The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-06

near his weight. They freely bet 2 and 8
to I against me to show their confidence in
their champion which, in view Of Burgess
past performances and his physical advan-
tages over me, coupled with the fact that
he was fighting in his own yard, so to
speak, is not SO strange as may appear at
first sight to my friends at home, who have
a pretty good opinion of my humble self
In the first place, Burgess record was
wonderful one to bank upon. He defeated
the famous and apparently unconquerable
Jem Carney for the lightweight champion
ship of England ten years ago, soon after
Carney fought his celebrated five hour
draw with Jack McAuliffe at Revere
Beach, Mass, a battle, by the way, in
which Carney always claimed he was de-
frauded of victory just as he had it within
his grasp. Since then Burge has gone on
fighting, not lightweights, mind you, but
we1terweig1ts, middleweights and even
heavyweights. He had the teInerity to
tackle Jem Smith, heavyweight champion
of England, who fought our own Jake
Kilrain to a four hour draw for the worlds
championship in 1887, and Kid Mccoy at
home, and some people over here tell me
that Burge put up a great battle, although
Smith outweighed him by 40 pounds He
was literally borne down, although he out
pointed Smith easily enough. His last
great feat was to defeat Tom Williams
IA pounds. Burge is modest fellow him
self, but his friends always insisted in type
and out of type that Jack AIcAUliffe, Tom
my Ryan, Mysterious Billy Smith and Joe
WalcOtt 1.-THE black demon of America,
and all foreigners of anything near his
weight were afraid to cross arms with
him. 1t was universally conceded that no
lightweight or welterweight in England
had a chance with him, and when agreed
to fight him I was accredited with extreme
audacity, seeing that lacked four inches
of his height, was correspOndingly shorter
in the reach and about ten pounds lighter
when in condition.
When Burge and met in the reception
room Of the National Sporting club upon
the night Of my arrival in the British mo
tropolis and exchanged hand clasps and
friendly greetings, everybody present
weighed US Up. Burge and I quietly, too
sized each other up I could see by his face
that he thought he had "sure thing. -
Strange to say, felt the same regarding
him and told my friend and manager, Sam
Fitzpatrick, so on my way home. AS for
the clubs guests, their eyes revealed their
thoughts and a few even gently expressed
the opinion which little Pedlar Palmer
gave me when we met at Martin Dowling's
in New York some months ego Burgo
is Dig enough for two of you. The sport
ing papers unbesitatingly said next day
that DICK OuGllG TO nave no EEOuD1o Q1S-
posing Of two Lavignes. -
These predictions did not bother Sam
Fitzpatrick or myself a bit. On the con
trary, we were rather elated by them, for
we knew it would give the few American
friends we had in England chance to in
vest their money at favorable odds; so we
started in Immediately upon the work of
training.
Upon the night of the contest we entered
7fy, r o
was sure he could whip me and was con
ddent could defeat him. The guests out
side the ropes were betting 2 to 1 and to
against me. could plainly hear them
calling out the odds, and I could scarcely
keep from smiling, thinking of the pot of
money Sam Fitzpatrick, Martin Bowling,
Joe Little and the rest of our boys would
scoop in. I glanced over the audience
while waiting for the call to battle and
saw in front seats Hon. Richard Gro
ker, the great Tammany ohieftain; Maui
rice Barrymore, the popular actor; his
chun, Lob Hilliard; Managers Charles
Frohman and Marcus Mayer, and many
more New Workers whom 1 see up about
the Gilsey House and Grand hotel when in
Gotham. 1t was a cheering sight to see
them there, can tell you, and it made
me feel right at home. Mr.. Croker backed
me literally, I am told, as did Maurice
Barrymore and the rest of the Americans
Bowling and Little, believe, caught the
most bets.
While sitting in our corners awaiting
the referees call Burge and I were taking
each others measure. I could see by his
face that he was confident of winning
His is aatypieal English face, phelgnatic,
almost stolid, but not SO much so that you
could not see the buoyant, sanguine feel
ing within the man don't know whether
he could read nay face or not hut I sup
pose he did Anyhow, weighing me up
didn't worry him a bit. was brimful Of
condolences, and with Fitzpatrick had de-
tsrna3nsd upon a plan Of action. This was
to start the pace from the word go and
keep liz MP tlEouGhous. I was TO he the