The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-23
RED Cunningham FIGHT
How He Met a Famous Boxer
in the Fistic Arena.
VICTIM OF HIS FRIENDS
They Made Him Believe He Was a
Great Man in the Pugilistic World.
Hired Hoboes for Him to
Lick

Tine story printed in the standard sew
eral days ago, telling how the brother
of Red" Cunningham in Buffalo, N.
Y, learned of Reds" death in Anaconda
through a story about him in the Stand
ard has brought out several recolections
of Red who was a well-known char
acter.
Part of the time he was barber and
part of the time he dealt faro said an
oId-timer, discussing him yesterday. HE
was better faro dealer than barber, for
he was deft with cards-honestly So I
mean-but at barbering he could raise
everlasting hades. He was one Of those
BARRIERS who go over once and then,
when going over second time so un-
der about an inch. Whew!" rubbing his
chin refiectively) chow he could mangle
a man.
Red was tall, awkward and I'M
calmly. but good-natured. Now and then
the boys used to put up jobs on him
Jimmy johnson was the leading spirit in
one of the Jobs, perhaps the biggest in
which poor Red was ever the butt.
Jack Dempsey, the Nonapreil, was
coming here with a company giving ath-
letic exhibitions. In. the company Jack
clever as Jack, who was offering SIS for
any local man in the towns where they
showed to stand against him. When the
coming Of the show was heralded in An
aconda Jimmy johnson and the boys set
about jobbing Red BY dint of persistent
fattery they convinced Red that he was
the fighting man of town and could pull
down that SIS easier than winking.
1.-THE boys constituted themselves
Red's' trainers. They fitted up quarters
in the back room of a saloon and there
they used to give Red his exercise, rub
bling him down and throwing few drinks
into him every now and then. They
would chase up q. different hobo or hang
er-on every day, represent him to Red
as good fighter and have the two put
on the gloves.
ITO insure a victory for Red they
would fix the hobo ahead of time. RED
would knock the poor devil all over the
ring. the latter appearing to be getting
fearfully trounced, while the boys would
stand around In an apparently wild state
of enthusiasm over Reds prowess. Day
by day Red swelled until he was cons
WINGED he was the only thing on top Of
earth and thought of meeting Dempsey
himself
THE night of the show arrived. All
the boys were there, occupying front
seats. Dempsey and his partner spared
their rafting, brilliant bout, the club
swinger gave his exhibition, the other
members on the programme came and
went and then the big thing Of the even.
ing was announced.
g Red stepped awkwardly into the
ring amid tumultuous applause. He had
been fitted out with tights and trunks and
a belt made of the American and Irish
flags. He haughtily acknowledged the
salutation of the crowd.
when the bout began Reds face, OF
such of it as We could see when the 9TH
er fellows glove wasn't covering it up
was a study. He actually couldn't do a
thing but fiddle with his arms a little af-
ter the man had hit him. The real fight
er would slap him on one cheek and then
on the other and would vary the proceed
ings by gently pushing Reds face back
while Red would fan the air wildly
THE boys were convulsed. They howl
ed with merriment.
"'Come up here and take some of 1t
yourselves, If you like it so WELL, he
growled, but the boys only shouted the
more.
THAT was the last Of Reds pugilistic
career. Never again did he have aspira-
tions In that direction