There are a few discrepancies pertaining to photographs that are in need of explanation. First on page 336 there is a photo of Sam as a younger man. The caption identifies the picture as being from 1912 in Australia. This is clearly in error as he is much younger. The caption will be revised to say "Undated" and moved to an early grouping of photos in a 2nd printing.
On page 172 there are two photographs of Sam fighting against Jim Barry. Both are identified as April 14, 1910, but Barry is clearly wearing different color and lengths of shorts in the two photos, so one is obviously dated incorrectly. After further investigation I have determined it is the photo on the bottom that is incorrect. That one will be revised to say "undated" for a 2nd printing.
On page 399 there is a photo of Sam's headstone that indicates he was born in 1883. On the first page of the opening chapter I indicate that he was born on March 4th of 1886. The reasons I settled on 3/4/1886 as his correct birthdate include the following:
His manager, Joe Woodman, said that at one point he investigated the issue himself and located Sam's birth certificate and that it confirmed 3/4/1886 as the correct date.
In a series of articles published in 1924 Sam identifies 3/4/1886 as his date of birth. (Source: Halifax Herald, August 12, 1924)
Throughout the book the reader will find Sam making references to his age at different stages of his career and those coincide with a birth year of 1886.
I have a copy of an 1891 census that identifies Sam as being 6 years of age at that time. (Now that could also point to 1885 as a birthdate, but in any case it certainly confirms 1886 more than 1883.
I have another document titled 'Descendants of Charles Langford' that gives a birthdate of March 6, 1886 for Sam.
Another document titled 'Children of Robert Langford and Charlotte Robert' lists their children and gives March 6, 1886 as Sam's birthdate.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Sept. 1904 Welterweight Title Fight with Joe Walcott
‘The Union’ newspaper account of the September 1904 Walcott-Langford welterweight title fight. Courtesy of NH State Library:
“LAKE FIGHT WAS A DRAW.
Walcott and Langford in Fifteen Found Mixup
They Weighed In At 142
Champion Was Outpointed by His Adversary – But Carried the Fighting to Langford – The Preliminary Was a Burlesque and Spotty Coyne. Gave a Tiresome Exhibition
One of the main sporting events of Labor day was pulled off at the Coliseum before upwards of 2,000 people, when Joe Walcott and Sam Langford fought fifteen rounds for championship honors. The fight ended in a draw, Langford outpointed the title holder from the start, ____ _____ the ____ Walcott was forced to carry the fighting to him. Owen Kenney officiated the bout, and his decision appeared to meet with general approval, although it was unquestionable a Langford (______?).
((Can’t make out much of the 2nd paragraph, which is about the preliminary bout))
Third paragraph:
I can’t make out the first three words of the first sentence, but after that it looks like it says: “was started on time” and then: “Walcott was the first to enter the ring. He was accompanied by “Honey” Melody, Peter Walker, Harry R_____?, and John (Breslin?), all of Boston. The champion wore an American flag about his belt. Langford was seconded by James Welsh, Ed Keevin, and B____ J_____ all of Boston.”
Fourth paragraph:
“Before calling time Referee Kenney announced that both men had weighed in at 142 pounds - Walcott appeared heavier – and would fight fifteen rounds for a decision, the fighters to protect themselves at all times and break on command of the referee.”
Fifth paragraph:
“The first round started in lively, although it was mostly sparring for an opening. Walcott appeared to be playing for the body and Langford for the head. In the second round Langford was in and out and all over the ring.
Walcott reached home with a good left swing to the jaw in the third and the fighting warmed up as the round progressed. Langford drove several stiff rights to the jaw toward the last of the round, and the bell sounded with the fighting in Langford’s favor.
Honors were about even in the fourth.
In the fifth, Walcott drove a left to Langford’s jaw. Langford returned the blow with a left to the jaw and the fighters mixed up. This was also Langford’s round.
The sixth was a general slam-bank contest, Langford driving left and right to jaw and body. The blows appeared to have little effect on the champion, however, and he kept chaffing Langford, a trick of his when his opponent is getting in some telling blows.
Walcott forced the fighting continuously in the seventh.
In the eighth Walcott started in as if to end the bout then and there. As he would plant a stiff left on Langford’s ribs he would say: “I’ve got ‘im Billy, just wait, I’ve got ‘im.” Langford put a sudden stop to the chaffing, however, with a right hook to the jaw that sent the champion reeling. This he followed up with a couple of uppers cuts and a left drive to the jaw. The fighting in this was the fastest of any round.
