been doing some work on this guy and wanted to share this particular story with you
The Syracuse Herald
11 December 1918
Jim Corbett’s column
Thirty.years ago next February Jack McAuliffe battled with Billy Meyers in a contest that had a 'life or death aspect for, McAuliffe.
Jack at the time, held title as the lightweight champion of the world He had defended his crown against all comers and had whipped every formidable foe in the country—with one execution. And that was Billy Meyer; the "Streator Cyclone. The men finally were matched for a finish contest and it was put on in North Judson Ind A large portion of the crowd came from Meyer's home town -Streator - and this faction, together with several hundred toughs from Chicago, had vowed that: "Meyers won’t lose while a bullet is left in .our guns”.
Just to show they meant business that crowd arrived on the-battle scene armed with knives and revolvers while about two dozen carried sawed off shotguns "If you get rough with Billy I'll drill, you." shouted a man from the crowd. His sentiments were those of many of the spectators. those men had bet their last dollar on "the Streator Cyclone." - and they were there to cash their bets.
As Jack McAuliffe answered the gong for the first round of that fight he was faced by a situation such as few men ever have known in the prize ring. He never .had been defeated and he wanted to keen his record; clean: Yet. If h e won the chances were that he might be killed or seriously wounded. He had bet considerable money on the outcome of the bout himself and he knew his friends had backed him : to the extent of more than $100.000. Jack knew that by "laying down he would be saved from maltreatment by the crowd, but if he battled to the limit of his endeavors the chances were that with victory would come to him-:shooting - and perhaps death.
Game, courageous Jack McAuliffe walked into that ring faced every man in that hostile crowd .and. then sneered in a way that said, to every man: "Go as far as you like boy but you can't stop me from trying to win this fight." Mike McDonald of Chicago was the referee of that contest. No squarer, gamer and cleaner sportsman ever lived. McDonald knew what conditions confronted McAuliffe and he was aware also that if he gave McAuliffe the best of it that he too might “get his”.
But. unafraid. McDonald announced; "I'm here to see that both men" get a fair deal in this contest, I want the crowd to know that I won't stand for any monkey business from either side from the crowd. And that goes.
Meyers, and McAuliffe started off rather slowly, devoting the early rounds to feeling each other out. Then both fighters cut .loose for a dozen rounds, only to rest for six or-seven rounds. After that McAuliffe took the offensive and kept it up for more than ten rounds. Time and again he had Meyer’s in a bad way but whenever he backed Meyers up against the ropes, one or another of the Streator thugs who had ringside seats, began to interfere with McAuliffe.
Frequently Jack's legs were grabbed A weight was dropped on his foot or Sharp pointed instruments were stuck into his legs whenever he got near the ropes. Naturally Jack kept away from the ropes as much as, possible thereafter realizing that continued, interference by the Streator men: might handicap him seriously.
Meyers, after that, continued backing near to the ropes. He knew that McAuliffe wouldn't press, him too closely there. As round after round went by non-partisan members; of the crowd became disgusted with Meyers's tactics. McAuliffe tried in various ways to lure, Meyers near to the center of the ring but the "Streator Cyclone." Spent .most of his time in the vicinity of the ropes. When McAuliffe occasionally .chased him to them, Meyers dodged by simply circling the ring on the ropes. Referee McDonald cautioned Meyers frequently, about his dilatory tactics.
When the twenty-third round, ended, without any real action having taken place in nearly ten rounds, McDonald said to Meyers: 'If you don't do some -fighting in the next round. I'll stop this fight and call it a draw.
A draw was the best thing that Meyers had. been hoping for. Undoubtedly the action in the first twenty rounds convinced him that in a stand up fight with the wonderful McAuliffe he had but little chance. So with the beginning of the twenty fourth round. Meyers began skipping around the ring again avoiding McAuliffe in even possible way. Finally McDonald sent both men back to their corners and announced to the crowd “This fight is a draw”.
After the fight McAuliffe said “the luckiest thing that could have happened To me. That Streator crowd bet Practically every dollar they had on Meyers to win .and I guess if I'd had beaten him and they'd have gone broke, there certainly would have been quite a bit of of shooting around there”.