsed from sheer exhaustion. _ shortly after this fight, John L. Sullivan, touring the country in his play, "Honesy Hearts and Willing Hands," met Mr. Corbett in an ex- hibition bout on a San Francisco stage. Mr. Corbett decided to fight the most aggressive, hard-hitting champion America had ever seen. _ In 1892 the match was arranged, and sportsmen the nation over, in- cluding Mr. Corbett's friends, bet heavily on the Boston strong boy. The match, in New Orleans, was the first ever arranged under the pro- tection of the police. _ Mr. Corbett fought cautiously dur- ing the early rounds of that fight, yet in the third round he had suc- ceeded with five blows in breaking the bigger man's nose. _ In the 21st round, with Sullivan badly worried, Mr. Corbett followed home a left hook with a smacking hard right to the jaw, and an ex- world's champion rolled on the floor. The betting had been 5 to 1 against Mr. Corbett. _ That night, while his friends were celebrating with champagne, Mr. Corbett drank milk, and a new leg- end was established. "He drinks milk because he wants to set an ex- ample to boys," the amazed sport- ing world learned. _ For five years Mr. Corbett reigned as undisputed champion, and con- tinued to build up the "Gentleman Jim" reputation that was his whole- some pride. He gressed well - like the banker he might have become. He strove for an appearance of cul- ture and refinement, and, having set himself an ideal, tried to live up to it. He was a new type of champion. _ _ _ _ Loses Title _ In 1894 Mr. Corbett appeared as an actor in "Gentleman Jim" at the Drury Lane Theater in London. Henceforth he was to divide his interests between the ring and the stage. He had an unusual trait in prizefighters, a good actor. Even other actors admitted it. _ In 1897 he lost his heavyweight championship to Bob Fitzsimmons in a moment of what he termed "accidental carelessness." The knock- out punch was a blow in the pit of the stomach, and the "solar plexas punch" became a phrase known from one end of the country to th other. He was never again able to regain the title.

FAMOUS FRIENDS... "Gentleman Jim" was loved by famous people of many lands. He is shown above with Sam Ber- nard behind Joe Weber, noted comedian; Lillian Russell, internationally famous beauty, and Weber's partner, Lew Fields. Years after Mr. Corbett had lost his championship he came within a whisper of winning it back in his fight with Bob Fitzsimmons. The end of the fight is shown in the lower picture.

SUCCUMBS IN WIFE'S ARMS Long Illness From Glandular Trouble Induced Heart Diseace END IS PEACEFUL Death Comes While Fighter Is In Coma From Opiates

By United Press _ BAYSIDE, N.Y., Feb. 18. - "Gen- tleman" James J. Corbett, most col- orful heavyweight champion boxer ever known, died at his home here today. _ His death at 2:10 p.m. came peacefully after a long illness due to a glandular disorder which in- duced heart disease. _ His wife and two lifelong friends, John and Dennis Kelcher, were at his bedside when the not unexpected end came. Death Expected _ His physicians this morning had declared that his death was but hours away. He had been in a crit- ical condition since Jan. 30. _ Dr. G. Willard Dickey, his physi- cian, had made a routine call this morning and administered a nar- cotic, which induced a deep sleep for several hours. Dr. Dickey was not present when the old-time champion passed away. _ The last sacraments of the church were administered several days ago. _ "Well, my darling is gone," Mrs. Corbett called out to her friends, bravely endeavoring to retain her composure. _ "He died in my arms. He died beautifully - without a word," she told the United Press a few mo- ments after she left the room, with tears in her eyes. "I am trying to make myself believe he is better off." Funeral Sunday _ It was believed that funeral serv- ices would be held, probably Sunday, at St. Malachy's Catholic Church, a favorite chapel of New York actors and others in public life. _ Burial probably will be in the Cypress Hills Cemetery. _ Joe Smalley, another of the ex- champion's old-time friends, was also at the Corbett home when he died. He told newspapermen that at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Corbett appeared to go into a coma and that there were slight convulsive movements at intervals, each weaker than the last, until 2:10, when the end came.

Three Champions Mourn Gentleman Jim's Death

By United Press _ LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18. - Jack Dempsey, Jess Willard and Jim Jef- fries, three men who came to the heavyweight championship after Jim Corbett, commented sadly here to- day on Corbett's death. _ "We have lost one of the greatest champions, one of the finest gentle- men we ever had," Dempsey said. _ Then Dempsey related an incident that preceded the fight in which he won the heavyweight title from Wil- lard at Toledo. _ "Corbett came to me before the fight," Dempsey said. "He told me to stay away from Willard. He told me not to let him wrestle me around because it was a hot day and those tactics would tire me. He realized our styles differed and told me the safest thing to do was to knock Willard out as quickly as possible. His strategy worked." _ Mr. Jeffries lauded the sports- manship and shrewdness of Mr. Cor- bett, recalling his fight with "Gen- tleman Jim" in San Francisco in 1904. _ "We argued for days about the se- lection of a referee," Jeffries re- called. "We squabbled over six to a dozen names without getting any- where. Finally, I said to Jim, 'We'll pick a man tomorrow or we don't fight.' _ "Maybe you're right, Jim," I re- plied. _ "The next day I told him I had selected his own brother Harry to referee the fight. He said that would never do and we finally agreed on Eddie Graney, who was the man we both wanted." _ "Jim and I got along fine. He was one of the finest fellows I ever knew. He never looked for the best of it."

