Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-06

SAN Francisco, November 5.-George
Di,ion's escapade the other night Wnen
hd was robbed Of his watch, has caus-
ed lot of discussion as to the probable
retirement of the colored champion,
and the amount of money he has saved
from his battles. That he has fought
more than any other champion is well
known, but the fact that he has spent
100000 in four years is not generally
known.
Manager Tom O'Rourke said: DIX
on has made and squandered more
money during his career as a boxer
than any pugilist that ever lived, par
ring Sullivan. During the last four
wears he has gone through at least
$1,000 Now, that seems big money
for a little fellow like George to get
away with, but the people East, among
whom he has spent the better portion
of his life, and, incidentally, his
money, will bear me out.
81 have always maintained that pu-
gilists draw houses in proportion to
their weight, but George Dixon is one
execution. When he boxed Pierce be-
fore the Coney Island Athletic Club
the gate amounted to S23,746. Seven
weeks later he took on Solly Smith
before the same club, and The house
held s22.946. Out of four battles
fought in succession-the Pierce and
Smith affairs being fncluded-Dixon
took something like $4,000 in the
purses and bets.
an the winters of '92, '93, '94 and '95
we had our vaudeville company on the
road. with Dixon as the star attrac-
ton. At the end of our tour in '95 We
had an accounting and figured the pro-
fits of the four seasons to be at least
$4,000 In exhibitions at MMSSiGmer.
Square Garden with Pliothers. Dixon
Critic, BarnHeHeen $4,000 and $4,000,
cleapferefore it will not be very hard
to figure out his earnings at 100000
since 1893
GAS showing the kind of money he
fought for prior to these years, l might
mention that in his contest with Jack
Shelly at New Orleans he won a purse
Of $500 and a stake of $4,000. For
the contest with Johnny Murphy the
purse was $500, and his match with
Nune Wallace in England in 1890 net
ted him about $4,000. During our sea-
son on the road George fought no less
tnan 600 four-round goes. He had a
standing offer of $50 to any man last
Ing the four rounds, and Tim Mortar
ty, of Massachusetts,, was the only one
to earn the money"
The speculation figured largely in
DiXon's expense account. He not only
mays the races when the opportunity
'is . hut he likes to become the pos
'~or OF piece of horsefesh when he
unS ''ioSs anything he fancies. He
mas owned a humber oe 4,o4.., -
cent years. and at the present time hoe
a small and select stable, the most ev.
pensive thing in it being a PAGER named
Volk, who used to do a mile in 2:13.
Dixon is fond of good, food, and
while not as confirmed a wine bibber as
otller celebrities of his calling, he
spends money freely around the sa-
looms when training days are over. lie
is bona fide good Samaritan to impe-
cunious fellows of his own race, it beng
said that his hand is always in MS
rocket in response to appeals from COL
tred men with hard luck stories.
He also contributes largely to Gus.
gro missions" or schemes for improving
the conditions of colored people bota
at home and abroad. Just about the
time of his contest with Dial Hawkins
he received an application for assist.
ance from mission in the West Indies.
and he did not neglect to forward
handsome subscription.
Dixon has a wife living at Maiden,
Mass, and his first care is always to
see that she is literally provided for
They own their own home, which is
valued at $500, and it is the only piece
of realty that the champion feather
weight possesses.
The story goes that shortly after
Dixon's arrival here he made a mental
calculation of the amount of moaey
he had allowed to slip through his fin
gers since the time of his former visit
to this city.
The result appalled, him, and he mG ,e
up his mind to start a saving fund
without delay AS soon as he received
his share of the gate receipts e. his
draw with Dial Hawkins he for
warded $500 to his wife.