The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-21
PREACHER WHO IS A PuGllIST.
The Rev. tlr Sean Is ho Champion MiGihssIghl
OF Uah.

An ordained elder and preacher who
is also professional pugilist is "A rare
bird in any region. The only specimen
known to exist is the Rev. Willard w.
Bean, who would like "A match with "A
local middleweight. none barred. on any
evening except Sunday, says the Chi
cago Inter-Ocean. on Sunday nights
Mr.. Bean breaches 10 the Mormon con-
gregation in San Francisco.
Ia each of his diverse professions
Bean excels He talks eloquently ana
puts more persons 20 sleep Dy MS
punching than by his preaching. His
discourses are celebrated ia the church
for their vigor and inspiration. Bean
is "A young man with "A mission. lie ls
the apostle OF muscular Christianity
and desires to demonstrate that plety
and priZefighting can go hand IN mana
and neither be ashamed OF the other.
He believes with the good book. that
when his enemy smites him on the left
cheek a Christian should turn the other.
But the good book does not prescribe
the SEQUEL, and the Rev. Mr.. Bean Is OF
opinion that a right and left swing on
the enemys jaw is wise and pious
action and an exercise OF much reli-
gious merit.
This Christian pugilist is % years
old, five feet nine inches tail, and in the
ring weighs 154 pounds. In the pulp I
he looks heavier. His victories have
| been numerous. He knocked out Law
renee Farrell, otherwise William Ke-
hoe I'm nine rounds. Kehoe had con-
tracted 10 lay Bean low within ten
rounds. Recently Bean founght 22-
round draw with jim Williams. whom
Sharkey defeated. w lliams was %
pounds heavier than Bean.
The fight was attended by number
| of dignitaries OF the Mormon church.
Bean Is so well liked, and his reputa-
ton for virtue was so good. that COM
mittee OF Mormon clergymen was dep
uted to reason with him on the inherent
| and incidental evils of pugl SIN, Hnd 10
| beg him to retire from the ring Sean,
| who Is a persuasive man, not only met
| their arguments with better. but gave
| the committee tickets TO the fight. They
| witnessed the % bloody rounds from
| seats near his corner.
Bean inherited n s strength from his
| father. who is Judge Bean Of the SUI
perior Court OF Utah. The Judge was a
powerful man and an orthodox Nor
mon. who had three wives smultane-
ously. and begot 80 children all Of
whom grow 10 adult age. The Rev.
william w. Bean, the fighter. has no
gious zeal is equal 20 his fathers. He
Is unmarried. without vices. and alb
stains from alcoholic liquors. tea. cof-
Fee and all stimulants. Besides his
skill with the gloves. he is n good ham -
mer-throwtr shot-putter. runner and
jumper
His talents are various. For while
he was a comedian I'm a stock COM
pany one Friday night at Salt Lake
he d'd funny business i'm n farce; the
next evening ne fought n limited num-
ber of rounds I'm boxing bout. and on
Sunday night he preached 10 a large
congregation. All these performances
occurred I'm the same building Bean
Is an ordained elder Of the Mormon
church and is licensed 10 preach He is
a celebrated and efficient exhorter
Al present the Rev. Mr.. Bean is train
ing Fred Jarrett, youthful giant
from Nisalia. who is matched to fghs
soon I'm San Francisco. Bean intends
10 give exhibition Of boxing I'm the
larger California towns