Sam McVey's Death

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mcvey, Sep 15, 2020.


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  1. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Ashar Shahid
    The Ultimate Boxing History Fan Page.
    28 mins
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    " Sam Mcvea was 37 years old in 1921 when he sadly died from Pneumonia. He had given every last ounce of his soul in his ring battles and he died penniless. I cried when I learned of his passing.
    I was told a reporter Henry Brown was visiting Sam just before he went into hospital. Sam wanted to show the reporter some keepsakes of his career.
    McVea: I couldn't find a thing worth giving you old man.. perhaps I lost them...the gloves I fought Jennette with in Paris. Sam started sweating profusely: " the gloves, the gloves, i can't find them."
    Sam died that night still searching for the gloves he so desperately wanted as a keepsake from our epic 49 round battle in Paris.
    Sam McVea The California rail splitter, the last words he spoke on this earth were about our 1909 finish fight.
    Most people think Boxers are illiterate and uneducated. Sam McVea was the perfect example of how untrue that was. Like Jack Johnson he was intelligent and was an accomplished piano player, a singer and loved Art and visiting Museums.
    McVea and Jack Johnson were close friends. Sam looked up to Jack. Jack heard of McVea's death and that he was to buried in a potter's field because there wasn't any money for a burial. He wired money to pay for Sam's service. Jack Johnson arrived in New York soon after to make sure the funeral expenses were paid." Joe Jennette
     
    mcvey, Sep 15, 2020
    mcvey, Sep 15, 2020
    #1
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  2. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Sad story.
     
    choklab, Sep 15, 2020
    choklab, Sep 15, 2020
    #2
    louis54, Richard M Murrieta, Fergy and 1 other person like this.
  3. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    It is. Part and parcel of boxing history really tbh, fighters dying young or losing everything.
    For story's like that, no other sport can hold a candle to it.
     
    Fergy, Sep 15, 2020
    Fergy, Sep 15, 2020
    #3
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  4. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's kind of beautiful to me. What life is supposed to be.
     
    The Morlocks, Sep 15, 2020
    The Morlocks, Sep 15, 2020
    #4
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  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Brings a tear to the eye!
     
    janitor, Sep 15, 2020
    janitor, Sep 15, 2020
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  6. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    He was a fine human being, a very sad story.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Sep 15, 2020
    Richard M Murrieta, Sep 15, 2020
    #6
  7. Chuck1052

    Chuck1052 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    According to his death certificate, Sam McVey also had some damage to his kidneys.

    I could not find McVey in the U.S. Census Records. Of course, a fire destroyed a large majority of the 1890 U.S. Census Records. He was overseas when the 1910 U.S. Census was enumerated. It appears that the census enumerators didn't find him during 1900 and 1920.

    It has been very difficult finding any information about Sam McVey and his family during the period before he arrived in Oxnard, California during 1901. But I found that he probably lived in Pomona, California from the late 1880s to the late 1890s. He also may have lived in San Bernardino, California for a time during the late 1890s.

    Sam's father, Andy or Andrew, worked with horses for much of his working life in addition to doing work as a laborer. He died while living in Bakersfield during 1929. His mother appears to have been Annie Riley before getting married. She and a baby child of hers died while the family was living in San Bernardino ca. 1899. Sam appears have had a sister, Katie, and at least two brothers, Namen (Lyman?) and Earl. I have found information about Katie, who married a black man named Alexander Hamilton, and Namen.

    I have read that Sam played the piano and sang very well. While in Australia, he went on a vaudeville-type tour as a singer.

    - Chuck Johnston
     
    Chuck1052, Sep 15, 2020
    Chuck1052, Sep 15, 2020
    #7
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  8. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Early in his career he was said to have had some early fights in Australia which I've never found reports of. Would it be possible he was in Australia in 1900?
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 15, 2020
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 15, 2020
    #8
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  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Was his name Sam McVey or Sam McVea?
     
    Mendoza, Sep 16, 2020
    Mendoza, Sep 16, 2020
    #9
  10. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Yes.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 16, 2020
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 16, 2020
    #10
  11. SolomonDeedes

    SolomonDeedes Active Member Full Member

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    He seems to have been confused about this himself. He put McVey on his passport application but McVea on a postcard to his sister.
     
    SolomonDeedes, Sep 16, 2020
    SolomonDeedes, Sep 16, 2020
    #11
  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I've seen it said that he adopted the spelling McVea because he was so well liked in France,I've no idea if this is correct.
     
    mcvey, Sep 16, 2020
    mcvey, Sep 16, 2020
    #12
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  13. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Good post. Thank you McVey
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 16, 2020
    mr. magoo, Sep 16, 2020
    #13
  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Thank you for this post.
     
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2020
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2020
    #14
  15. Arminius1

    Arminius1 Member Full Member

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    It is a great story about a truly great Boxer and apparently nice man. Too young to die after giving fans his best efforts.
     
    Arminius1, Sep 16, 2020
    Arminius1, Sep 16, 2020
    #15
    mcvey likes this.
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