Joe Goss the Famous Pugilist. By Rob Snell

[Mofo2]

THE SUNDAY GAZETTE; FORT WAYNE. IND.

SUNDAY MARCH 29 1886

Grim Death Knocks Out

GOSS the Famous Pugilist.

A Sketch of the Life and Career of This Noted Thumper

The death of Joe Goss, the ex-champion heavy weight pugilist of America, at his place the Saracen Head, Lagrange street, Boston, and a sketch of his career will be at this time not uninteresting reading. He was born at Nottingham, England, November 5, 1838, and was therefore in the forty eighth year. During his boyhood days he resided at Wolverhampton, England, where he was apprenticed to the cobbler's trade.

His first appearance in the ring was at Sussex, September 20, 1859, when he disposed to Jack Rooke (deceased), a brother of George Rooke, after battling sixty-four rounds, occupying one hour and forty minutes, the stakes being £25 aside. Goss was next matched to fight Tom Price, then in the zenith of his fame, on November 29, 1859, but Goss failed to reduce himself to the stipulated weight, thereby forfeiting £25 to Price.

On February 10,1860, he squared matters with Price by defeating him in twenty-five minutes for £20. July 17, 1860, in the Oxford circuit, Goss defeated Badger Crutchley in 120 rounds, occupying three hours and twenty minutes, for £200. This was one of the gamest and hardest fought battles ever contested in England.

His next opponent was Bill Ryall, known as Brettle's big 'un, who died some years Ago in St Louis, Mo. Goss disposed Ryall in thirty-seven rounds, September 24, 1861, lasting two hours and fifty minutes, for £100. In the following February Goss and Ryall again met for £200, and fought thirty-six rounds in three hours and eighteen minutes, whereupon, neither man being able to finish, the referee declared

THE BATTLE A DRAW.

On November 25, 1862, he beat Posh Price in sixty-six rounds, lasting one hour and forty minutes, for £25 a side, the battle taking place on the banks of the Thames- September 1,1863, he fought Jem Mace at the same place, and was beaten in nineteen rounds, occupying one hour and fifty six minutes. Mace staking $600 to $400 on the result.

On December 16, of the same year Goss defeated Ike Baker, of West Bromwich, near London, in one hour and twenty minutes, for £100. At Longfield court, May 24, 1866, he again met Mace for $400 and the champion belt. They faced each other for one hour and five minutes without a blow being struck, when the referee declared the battle a draw. They subsequently agreed to met in a sixteen foot ring in the London district, August 16, 1866, for £200 a side, when Goss again suffered defeat at Mace's hands, after battling twenty-one rounds in. thirty-one minutes.

On March 5, 1867, in the Bristol district, England, be met Tom Allen, now residing in St Louis . They fought in three rings, being twice interfered with by the police. After they had contested in all thirty-five rounds, lasting one hour and fifty-two minutes, neither was able to continue, and they mutually agreed to have the battle drawn. January 26, 1868, Goss received £85 forfeit from Joe Wormald, and in August of the same year was matched to fight Harry Allen (Tom's brother, since deceased) for ,£200 a side and the championship, but both men were placed under bonds to keep the peace for one year, which caused a failure of the match.

Goss then opened a public house at Wolverhampton, which was known as the "'Saracen's Head," the same name as he afterward gave to his sporting-house in Lagrange street, Boston. In his principal battles in England, Goss was seconded and handled by those old veterans Jack Hicks and Joe Baldock. 'The former had visited this country as advisor to

NED O'BALDWIN. THE IRISH GIANT

who was fatally shot by his partner. Mike Fennell, in their saloon in New York City, September 27, 1875. In April 15,1876, and their first appearance in public was made at the Howard Athenaeum, Boston, under John Stetson's management he receiving $500 each to appear at two special matinees, this price then being the biggest money ever paid to two pugilists in this country.

They then journeyed to New York where they joined Howe and Cushings circus appearing afternoon and evening in a grand passage at arms. While West Goss challenged his old time opponent Tom Allen who had won the title of champion of America by defeating Mike McCoole in seven rounds lasting twenty minutes at Edwardsville . September 23, 1873, Allen promptly accepted the and a match for $2,500 and the championship was made. The fight took place in two rings, erected respectively in Kenton and Boone counties, Kentucky, September 7, 1876, resulting in a victory for Goss on a foul blow given by Allen when Goss was on his knees, and When, apparently, Goss was a beaten man. The battle lasted forty-eight minutes, and twenty-one rounds were battled.

Allen was arrested on the same day and released on bail; but, November 24, both were indicted by the grand jury and warrants issued for their arrest Allen crossed to Canada and thence sailed for England, later returning to St. Louis Mo., where he is now Installed in a public house. Goss was arrested in New York City March 7, 1877. upon a requisition from the governor of Kentucky, and taken to Burlington, where he was tried, convicted, and sentenced on March 16, to pay a fine of $250, in default of which he was committed to jail. On July 17 he was released on paying a portion of the fine imposed, other parties go guaranteeing the payment of the remainder. Goss was then

CHAMPION OF AMERICA,

but he forfeited the title to Johnny Dwyer (deceased), who subsequently forfeited the title to Paddy Ryan, now of this city, and on January 12, 1880, the veteran, who had concluded to try it again, challenged him for $2,000 and the championship. While this match was pending Goss sparred with John L.Sullivan at Music Hall, Boston, and John's good right hand put old Joe in Queer street before the second round was ended. At Collier's Station, Va., June 1, 1830, Goss and Ryan came together in the squared circle, and old Joe was beaten after a stubbornly contested battle of eighty-seven rounds, lasting one hour and twenty-eight minutes.

This was Goss' last appearance in the prize ring and he returned to Boston where he afterward opened a sporting house known as the Saracen's Head on Lagrange street. At the time that Sullivan and Ryan met at Mississippi City the old veteran was one of the Boston boy's seconds, and his delight at John's easy victory was beyond his power to express, so he only said as he bowed his bald head in the ring and looked admiringly at John, "Hain't 'ee a daisy; ee can lick a room full of fighters ee can.".