THE PASSING OF A GREAT PUGLLIST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1073, 29 September 1910, Page 12

THE PASSING OF A GREAT PUGLLIST.

THE LATE JOE GANS.

The one-time world’s greatest lightweight passed away to the great beyond on August 10 last, after a year’s suffering caused by that dread disease consumption. Gans was born at Baltimore on November 25, 1874, and was therefore nearing the 37th anniversary of his birthday when his death took place. The following are a few extracts from an article written by Mr. Harry B. Smith, which appeared in the ‘Frisco ‘‘Chronicle” in August last: —

‘‘Modestly, as would best befit the character of the coloured man who held the light-weight championship from the time he knocked out Frank Erne at Fort Erie in one round in 19 02 until he was himself beaten down by Battling Nelson at the Colma arena on July 4, 1908, the telegraph dispatches have told the story of the passing of the ‘old master.’ Anticipated as the death of Gans was by followers of sporting events from the stories that have daily been published, the event nevertheless came with a shock to those who have followed the ring career of this remarkable negro, and more particularly to those who came in personal contact with him. WHERE GANS WAS SUPERIOR. “In the private office of James W. Coffroth there hangs a cartoon drawn by a well-known Eastern artist. It depicts Joe Gans as Napoleon searching for new fields to conquer. Underneath is written “Superiority.” “Gans represented what the prize ring has always lacked —the fighter in his place. Further than that, as an exponent of boxing rather than of fighting in its harsher aspect Gans did much to keep the game in a healthy condition. It is because of these features that the death of Gans has attracted so much attention, not only from followers of the game, but from the world at large. “He was known as a remarkable boxer—a man who won contests by using his brains as well as his fists, and his indifference to weight handicaps and his showing against men who were pounds heavier than himself won the admiration of the sporting world.

WAS A FIGHTER. —HIS PLACE. “The modesty of Gans was a trait which has been commented upon far and wide. Never, if he knew it, would Gans intrude where he thought his company was not wanted, and when Conditions compelled him to meet strangers he conducted himself as a gentleman in every respect. This attitude was unfailing, and the championship never caused him to forget it.

“I knew Gans for something like twelve years’, was the tribute paid to the departed boxer yesterday afternoon by Jimmy Coffroth, ‘and, even though he was a big man in the game, he was always modest. Never did he call me “Coffroth,” as so many boxers would d'o, but always “Mr. Jim.” I am just telling this story to show how he conducted himself. He was one of the few coloured fighters to hold himself even in popular favour with his white opponents, and that was simply because he knew his place.” “Having demonstrated his superiority over the light-weights, Gans was forced repeatedly to meet heavier men, one of his successes being against Mike (twin) Sullivan, who was knocked out in the fifteenth round of their San Francisco engagement. “Gans fought frequently on the Pacific Coast. The biggest purse he ever fought for was in Goldfield, Nev., on September 3, 1906, when 33,000 dollars was given for the Gans-Nelson battle, of which sum Gans received but 11,000 dollars. “Joe won that contest on a foul in the forty-second round, and after much wrangling and many disputes hs to the decision, the men were rematched by Coffroth to box forty-five rounds at Colma. Gans, under the management of Benny Selig, of this city, was installed an over-whelming favourite, but he had entered one battle too many, Nelson winning by sheer strength in the seventeenth round. Accorded a return engagement on September 9, 1908, Gans was

again beaten by the Dane in twentyone rounds. “Although it had been announced that Joe would retire, he broke into the ring in March, 1909, in a tenround no decision bout with Jabez White in New York. It was a mockery of a fight, and the once brilliant Gans could do nothing. “Consumption was wearing him down at the time, and his journey to the dry climate of Arizona was too long delayed. “As one of the leading boxers of the world of any time Gans will long be remembered.”

The searching inspection to which visitors to Auckland are subjected on arrival has often been referred to in uncomplimentary terms, and it therefore does not come as a surprise to learn that the Australian boxing team were not at all favourably impressed with the proceedings taken on the occasion of their visit to New Zealand shores. Mr. Steve Hinchy, manager of the Queensland representatives, makes the following reference to the subject in a letter to the boxing editor of a leading Queensland sporting paper:—“We arrived in Auckland on Sunday morning, August 28, a day to be remembered by those who had the opportunity afforded in experiencing the coldest day felt for many seasons in that province. After many hours of waiting, the government medical officer found the Australians free from ticks etc., which in the eye of the average New Zealander, grow to the size of kangaroos on this side of the Tasman. We were then permitted to land, when one was further subjected to a careful and searching inspection by the ever too zealous Customs officials, then came the welcome by officials of the Northern Boxing Association.”

Mr. Hinchy has also something to say with regard to the refereeing of the carnival, having commented as follows:—“One regrettable feature about the tournament was the attitude adopted by the referee. He remained outside the ring (which is the old English style), and in almost every bout he repeatedly stopped the progress of the fight* and curtain lectured first one and then the other of the contestants. It showed plainly that the gentleman in question had no control whatever over the boxers. Many a time whilst witnessing his displays did I sigh for the Queensland official, Arthur Austin- “Oh” for his presence in that hempen squarethen justice and fair play to all.”

For the production of the Reno battle, an electric board, 24 feet long and 15 feet high, is employed in America. The fighters are represented by heroic figures nine feet high, outlined by coloured electric bulbs, Jeffries in pink and Johnson in blue. The board is operated substantially on the same principle as are the animated electric signs that have recently come into vogue. Johnson’s terrific uppercuts from the waist line are strikingly portrayed, and the reproduction of Jeffries’ three falls in that memorable fifteenth round is said to be realistic to a marked degree.

Jack Johnson, who was engaged after his defeat of Jeffries by a theatrical syndicate at a salary of £6OO per week for 30 weeks, will visit every city and town of importance in the United States and Canada. “I think I had better remain here for another reason,” said the big negro recently, “if Sam Langford wants to fight me for £4,000 a side, as his manager, Joe Woodman, says he does, I will be in a position to accommodate him at Reno if Mr. Rickard will offer a purse. I have many conditional engagements in Europe for more than a year, but if I can get 90,000 dollars for 30 weeks here I’ll stay.”

Battling Nelson, former light-weight champion of the world, intends spending the next two or three months at Yellowstone Park, U.S.A., where he hopes to get himself into the best of health and condition. Nelson expressed a wish to meet his conqueror, Ad Wolgast, again, and hopes that the meeting will take place on February 22, 1911, just one year after his defeat.