The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-05
DAVIES THE FAMOUS
"ParSOn" Enjoys a World Wide Rep
utation as a Good Fellow.
HE HAS HANDLED MANY MEN
All the Champion Fighters Have
cen or Are Now Under His
Wing-He Is a Prominent Fig
ure In the World of sport


will appear at Maguire's opera house to-
morrow night in THE Wicklow Postman"
afterpiece is Charles E. Davies Of Chica-
go. probably more widely known under
the sobriquet of "Parson" Davies. The
"Parson" enjoys a worldwide reputation.
and with good reason, for this wide
awake and shrewd caterer to the SPORT
loving public has brought out more and
better men in the boxing and athletic
line than has any other manager in the
| country. and. be II said to his credit
that under his management is in itself
passport to public favor. the fact being
well known that a man must be a top
notcher in his line, or else the "Parson"
would not have taken him up. In John
l.. Sullivan, Joe Choynski, Paddy Ryan,
James Barry and Bob" Armstrong, who
are now under his wing. Mr.. Davies has
a wonderful collection of boxers, as they
are wont to be called.
Although John l.. and Paddy Ryan are
now retired from active service in the
ring, Mr.. Davies takes great interest in
them, for In their day none could excel
them. His other men he is ever ready to
furnish reasonable backing for his latest
proposition being the matching of Joe
Choynski against Tom Sharkey of San
Francisco. the champion of the United
States navy. The place is San Francisco,
April 10, and by the terms of the articles
of agreement, the "Parson" forfeits a con-
siderable sum of money should Choynski
fail to stop" his opponent in eight
rounds.
To the stranger who might meet Mr..
Davies for the first time, the fact that he
was a manager of athletes, and especially
pugilists, would be hard to believe, for
the reason that there is nothing in his
manner or appearance to indicate that
such is the case. The sobriquet of Par
son. was given him some years ago by
the late Commodore Vanderbilt. when he
appeared upon the track at Madison
Square Garden, New York, in company
with Dan OLeary, the pedestrian. His
clerical appearance at that time excited
the attention of one of the commodore's
friends. who asked who he was. The COM
modore replied: "Oh, that is Charley Da-
vies of Chicago, but l confess he looks
more like parson' than a sporting man."
A number of newspaper men heard the
remark and the next day, when he put
O'Leary to victory, the papers spoke of
him as The Parson" in giving an account
or the match. From that time until the
present the appellation has chung to him.
though his resemblance to the gentlemen
of the cloth is not so pronounced now as
1t was then. He is certainly a unique
figure In the world of sport, and IL is to
his gentlemanly address and manners
that he owes much of his success in the
managerial line. Had his talents been di-
rected to other channels doubtless he
would have been equally as famous in
commercial as well as professional circles
Mr.. Davies was born in Ireland July s.
1852. and is therefore now 43 years of age
He came to America when a mere lad
and for a time made New York his home.
but later settled in Chicago, which place
he now calls his place of abode. A lover
or sports from his youth up, his attention
to that line was first attracted by a six
days walking match in which Dan
O'Leary figured as one of the contestants.
John Ennis was then looked upon as a
coming champion in the walking line and
the "Parson" arranged a match between
him and O'Leary, the event taking place
at Chicago in the old exposition building.
and which resulted in a victory for
O'Leary. He then took George Guyon in
charge, and under his management Guyon
became one OF the most noted pedestrians
OF his day. From that time on his abili-
ties In the managerial line became well
known and his services were sought for
In al directions. Before the six-days'
walking craze had run itself out he man.
aged contests of that kind in New York.
Boston, Chicago and other points in the
United States and in London England At
one time or another he had under his
charge such well-known runners and
" IN.
Frank Hart. John Dobler, Albert j. AL
bert. John Hughes. ''Old Sport" Campana,
Charles Hartman, Peter j. Panchet, the
BuHalo Postman," and others. 1t is as
manager of boxers. however, that the
Parson" has achieved his greatest sue
cess and reputation. 1t was he who found
Tor John l.. Sullivan the backing to make
a match with Paddy Ryan for IS, 900 a side.
ana although the match afterwards fell
through. II was the Parsons action
that first brought the great John L."
into prominence. and IL was his skillful
too. that enabled Peter
Jackson, the colored heavyweight. TO
climb TO the top round of the pugilistic
ladder. Among other pugilists who have
been guided by him, both in America and
England, the following may be named:
Charley Mitchell. Jack Burke, The Irish
Lad" Pat Killen. Jim Elliott Tug"
Wilson, Arthur Chambers, ALI Greenfield
Jem Goode Captain James H. Dalton.
Paddy Ryan, Billy Edwards, James j.
Corbett. Jem Mace. Slade. the Maori"
Tommy Warren, the ex-featherweight
champion; Joe Goss. Jack Davis. Patsey
Cardiff. George Dixon. now the only
worlds fighting champion; Mike Cleary.
George Godfrey. Jim Hall. Bob Fitzsim-
mons, Dan Creedon, Tommy Tracy, Jack
Frank Glover, Bill Bradburn.
Con Riordon. Tom Chandler and others. |
Il was 'the Parson" who first brought out !
Evan Lewis. THE Strangelr," who for
years held the worlds wrestling cham
and under his management such /
opponents of the wrestling science as Joe |
Acton. the Little Demon" William Null |
loon. the champion at the Graeco-Roman |
style; Edwin Bibby. Jack Carkeek, Mat /
'ada Sorakichi. THE Jap" Jimmy Faux |
ner and others OF the lesser lights Five /
lines has the "Parson' crossed the At /
antic his capacity of manager OF athletes.
and on each and every occasion ne has /
made a success of the trip. he numbering
ais friends by the hundreds in both Lon
Ion and Paris. He has also managed a
lumber Of successful events in San Fran
,isco. He also successfully directed the
our OF Peter jackson in Uncle Toms 4
Cabin" he himself appearing in the dual
characters OF George Harris and the auc-
ioneer. while the husky Australian por-