Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-03-20
LOOKED LIKE A LIAR.
BUT THIS WAS A CASE WHERE LOOKS
WERE MISLEADING.

4 Little Irishman Who Claimed Acauaint
snce With "a Champion PugiIist-Hi,
Employer. Who Was Used to the Gloves
Disputed the Claim.
Il was reading a clever little sketch
the other day about a man who told big
stories which were not believed by his
acqualntances, and it reminded me of
an experience / had once when / was
considerably younger, remarked Rob
ert d. Wilson, the active Orleans county
politician, when in reminiscent mood
| the other day.
II was like this: About the first
contract | ever took was one TO build "A
church IN Il small town in western New
York near Lake Ontario. Ny partner
and l employed "a good force of men,
and among others IA good natured, rather
dapper little Irishman, who applied for
work shortly after we got the walls
started.
He was not skilled workman, but
a good, active helper and he struck me
at the time as being one of the most en-
tertaining and cheerful liars it had ever
favOrite tales was To the effect that he
was for three years trainer and boxing
partner of the famous pugilist Jem
Mace and had seconded the one time
champion in two Of his most notable
battles. He ratified off names, places,
dates and incidents in the most offhand
manner imaginable, which, as we had
no means of verifying his statements.
he was perfectly safe in doing OF
course we took what he said with a
large grain of salt and enjoyed drawing
him out.
lone thing about the old fellow
struck me as peculiar-we could never
induce him under any consideration 10
join in any of the friendly little spar
ring contests which we occasionally in
dulged in at the little country hotel.
after our day 5 work was done. By no
subterfuge could we induce him TO stick
his hands in the big mittens. although
he was always present at our exercises
and took delight i'll making sighting
comments upon our skill.
This got rather monotonous after
awhile, and we set about devising
plan for teaching the old fellow les
son. When he was sober, we knew there
was no chance Of getting the gloves on
him, but he usually got moderately full
on Saturday evenings, and we concocted |
u scheme to give him an earlier start |
one Saturday afternoon, SO that BY the ]
time supper was over he was consider
ably exhilarated. l was just out of
gymnasium at the time, and was con-
sldered "A pretty clever boxer The boys
all went to work at him, and after
good many drinks and lot Of coaxing
and cajoling they finally got him to put
on the gloves and spar bit with me.
Sail in, Larry, | said. Don't be
afraid 10 hit me. And | winked at the
boys and went at him. He was easier
than / expected. His guard seemed very
poor, and several times | raped him
harder than | should, but it seemed a
good plan TO teach the old blowhard a
good lesson. After awhile l got bit
tired of the one sidedness of it, regis
tered about every time found an open
ing, while the Irishman' punches were
all wild and of no account. Finally /
decided that we had had fun enough
and made up my mind to give him
good chinchOpper, lay him out and quit.
so l watched for an opening, and when
saw one minute later, | aimed Us
leavy blow rs | could strike and let
20.
well, say, don't know even to this
lay what became Of that punch, for at
hat moment something struck me on
he neck, and for the next 30 seconds |
experienced all of the sensations of Don
9uixote when he had the mix up with
he windmill, for that little Irshman
vas dancing around me and delivering
lndercuts, overcuts, chin choppers, side
ylnders, earmutfs, straight drives and
ong arm body blows faster than / could
eel them, while 1 paved the air in an
tempt at defense.
Il think the boys said it was AZ sec
nds before / was lying in the corner,
imp and entirely ont, but it was three
avs before / was out-at work again.
was sorry TO find that the agile little
rishman had disappeared Immediately
fter l dropped asleep. He evidently
cared trouble but | never would have
lade any. IN fact, I'd have liked TO
axe few lessons from him, but I've =.
ever had the mitts on from that day to !,
lis
Il don't know now whether that lit :
e Irishman was telling the truth or /!
OF, but have my suspicious about the J.
natter. Medina On. " Cor. New :
ork Press. :
Easily Busted. u
The business depression Of the past i i
w years has been the evolution of