The next four rounds as far as points were concerned were easily Langford’s, although in each he hung back and let Walcott force him.
In the thirteenth Walcott got an upper cut that made his teeth rattle and started him to bleeding at the mouth. He drove a vicious right swing to Langford’s jaw before the round ended.
Walcott came up the fresher of the two in the fourteenth and landed left and right on Langford’s wind and jaw. Langford drove a heavy right to the jaw, but the heavy body blows that he had been taking appeared to have winded him.
In the fifteenth and last round both men came up fresh. Walcott refused to shake hands and Langford went in to make him pay for it. This round was fast and furious, although neither lost his generalship. The bell sounded with both men on their feet and honors about even.
Referee Kenney’s decision of a draw was greeted with applause.
The management of the bout had made arrangements for a big crowd, erecting two extra stands capable of seating 1,000 people, although, many Boston sports came up, the attendance did not pan out as anticipated, the new stands only being about half (full?)”
“LAKE FIGHT WAS A DRAW.
Walcott and Langford in Fifteen Found Mixup
They Weighed In At 142
Champion Was Outpointed by His Adversary – But Carried the Fighting to Langford – The Preliminary Was a Burlesque and Spotty Coyne. Gave a Tiresome Exhibition
One of the main sporting events of Labor day was pulled off at the Coliseum before upwards of 2,000 people, when Joe Walcott and Sam Langford fought fifteen rounds for championship honors. The fight ended in a draw, Langford outpointed the title holder from the start, ____ _____ the ____ Walcott was forced to carry the fighting to him. Owen Kenney officiated the bout, and his decision appeared to meet with general approval, although it was unquestionable a Langford (______?).
((Can’t make out much of the 2nd paragraph, which is about the preliminary bout))
Third paragraph:
I can’t make out the first three words of the first sentence, but after that it looks like it says: “was started on time” and then: “Walcott was the first to enter the ring. He was accompanied by “Honey” Melody, Peter Walker, Harry R_____?, and John (Breslin?), all of Boston. The champion wore an American flag about his belt. Langford was seconded by James Welsh, Ed Keevin, and B____ J_____ all of Boston.”
Fourth paragraph:
“Before calling time Referee Kenney announced that both men had weighed in at 142 pounds - Walcott appeared heavier – and would fight fifteen rounds for a decision, the fighters to protect themselves at all times and break on command of the referee.”
Fifth paragraph:
“The first round started in lively, although it was mostly sparring for an opening. Walcott appeared to be playing for the body and Langford for the head. In the second round Langford was in and out and all over the ring.
Walcott reached home with a good left swing to the jaw in the third and the fighting warmed up as the round progressed. Langford drove several stiff rights to the jaw toward the last of the round, and the bell sounded with the fighting in Langford’s favor.
Honors were about even in the fourth.
In the fifth, Walcott drove a left to Langford’s jaw. Langford returned the blow with a left to the jaw and the fighters mixed up. This was also Langford’s round.
The sixth was a general slam-bank contest, Langford driving left and right to jaw and body. The blows appeared to have little effect on the champion, however, and he kept chaffing Langford, a trick of his when his opponent is getting in some telling blows.
Walcott forced the fighting continuously in the seventh.
In the eighth Walcott started in as if to end the bout then and there. As he would plant a stiff left on Langford’s ribs he would say: “I’ve got ‘im Billy, just wait, I’ve got ‘im.” Langford put a sudden stop to the chaffing, however, with a right hook to the jaw that sent the champion reeling. This he followed up with a couple of uppers cuts and a left drive to the jaw. The fighting in this was the fastest of any round.
The next four rounds as far as points were concerned were easily Langford’s, although in each he hung back and let Walcott force him.
In the thirteenth Walcott got an upper cut that made his teeth rattle and started him to bleeding at the mouth. He drove a vicious right swing to Langford’s jaw before the round ended.
Walcott came up the fresher of the two in the fourteenth and landed left and right on Langford’s wind and jaw. Langford drove a heavy right to the jaw, but the heavy body blows that he had been taking appeared to have winded him.
In the fifteenth and last round both men came up fresh. Walcott refused to shake hands and Langford went in to make him pay for it. This round was fast and furious, although neither lost his generalship. The bell sounded with both men on their feet and honors about even.
Referee Kenney’s decision of a draw was greeted with applause.
The management of the bout had made arrangements for a big crowd, erecting two extra stands capable of seating 1,000 people, although, many Boston sports came up, the attendance did not pan out as anticipated, the new stands only being about half (full?)”
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