LETTER FROM JEM MACE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2388, 29 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

LETTER FROM JEM MACE.

COMING TO AUSTRALIA AGAIN. Peter Newtox has received tho following letter from Jem Mace. It contains some interesting and amusing information : Dear Peter, —You will no doubt, be surprised to hoar from me. I thought I would let yon know all about your old friend, Tom Lees, who came here a few months ago half dead. He took bad in India. I first saw him at the Royal Aquarium, London, at a boxing contest. He came up to me, and said, “ Can I have a go with some of the Saxons?” I looked at him, and said, “Who are yon?” He said, “ Peter Newton.” I said, “ No, you are not,” but could see something in him that made me interested. To make a long story short, I got him into St. George's Hospital, and got him around after a month. He got pals with young Dr Gordon, who is a nephew to the late General Gordon, and he took great interest in Lees, and ho soon recovered. I then tank him in hand, and showed him all I knew, and then challenged any 11stone man in the world, but got no answer until Professor Donnelly came forward with 12-stone great unknown (W. Perkins). I got-.lack Ilick.s (once light-weight champion of England) to look after Lues, and I taught him a tew wrinkles and taught him to in-tight well. The result was Tom won easily. I never saw a man cut up with the raw ’nns like ho cut up tho poor Unknown with small gloves. When the Unknown got into the sixteen-foot ring he was very flash and confident, and said he was going to fight for England’s glory. Tom said to him, “ My country don’t want glory, it has enough, Dot I will have a shut for the Shamrock.” This greatly pleased old Jim Dillon, the old time fighter, and plenty of others, who made him wear preen colors. Tom and I took an engagement at the Scotia Theatre, Glasgow. We sparred together. Tom and Pat Feener, the great Irish comedian, got very chummy. Pat, who is a real dynamiter, got Tom to join the Land League, and he got up in front of about two thousand people, and spoke about the wrongs of Ireland. He did tell them some big ones. He said that all Australia was with Ireland. Ho has made many friends, and is well liked by all classes. I have matched him again to fight Bill Goode (who fought a draw with Kilrain in America) for the middle-weight championship of the world, both to be under II stone, and £IOO and the middle-weight belt. If this comes off I will be out m Australia in about six months’ time. (The news has since arrived of Lees’ defeat.] Tom told me all about the row, but people in England won’t believe that Lees would hurt a worm. They say that he is too much of a gentleman. How are all the boys? Remember me to Jack Thompson, Foley, and young Nathan. I have seen Sam Nixon and Jack Mann, also Sutton. My sons, John and Albert, are down here to see Tom go through his work. Being ministers, I thought they would not come, but they have taken a fancy to the Australian boxer. The country boys about here call him the Kangaroo, as he beats them all running and jumping. Retells them that there is only one country in the world worth living in, and sticks up for Australia. He does put it on thick. Tom calls Bob Travers the old Blacktracker. Bob can’t make him out, but has a good opinion of his fighting abilities. I think I have told you all. Tom says he will write next mail, and send a full account of the fight. With best wishes to all the boys and yourself, from your old friend, Jem Mack.” Park Hotel, Wheathamstead, No Man’s Land, Herts., Harfordshire, England, 20th August, ISS7. P.S.—This is where Deaf Burke killed Simon Byrne (at No Man’s Land), and most of all the old fights took place here.