The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-14
WARD ON BOXER ROBINSON.
AN OLYMPIC CLUB IDOL WHO
WORE PADDED TIGHTS
BEFORE SULLIVAN.
ONE BLOW SATISFIED THE AMATEUR
THAT He HAD ENOUGH OF
THE CHAMPION.

The directors of the Olympic Club met
last evening, but transacted no business of
any Importance. Captain Hancock of the
outdoor athletes is making vigorous en-
deavor to create a stir in athletics, and
with that object in view he has asked the
directors to sanction the giving of some
valuable prizes for a grand field day,
which, if decided upon, Will be held in
May.
The club is making preparations for an
athletic entertainment, which will be held
in the gymnasium on the 26th inst, and
several gymnasts were practicing last even
ing for this event.
On Saturday the Olympic Club baseball
team vii play the University of California
nine on the Berk eley campus, and the
Reliance Athletic Club nine will cross
bats with the Stanford team at Palo Alto.
Walter Ward, one of the Oldest members
of the Olympic Club, was interestedly
watching the young members going
through gymnastic drill last evening
when he was accosted by an old friend, who
said: Ward, old boy, don't you think
that there has been a marked improvement
in indoor athletics since you were in the
swim, years ago ?'
all-round gymnast hesitated a few mo-
ments, as if in deep thought, and then
smilingly remarked that he could not
select from the army of gymnasts of the
present day any better men than those who
We're the pride OF the club twenty years ago.
II must confess, however" said Mr..
Ward that in Instructor Bulo the Olym-
pic Club has remarkably good man, who
will certainly bring out the good qualities
of pupil if the latter, athletically speak
ing, has any good qualities in him. l
observe that boxing is now very popular
pastime with the young fellows, and that
there are several clever chaps among those
who are taking lessons"
at this iuncture the speaker was inter
rupted by member who asked Mr.. Ward
how it was that the once great George
Robinson, the pride of the Olympic Club,
made such a miserable showing before the
then champion of the champions, John L.
Sullivan, when they met in the Pavilion.
81 can tell you all about it" replied Mr.
Ward, ''as was one of the men who were
present when the articles were drawn Up
between Robinson and Sullivan manager
1.-The agreement read that if Robinson
stood before Sullivan three rounds he
would receive a certain consideration,
which amounted to a very snug SUM.
Il never did think much of Robinson as
a boxer, ana | frequently gave nv opinions
to members of this club long before Robin
son ever thought that he would be called
upon to meet the then greatest fstic
gladiator OF the age.
"Well, the Olympic's fistic wonder of
these days after having signed articles got
down to planning and thinking how he
could avoid Sullivan's heavy punches and
win the money that was within his grasp
if he could only muster courage enough to
do little fighting for it. Well, the scheme
he hit upon was this: He had tights made
in such fashion as to accommodate a
tolerably snug quantity of stuffing in such
parts as generally make the first impression
on earth when their owner is sent sprawl
ing from the force of heavy blow. He
looked for warm reception from Sulli-
vans big right fist and prepared for it &C
cordingly. Well, to make a long story
short, he went into the ring feeling like a
whipped dog. The first blow that
landed on Robinson settled the lat
ter's hash, and all the padding on
earth would not have been sufficient either
fore or aft as an inducement for the then
Olympic Club champion boxer to take
another OF Sullivan's swinging punches"