The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-10

"king" Was Pitted Against an Gun
known" Who Proved to Be Al
Marx, "The Cowboy" - Perry
Couldn't "Get Onto His Curves"
Did the Rest He Could-Ma-
her-GOddard Battle.
Perry Werden, the big first baseman
Of the Minneapolis club, who is tenn
porarily on the retired list, owing to
a badly injured knee, has a reputation
as ball player that is worldwide, but
it is not generally known that the
king" Of first basemen once fought
ring battle for purse. But he did,
and whether he won or lost is left to
the reader to surmise, after having
perused the account of the bout, which
was conducted according to Queens
bury rules, with lf1ve-ounce gloves.
Werden was stranded in a Southern
city, where he knew no one, and was
equally stranger. One evening the
great first baseman was approached
by a resident Of the town, who, ad-
dressing himself to Perry, said:
You're a pretty husky-looking
chap"
IT reckon" responded the ball player.
What of it?'
want to make some money!"
do I? WE'LL r guess yes" said
Perry, who had not seen a dollar in a
month.
"Well, there's chance right here
for you to make 1t, and easy, I think"
replied Werden's newly discovered
friend.
THE PLOT UNFOLDED.
swell, let's have It," said Perry.
What is it?"
"can you hght?" whispered the
tempter. -"
Guess can, bit,' responded Per-
ry. "Why?"
'"Well, there's fellow here we boys
want thrashed, and we think you're
about the size man to do the job.
There's 500 in. it. for YOU, sses<
tits a CO." said Perry. ''I'll do the
best can for that much money. You
can depend on that"
And the next day the big first base
man went into training to meet the
unknown, He worked faithfully by
day. but didn't seek his bed at any
earlier an hour.
rf FOUND A BACKER.
The day before the fight, Werden
was approached by another citizen of
the place who announced that he was
interested in the approaching battle,
and wanted to wager some money on
the result, provided Perry was con-
you," said the admirer, ''but don't let
me bet if you think I'll lose my mon
ey." i,e
But I've never seen the man I'm to
meet" protested Werden. HE may
beat me. One can't tell, you know.
Wait till I see him and then can
tell you BETTER"
hacker. '.Til tell you what you do.
The night of the fight I'll be UP on
the right hand side Of the ring, ard
when I catch your eye I'll hold UP my
finger. If you think YOU can win just
nod your head, and I'll proceed to get
the money on,
IN THE RING.
The night of the battle arrived and
the amateur gladiator was given oil
the attention that is ordinarily vouch-
safed boxer of renown. There was
rub down, an alcohol bath, and
when the bell sounded for the men to
enter the ring Perry looked fit to fight
for a. ransom. His heart failed him,
however, when he looked across the
his antagonist.
why" said Perry, afterward, telling
a friend the story. "he was as big as
Dan Brouthers, and he seemed to be
perfectly at home and not in the least
bit nervous when he took a peep at
me. I felt that he was too much for
me, but said nothing and determined
to do the best could"
PERRY TIPS HIS BACKER.
When "ti1ne'' was called for the first
round Werden's opponent danced about
the ring and kept the ball player guess
ing as to what would happen next. All
this time the man who wanted to
wager his money ON the big first base
man was craning his neck over those
whose who sat in front Of him and
trying hard to catch Perry's eye. Wer-
den saw him, but he was more in doubt
after seeing his man before he had had
an opportunity to size him UP, he did
not care to recognize his self-appointed
hacker Ali of a sudden Werden's OPP
ponent let out with his left and caught
Perry square on the jaw. Just then he
caught the eye of his hacker, who was
holding up his forefnger for the tip.
Perry shouted to him: mo! now and
everybody in the opla-c save Werden
and his backere wondered what 1t all
meant. did IfWlMG SAID PcIy, when
Intercepted on the subject. well,
didn't see the a4undaed-I have forgot
ten just WHAT HAPPENED I
never knew, did YOU say? Well, per-
haps I didn't.
The boxer Werden met was none
other than AL Marxt the cowboy"
MAHER AMP GODDARD.
After havings twice defeated Peter
Maher, Joe GodfHrd, the Barrier
Champion" was inuturn beaten by the
Irish champioS III. the eighth round
of what was ta have been a twenty
five round contest in New York Friday
night last The battle was on the or
der expected-5n .9fd-fashfoned slug
cling match-give. and take until some
one quits-and Goddard quit. 1t was
the first time the Barrier Champion
had been compelled to cry Hold!
Enough!"a And Maher was pretty well
used up when Goddard concluded to
stop. The result. settles nothing, save
that Maher can take world of hard
knocks. .s,s.-s
RING GOSSIP.
The decision given Jordan, the Eng
Esh BOXER, in his go with George Dixon,
Goes not convince the average ring fol-