Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-01
D0NHVAN DISAPPEARS.
Was Suddenly Called to Scio, and
Could Not Deposit a Forfeit.

i
WHAT THE BOSS WIND-JAMMER
M OF THE PROFESSION HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THE GAME-MoRE
ABOUT OSCAR GARDENERS VIC
TORY OVER HOPKINS-ANOTH-
Err MATCH BETWEEN WHEEL
ING AND COLUMBUS BOWLING
TEAMS-BASE BALL NOTES
GENERAL SPORTING GOSSIP.
ProfesstR Jack Donovan, pugilistlc
talking machine and confessed faklr'
did not appear at the Register ONCE,
Yesterday morning, to make his deposit
of $50 to bind a match with Leshe
Pearce. Donovan possesses the I'M
happy faculty of being absent when
he is wanted. About noon a friend
come into the Office with a statement
that Donovan had left him a note to
call but that he did not get the note
until that hour. The note said moth
ing about money. Donovan was IN
expectedly CD called to Scio, o.
If Professor Jack can fight as we'll
as he can talk, he is a good thing and
somebody ought to take him up as
world beater. He can talk at a faster
clip than any pug who has yet struck
Wheeling. He lives by his wits, he
saws. and he ought to live like lord.
He is not a popular fellow in Wheel
ing. Local sports are lovers OF fair
play. and are disposed to give fakirs
wide berth. Donovan has been accuS-
ed of fixing his battle with JEFF pow
ers. before the NJ. A. c. some time
ago. and has not been in good stand
ing since.
When Donovan was wanted to enter
the ring with Pearce, after Abbott mac
shown his yellow streak Monday night,
he could not be found. He turned up
with a crowd of boxers and patrons
of the game, in a Market street sa-
loon. There was a small edition OF
rough house for time. What nap
pened NAV e best described by Dono-
van, who unburdened himself on
defenseless reporter something after
this fashion:
Il wasn't in the club house when
they wanted me to enter the ring. !
saw the bum fight, and | saw 1t was
the rankest thing ever perpetrated IN
the club house After the tenth round
| got disguised and left. AS l walked
out | said to the President of the
club-'You're up against it, old man,
and I'm sorry for you. He said some
thing about glasshOuSes, that | under
stood, of course. Why, consider that
I did Leslie Pearce a favor by not
getting into that ring They came to
me after | got on the car. Think what
a chance | had to show myself before
that crowd, and make Pearce look
small! I could have said that I wasn't
in condition, and renewed my chal-
lenge, and posted a forfeit.
They have all given ne the worst
of it in this town. | fought the only
fake fight of my life here, and [ came
back to redeem myself. l was hard up.
and Patsy Gavin told me to get man
to meet me. | wrote to my friend Jeff
Power, that | had defeated twice be-
fore, and I'll admit that we fixed the
match. What if we did fix it? They
all do. There's not enc fight in ten
that's strictly on the level. They all
have some kind OF an understanding
before they go into the ring. ! faxed,
and still some Wheeling sharps think
he is a world beaten. That Pearce-
Abbott fight was the rawest fake | ever
saw. Yet they roast me and insult me,
and I'm lucky to be living. Every
time l pass Gardeners saloon they say,
That's Donovan the fake. Why don't
he get his hair cut? I'd like to know if
it amt the privilege Of free born
American citizen to wear his hair as
long as he pleases. l don't ask no
favors from any of EN-, and | mind my
own business. Another thing, | don't
come here and ask club to hold me
up and feed me, like most of the fight
ers that visit Wheeling.
I'm not the best fighter in the
world. If l was, wouldn't be here to-
night. They got me in 9 saloon after
the fake at the club, and gave me an
unmerciful roast. They tried to make
me look like sucker, and | guess they
succeeded. There was a gang Of EN-,
and | didn't have friend in the house
They insulted me in every manner i'm
aginable. One smart guy says Go up
in a balloon, Donavan; you're no good
on earth Another witty fellow, a
swell guy, this one, with big diamond
and fire clothes, says to me, Go down
and stand in front of bank. There's
money in it. Smart people, these
Wheeling sports, ID smart! An
other fellow wanted to bet me 500 TO
$50 that was afraid to meet Pearce.
They wanted me to back myself, and
I refused.
"Of course I refused. I'm not in the
fighting business for my health. I'm
out for the stuff, like the rest of 'em.
Think was crazy enough to get in that
ring at the club and fight Pearce for
glory? | wasn't born yesterday.
Pearce offered to fight in private for
a bet. and he offered to fight winner
take all. That game don't suit me.
I've got some money, but I'm not going
to back myself. | have other and bet
ter uses for it. l told 'em all that I'd
fight Pearce for the best purse offered,
provided there was a losers end. [
stand by that offer. and I'm willing to
post forfeit of $50 to show that l mean
business