Minnesota boxing historian Jake Wegner tells the story about how he found the unmarked grave of 1880’s Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame heavyweight Pat Killen:
“I’d been waiting over a decade for the chance to visit Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia, close to the old Haddington district. I’ve know for a long time that the “Cyclone of the Midwest”, the Heavyweight Champion of the Midwest, when that was a title basically second only to the Heavyweight champ of the world in the 1880’s due to the incredible talent living and fighting in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Denver, and Milwaukee. Pat Killen. Who really only lost 1 fight, near the very end of his career and when he entered the ring totally intoxicated, a victim of his own alcohol addiction, and lost to Joe McAuliffe; a fight he was predicted to win.
His earlier loss to Mervine Thompson was a joke, as he beat the hell out of Thompson but was ridiculously disqualified by the hometown referee. Pat Killen…the man who was rated by writers of the day to pack a punch equal or greater than the great John L. Sullivan. I knew Killen’s early death in Chicago in 1891, and subsequent burial in his hometown but not his home (his home was always the Twin Cities), had no grave marker or headstone and was shocked to hear it; considering his well-documented net worth at the time, and even greater wealth of his sister.
Pat Killen, who twice beat arch-rival Patsy Cardiff in major events in the 1880’s, but was only credited with a Draw in their first encounter before stiffening Cardiff in their second encounter. Pat Killen, who if he ever deserved anything, was a simple acknowledgement of his existence…a grave marker or headstone, yet has none ( for now). Pat Killen, who’s younger brother Denny was a good fighter in his own right and is ironically buried 3 feet above his brother in the same spot.
Well…I was happy to be working in the Philly area and thankful for the Old Cathedral staff for marking off the exact rectangle spot of his remains, so I could document this one great Heavyweight KO artist of the 19th Century’s final resting place…a place I can safely say has had zero visitors for the past 134 years, until this evening. I can tell you that I felt the ground beneath me shake just a bit when I mentioned the name of Cardiff. He’s still got it. Rest in peace Pat Killen.”
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