The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-07
MYSTERIOUS SMITH
COMING WESTWARD
HE rs MATCHED TO FIGHT THE
CLEVER "KID" LAVIGNE.
Referee White of New York Tells
How Fitzsimmons Punched
Holes in Fat Hog.

Professor Kennedy, the director general
of the Excelsior Athletic Club, received d
message from Mysterious" Billy Smith
on Saturday which stated that he (Smith)
was satisfied with the conditions proposed
by kid Lavigne and that he would
leave New York on Sunday evening on a
journey to the West.
Smith expects to arrive in this city on
Friday or Saturday next, and after visit
ing his intimate friends he will locate at
one of the training stations until he is
called upon to try conclusions with the
clever and hard-hitting I.avigne
The contest, which will consist OF twenty
rounds. will take place in the early part
Of March in Woodwards Pavilion, and
according to an agreement the contestants
must weigh in at 142 pounds at the ring
side.
Many people are impressed with the idea
that Smith cannot reach the weight stipu-
lated and be strong, but on this point
there need be no alarm among the friends
of the mysterious lightweight. as Smith
has been leading a very abstemious life
since he Joined the benedicts and can
easily fight at 142 or even less If the oc-
casion required II.
Lavigne has been taking light exercise
at Blanken's for the past few days. He
will settle down to regular course of in
door and outdoor exercise after the ar
Frank Erne and Dial Hawkins are put
ting on muscle at their respective train
ing quarters. Erne is said TO be IN tol-
erabIy good condition now, but 1t is DOUBT
full If he will be made favorite when the
betting days arrive.
The following story on F1tzsimmons is
told by Charley White, a well known New
York referee. He contends that fltZslm-
mons has a penchant for punching holes
In the carcasses of dead ANIMALS. AT any
rate the White yarn" makes pretty falr
an Eastern paper:
During the days when Fitz had not risen to
his present exalted pugilistic position ne was
always on the lookout to test his hitting pow
ere and never overlooked an opportunity 10
let fly his huge fists at some lnanimate opJect.
About four years ago Fftz was in Boston Win
White who was then training him for hght.
Fitz had a mania for hitting with his nsts
dressed hogs or sheep hanging on hooks in
front of butcher shops. Nothing pleased MN
better than TO pass butcher shop, ana, When
the proprietor was not looking, take smash
at the body of hog. White, on such occa-
sions would be his lookout, ana give MIN the
Tin when the coast clear to pummel the
object White told that whenever tltz let
drive with his right he would invarlaply G9t
the flesh of the sheep hog clean as knife
and sink his fist to the ribs. Fitz told Whte
that this was the nearest approach ne could
get to a human being, and was much better
than striking q punching bag. On one coca
sion Fftz while walking along with White,
sped a magnificent hog hanging on hook IN
front of butcher shop whose proprietor had
been annoyed more than once by having the
sides of some OF his livestock split by the
brawny fists of the blacksmith. The butcher
had been on the alert for some time to catch
the guilty party, so when Fitz took a smash at
his porker and split the flesh as clean as a
knife he seized ceaver and with yell that
would have done credit to a Comanche. he
rushed at Fitz. White. at the first sign of dan
ger, was off like a greyhound, yelling to Fltz
to run. Fitz. with his heart in his throat, got
up on his toes and tore after White with the
speed of a quarter-horse.
The irate butcher pursued the pair for several
blocks, swinging his cleaver like a madman.
crowd followed at his heels, and there was
the biggest kind of an uproar in the neighbor-
hood The butchers wind bad, however,
and FitZ and White. by making use of several
alleys finally managed to give him the slip.
After this experience FitZ told White that he
thought it best to give up punching the exhib-
its of butchers.