Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-05-08
LOOKED LIKE A LIAR.
SIT THIS WAS A CASE WHERE LOOKS
WERE MISLEADING.
\ Little Irishnsn Who Claimed Acquaint-
snce with Champion Pugilist I,i-
Employer. Who Was Used Ia the Gloves,
Disputed the Claim.


snce With Champion Pugilist Hi.
Employer. Who Was Used 10 the Gloves,
Disputed the Claim.
Il was reading Il clever little sketch
the other day about a man who told bIs
stories which were not believed by has
acquaintances, and it reminded me Of
an experience | had once when | was
considerably younger, remarked Rob
ert ID. Wilson, the active Orleans county
politician, when III ia reminiscent mood
the other day.
1t was like this: About the first
contract | ever took was one to build a
church III a mall town III western New
York near Lake Ontario. My partner
and l employed good force Of men,
and among others "a good natured, rather
dapper little lrishman, who applied for
work shortly after we got the walls
started.
He was not skilled workman, but
good, active helper, and he struck me
AT the time as being one of the most en-
tertain!ng and cheerful liars il had ever
been my pleasure 70 meet One Of his
iavOrite tales was 10 the effect that he
was for three years trainer and boxing
partner of the famous pugilst 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 Of1hand
manner imaginable, which, as we had
no means of verifying his statements,
he was perfectly safe III doing. OF
course we took what he said with IA
large grain of salt and enjoyed drawing
him out.
lone thing about the Old fellow
struck me a. peculiar-we could never
induce him under any consideration 10
Join III any Of the friendly little spar
ring contests which we occasionally in
dulged i'll at the little country hotel,
after our days work was done. BY no
subterfuge could we induce him to stick
his hands III 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 devlslng a
plan for teaching the old fellow a les
son. When he was sober, we knew there
was no chance Of getting the gloves on
him. bat he usually got moderately full
on saturday evenings, and we concocted
scheme 20 give him an earlier start
one Saturday afternoon, SO that By the
time supper was over he was consider
ably exhilarated. | was just out Of Il
gymnasium ut the time, and was con-
sidered pretty clever boxer. The boys
all went to work at him, and after a
good many drinks and lot Of coaxing
and cajoliDg they finally got him to put
on the gloves and spar bit with me.
Sail ill., Larry, said. Don't be
afraid TO 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 1t. regis
tered about every time / found an open
ing, while the Irishman S punches were
all wild and of no account. Finally /
decided that we had had fun enough
and made up my mind 60 give him a
good chinchopper. lay him out and quit.
So / watched for an opening, and when
| saw one "A minute later, aimed as
heavy a blow rs | could strike and let
60.
We'll, say, don't know even to this
day what became Of that punch, for at
that moment something struck me on
the neck, and for the next 30 seconds /
experienced all of the sensations of Don
Quixote when he had the NIX up with
the windmill, for that little Irishman
was dancing around me and delivering
undereuts, overcuts, chin choppers, side
winders, earmutfs. straight drives and
long arm body blows faster than | could
feel them, while | paved the air III al
attempt az defense.
Il think the boys said it was AZ sec
onds before / was lying in the corner,
limp and entirely ont, but 1t was three
daySbefOre / was. Out-at work again.
I-w5k%sorry TO find that the agile little
Irishman had disappeared Immediately
after l dropped asleep. He evidently
feared trouble, but never would have
made any. In fact, I'd have liked to
take few lessons from him, but I've
never had the nfitts on from that day to
this.
Il don't know now whether that lit
tie Mishman was telling the truth or
not. but \ have my suspicious about the
matter. Medina On. " Cor. New
York Press.
Easily Iusied.