In his day Donovan taught the art of
self-defense to more prominent men, including bankers, brokers, merchants and
statesmen, than any other boxing professor in America. He was idolized by
them all. for he was not only a great
teacher, but a like-able man as well. One
of his staunchest admirers was Theodore
Roosevelt, who received his early physical training from Donovan.
Donovan came to this city in 1873,
where he married Miss Cecilia Butler
and it was a most happy marriage. Fifteen children were born to them, nine
of whom arc now alive, six girls and
three boys.
Donovan's next stopping place was this
city, and he soon became well known
here. His first fight of note was with
Jimmy Murray. It was called a draw
after a battle of forty-three'rounds, lasting one hour and five minutes. The ring
was pitched on Smith's Island, in the
Delaware River, and the battle was for a purse of $100. The bout was witnessed by only a small crowd, because, the police had the tip and, many of the regulars
remained away, fearing arrest.
I spent the happiest days of my life
in dear old Philly, and what great sessions we used to, have at Johnny Clark's,
Arthur Chambers', Billy McLean's, McGees' on Second street, and the old Comique. In those days you could not get
by with any four-flush methods. You had
to get out and meet all comers, and some
rare old birds they used to trot out to
meet the champions who would go to
Philadelphia, to fill a week's engagement
at the different boxing resorts. Murray was one of the cleanest boxers I ever met and I shall never forget our fight on the island. We did
not have a regular ring, but fought on
the turf with the bare hands.
The ring
was formed by the crowd circling around
us. It was a great fight, and one of
the hardest I ever had, for I was almost blind from his blows. I still have
some scars of that fight. Look here,
look into the corners of my eyebrows,
close to the bridge of my nose; see
those two scars? Those are two places
he cut me with those hard hands of
his.
Yes, we were both arrested and
taken to Philadelphia. At the jail they
wouldn't put Murray and myself in the
same cell at first, because they believed
we would continue the fight. I finally
convinced the warden that I couldn't fight, even if I wanted to, because I
could not see. It took me nearly four
months to recover from that fight.
Library of Congress
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PROF. DENNIS F. BUTLER.
[With Portrait.]
Butler's first race was with Thom. Coyle, of Chester,
from the Horseshoe buoy (Delaware river, below
Gloucester, N. J.), 7-1/2 miles. He won easily, with 15 to
20 minutes to spare. In 1878 he swam Robert Ward, of
Canada, 5 miles, on the Delaware river (from the
waterworks to Smith's Island), winning easily. He
defeated Chas. Rice in a 5-mile ocean swim, Rice giving up after swimming 2-1/2 miles. In 1878 he beat
George Wade and twenty-five competitors for the
championship of America and gold medal at the New
York Athletic Club regatta. Time, 19 minutes 4 seconds, In 1978 he beat John Thomas, of Canada, 3-1/2 miles, on the Delaware river. In 1879 he beat Blondell, of Baltimore, Md., at Bear Creek, Md.,5 miles.
In 1879 he beat Chas. Rice, of long Branch, and twenty-three contestants at Cape May, 5 miles, making the fastest time in the world for 5 miles. In 1880 he was appointed life guard at Atlantic City, And met and defeated Tom Coyle, of Chester, PA. (who swam Johnson for championship of the world), in a mile ocean swim. Coyle being dissatisfied another swim took place.
Coyle again suffering defeat.
After repeated challenges to the Bradford brothers (life guards at Atlantic City) and all other ocean swimmers, and not being able to
get a match with them, he returned to Philadelphia.
He then gave a sweepstake swimming match in October of the same year, distance 7-1/2 miles, on the Delaware river, beating twenty-one swimmers, among
them being Tom Coyle of Chester, Pa.; Joe Morrow,
of Philadelphia; John Dunk and Borgiana of Philadelphia. In 1881 he swam Joe Morrow from Chester to
Philadelphia, a distance of 15 mile. Alter leading by
2 miles for 12 miles be was taken with cramps. Morrow being awarded the purse and championship, in 1884 was engaged at Hanlan's Point, Can., to give
swimming exhibitions, and was matched with Joe
Smith, the Canadian champion 2 mile swimmer, $50 being put up as forfeit to bind the match. Smith paid
forfeit, being afraid to swim.
He again challenged all Canada, offering 100 yards
start in a mile race. Not being able to get a match he
returned to Brooklyn. N. Y., to accept the position of
assistant with Prof. Mike Donovan in his Brooklyn
gymnasium. Butler is also a noted sparrer, walker
and runner.
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Source: Philadelphia Inquirer 26 Aug 1927
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Source: Philadelphia Inquirer 27 May 1925
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