ALS signed “John Kilrain,” one page, lightly-lined both sides, 5.5 x 9, The Clarendon Hotel letterhead, January 4, 1886. Kilrain writes to his chief second, Johnnie Murphy. The unedited stream of consciousness text reads in part: “i received your letter and iam glad to hear you are all well let me know how you are making out i would like to have you down here but their is no money here yet there is no stock taking in boxing as yet but i will bring it about you had better ask mike and Jack to learn you to mix drinks and if i get a chance i will start you in a barm-room this a quiet place money is not as flush as in Boston did you see scott yet and Latour give Latour his gloves send on the glove you pay and i will pay you…give my my [sic] regards to all…the old gang let me know about the fight at crib give my regards to Mr. Hollis and miller and Kendall and moseley and tell Mike and tim i will write in middle of week how is Jack making out regarding…Tom Fay and the Prof…remmember me to the turk.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, small tear along a horizontal fold, block of even toning on the front of the page, scattered soiling, and a few words smeared.
The bare-knuckle prizefighter was three years away from his famed 76-round bout with John L. Sullivan when he wrote to Murphy. Writing from Baltimore, Kilrain’s grammatically interesting message here does not paint an optimistic picture of boxing in Maryland, “a quiet place” where “money is not as flush as in Boston” and where “there is no stock taking in boxing as yet.” Employment as a bartender might be a better avenue, advising his friend “to learn you to mix drinks.” Kilrain, obviously, did not subscribe to his own advice, continuing on in the ring before facing Sullivan in what is viewed as being among the greatest fights of boxing’s pre-modern era. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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