GREAT FIGURE GONE, DECLARES TUNNEY

By United Press _ CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 18. - Jim Corbett was "the most colorful figure ever to grace the prize ring," Gene Tunney, retired heavyweight champ- pion, said in tribute today when he learned of Corbett's death in New York. _ "A great figure has passed on," Tunney said sadly. "I mourn with the friends of sports and with Mr. Corbett's personal friends. I have known him since I began my box- ing career. He always has been an inspiration to me."

'GENTLEMAN' MOURNED BY HIS FRIENDS S.F. Sports Leaders and Aides of Ex-Champion Join In Sorrow 'HE WAS WORTHY OF NAME' Former Associates Pay Tribute to Outstanding Figure of Boxing

_ Deep concern over the passing of James Corbett was expressed here today by friends and former asso- ciates of the one-time champion. _ Before young Corbett, who is at- tempting to carry his name to new honors, and Jackie Fields clash at Seals' Stadium Feb. 22, the crowd will be asked to pay a brief me- morial tribute to his namesake, James J. Corbett. _ This became practically certain to- day when Chaplain Leslie C. Kelly of the State Athletic Commission learned of "Gentleman Jim's" death. _ "I shall recommend that at the Young Corbett-Jackie Fields fight, just before the main event," he said, "The crowd stand bareheaded for 10 seconds while the referee counts off the bell." _ Some of the comments follow: _ TOM SHARKEY, who fought Cor- bett twice - He was a great fellow, a man who did everything possible to put boxing on a high plane. May his soul rest in peace. _ TIM McGRATH, Sharkey's man- ager - Jim's death is a severe blow. He was a real credit to the game, a gentleman at mall times. San Fran- cisco never produced a better ath- lete. His name will go down in ring history. _ CHAPLAIN LESLIE C. KELLEY of the State Athletic Commission - I deplore the passing of James J. Corbett. He was one of the exam- ples of the fact that it is possible for a man to be a boxer and at the same time a gentleman and a worthy and laudable citizen. _ JACK KEARNS, manager of Jackie Fields, welterweight cham- pion, and Mickey Walker, who held the welter and middleweight titles. - I think the boxing game has lost one of the finest and cleanest athletes it has ever had. Jim Corbett was cor- rectly called "Gentleman Jim" be- cause he was a real gentleman in and out of the ring. His loss is particu- larly felt here in San Francisco, where he was born and raised. Jackie Fields and Mickey Walker join me in expressing our regret at boxing game. _ JOHN KITCHEN JR, the man who succeeded to Corbett's amateur heavyweight laurels in the early 90s - It is a pitiful thing that a man of the caliber of Jim Corbett has to pass. Corbett's death marks the passing of a great master. He was the daddy of them all in the boxing game. And he was a credit to the fistic art. _ WILLIE RITCHIE, former light- weight champion and a licensed California referee - Jim Corbett was my friend, and I can hardly find words to express my regret at his death. Jim and Mrs. Corbett visited my home several times during his theatrical tours and he help me with my boxing. He was a real friend and gentleman. It was Jim Corbett who took boxing out of the saloons and raised it to it's highest level. I am wiring my sympathy to Mrs. Corbett today. _ GEORGE ALFRED PUTNAM, secretary of the Seals baseball club and promoter of the Stadium Ath- letic Club - Because he was a base- ball player himself before entering the ring, and because of his brother, Joe Corbett, a famous pitcher of the early days, Jim Corbett was closer to baseball than any other fighter. We knew and respected Jim Corbett as a gentleman and a true credit to the sport of boxing. He visited the local park many times on his trips here before the death of Lou Hardy, our former ground- keeper, who was the real discoverer of the fistic talents of "Gentleman Jim."

Corbett, 12, Wins First Bout, Expelled From St. Ignatius

_ Jim Corbett's first fight took place in the old "mint yard," across the street from the mint, back in the days when St. Ignatius school and college stood where the Emporium now stands. _ And from that time on until he became a world figure. San Fran- cisco was the cradle of his career. _ That first fight was with "Fatty" Carney, a schoolmate at St. Ignatius. Corbett was 12. Carney was older and bigger. In his autobiography, "Gentleman Jim" tells at length of the battle he had with himself to get nerve for the ordeal. _ The fight caused his expulsion from St. Ignatius, but it showed him that he knew, almost instinctively, the technique of self defense. He became more interested in boxing meeting friends at impromptu matches in his father's livery stable and, finally, as a representative of the Olympic Club. _ Walter Watson, instructor, took an interest in him and worked hard toward his development as a ring stylist. _ But he showed that he was a great deal more than a stylist when, one day, he went in the ring at the club with Jack Dempsey, the Nonparell. Dempsey wanted some exercise. He got it when Corbett traded punches with him for a half hour without rest. _ Another San Francisco boy, Joe Choynski, brought him to fame throughout the boxing world with a fight that has become something of a mythical battle of ring gods - the 28-round contest on the Benicia barge. _ That ring epic followed years of boyhood antagonism. The two had clashed before, just because they didn't like one another, but they had never finished the thing. When the two met a fight started without a purse or a promoter. Their grudge was due to a natural opposition. _ Even at the time of their first fight, in a barn near Sausalito, Cor- bett was the gentleman boxer, the amateur, the white collar guy. Choynski was the opposite. _ After that Corbett fought for money, but he never changed from the type of man his San Francisco boyhood had made him.

THE SAN FRANCISCO NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 1933

LEOMINSTER DAILY ENTERPRISE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1933 DEATH KNOCKS OUT CORBETT

JIM CORBETT DIES
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