NEWS OF FATHER'S DEATH
St. Paul Pioneer Press ST. PAUL , MINN., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1922
TOLD TO TOMMY GIBBONS
AT END OF GOTHAM FIGHT
After Losing Match to Miske in Tenth on Foul, St. Paul Boxer Is Informed Parent Succumbed In St. Paul Few Hours Earlier.
Thomas Gibbons, 72 years old father of Mike and Tommy Gibbons, died of cancer of the stomach a his home, 471 Burgess street, Friday noon.
At Madison Square Garden, New York, Friday night, his, son Tommy, unaware of his father's death, lost the decision on a foul to Billy Miske in the tenth round of what was to have been a fifteen-round bout.
With the cheers of thousands of fight fans ringing in his ears-the crowd did not take kindly to the referee's decision - Tommy was handed the telegram announcing his father's death.
There were tears in his eyes as he climbed through the ropes on his way to the dressing room. New York dispatches said, and he was in a worse state of collapse than was Miske in the opposite corner.
Learned of Critical Illness.
Word that his father was not expected to live reached Tommy Friday afternoon and he made reservations on a train leaving New York immediately after the fight.
Before he entered the ring, Gibbons said that his father's fight would be over before before he left the ring. He guessed right. The influence of this on his mind seemed apparent throughout the ten rounds that the fight went.
In the seventh round, Eddie Kane, Gibbons' manager, was handed a telegram announcing that the fighter's father had just died. Tommy, while he didn't see the message, sensed something was wrong, and from that time on his blows were wild and misdirected, it was said. Kane put the telegram in his pocket and refused to let Gibbons see it until the fight came to its sudden conclusion, when Miske claimed a foul.
Hesitated to Leave.
Tommy was hesitant about leaving St. Paul for New York Sunday night, his brother, Mike, said Friday night. He knew that his father's condition was serious, but he also knew the skepticism with which boxing fans receive the announcement of a Canceled fight no matter how legitimate the reason may be.
He knew that his father would
rather have him fill his scheduled bout than to risk being suspected of being
"yel- low" --for his father was possessed of that trait of
character which would refuse to allow any imagined reflection of cowardice to
be cast on himself or his sons.
Tommy, realizing that he might never see his
father alive again went to New York.
He is expected home sometime Sunday.
In his beautiful home at 1135 Como Boulevard, M. J. Gibbons, or Mike, The Phantom as he is better known, paid tribute to the memory of his father, whom he characterized as "one of us boys."
"Dad was always hale and hearty and used to take Tommy and I out hunting. He was fond of the outdoors. He was just like a pal. He could take either of us out in the woods and walk the legs off of us. Father had a wonderful physique and what success we have achieved is due largely to him."
Never Attended Fight.
Although he watched with great interest his boys'
progress in the boxing game, Mr. Gibbons never attended one of their
fights. Repeatedly he promised the boys that he would "watch the next
one," but when the time came, he always begged off on some pretext or
other. He assisted with advice and occasionally put on the gloves when the
boys were working out--but attend a match--never.
Possessed of a genial Irish wit and a wonderful sense of humor, Mr. Gibbons, even in his sickness joked with "his boys" and some of his old cronies who came in to see him.
When a youth, Mr. Gibbons following a naturally adventurous bent, roamed over the British Isles. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1850. He married in Ireland, and four children, Mrs. Mary Moran, John J. Gibbons, Patrick Gibbons and Mrs. P. D. Sullivan, all of St. Paul, were born there.
In 1890 he came to America and settled in St. Paul at 471 Burgess street, Where he has lived ever since despite Frequent requests of his children to move to more pretentious quarters.
Their Children Born Here.
Three children were born in America. The first was M. J. Gibbons, or "Mike," then Tommy and Mrs. Alice Schleager, with whom he lived following the death of Mrs. Gibbons five years ago.
His indomitable pluck and grit brought about his rise from a dollar- a-day laborer to a position which enabled him to retire from active work fifteen years ago. He was employed by the Great Northern railway.
Definite arrangements were not completed Friday night, but the funeral probably will take place from St. Vincent's Catholic church Monday morning.
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