Smyrna times., 1896-06-17
LOCKED LIKE A LIAR.
BUT THIS WAS A CASE WHERE LOOKS
WERE MISLEADING.

Little Irishman Who Claimed Acquaint-
ance With a Champion Pugilist-nis
Employer. Who Was Used to the Gloves,
Disputed the Claim,
81 was reading a clever little sketch |
the other day about man who told big |
stories which were not believed by his |
acquaintances, ard it reminded me of |
an experience 1 had once when was
considerably younger" remarked Rob |
ert d. Wilson, the active Orleans county |
politician, when in a reminiscent mood |
the other day.
"It was like this: About the first
contract l ever took was one to build q
church i'll q small town i'll western New
York near Lake Ontario. Ny partner
and employed u good force of men,
and among others a good natured, rather
dapper little Irishman, who applied for
work shortly after we got the walls
started.
"He was not q 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
been my pleasure 10 meet. One Of his
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 i'll two of his most notable
battles. He ratified off names, places,
dates and incidents in the most effhand
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
large grain Of salt and enjoyed drawing
him out.
Zone thing about the old fellow
struck me as peculiar--we could never
induce him under any consideration to
join in any of the friendly little spar
ring contests which we occasionally in
dulged in at the little country hotel,
after our days work was done. BY no
subterfuge could we induce him to stick
his bands i'll the big mittens, although
he was always present at our exercises
and took delight in making sighting
comments upon our skill,
"This got rather monotonous after
awhile, and we set about devising a
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
a scheme to give him an sarlier start
one Saturday afternoon, so that by the
time supper was over he was consider
ably exhilarated. I was just out of a
gymnasium at the time, and was con-
sidered a pretty clever boxer. The boys
all went to work at him, and after a
good many drinks and lot Of coaxiug
and cajoliDg they finally got him to put
on the gloves and spar bit with me.
"'S Sail in, Larry said. Don't be
afraid to hit me- And I 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 I should, but it seemed a
good plan to teach the old blowhard a
good lesson. After awhile 1 got bit
tired of the one sidedness Of it. l regis
tered about every time found an open
ing, while the Irishman's punches were
all wild and of no account. Finally
/
and made up my mind to give him q
good chinchopper, lay him out and quit.
So watched for an opening, and when
/ saw one a minute later, aimed al
heavy blow as 1 could strike and lei
go.
, "Well, say, don't know even to thii
day whaT became of that punch, for a
that Notwithstanding struck me OF
the neck, and for the next 30 seconds
experienced all of the sensations of DoI
Quixote when he had the mix up will
: the windmill, for that little IrishmaI
was dancing around me and delivering
undercuts, overcuts, chin choppers, side
winders, earmuffs, straight drives ant
long arm body blows faster than coult
feel them, while paved the air iii al
attempts at defense,
! ''I think the boys said 1t was AZ sec
: onds before was lying In the corner
limp and entirely out, but it was thre
days before was out--at work again
! was sorry to find that tho agile littl
Irishman had disappeared immediatel
after / dropped asleep. He evidentl
feared trouble, but never would hav
lnade any. In fact, I'd have liked t
take few lessons from him, but I'v
never had the mitts on from that day
this.
II don't know now whether that lii
70 tie hishman was telling the truth c
not, but have my suspicious about th
matter. "-Medina IN. " Cor. Ne'
> York Press.