Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-07
FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS
"Reminiscences of a Dispute Be-
 tween Mitchell and Dempsey.

It is said that Mitchell Offered to Stop
 Jack in Eight Rounds-A1most Game
 to Blows Over an Argurnent-Ge George
 Dixon was Prohibited From Boxing
 Last Night-Tips From the Ringside.
 Charley Mitchell's presence in this country has caused some of the old time sports to recall the days when the late Jack Dempsey sought match with him. Some of the sports always believed that Mitchell feared Dempsey. but Otto Floto of Denver cites an in- cident that shows that the English boxer did not fear Dempsey i'll the least. F1oto says: Tt was the day af ter the Burke-C Cleary fight, and the men were all in the back room of Parson Davies saloon settling up. Mitchell was in Chicago at the time and so was Dempsey. Of course, they got into an argument, and right there aHd then Mitchell agreed to stop Dempsey in eight rounds or forfeit the entire gate receipts. Dempsey dfd not want to enter into that kind of match and in-
 
 fight with skin gloves on the turf To this Mitchell would not listen saying: Now Jack, you know what kind of chance would have of beating you on the green. If I was winning they would cut the ropes and break up the fighp in wrangle, and if I should happen to knock you out they might kill me. You fight me right here i'll Chicago, and if I fail to stop you in eight .foundsI will agree to meet you i'll a finish contest on the turf But Dempsey was stub born and insisted on fight on the turf or no fight at all With that the men went into the back room and Nit chell ordered q round of drinks. In the room at the time were Parson Da- yies, Jack Burke, Arthur Chambers of Philadelphia, Mitchell and Dempsey. One word led up to another, and fin ally Mitchell could control himself no longer. He grabbed Dempsey by the shoulder and asked those present to % out of the room and lock the door so that no one but Dempsey and himself would be in there. Just want to show him what a stiff he is,' was Mitchell's remark. But Parson Davies jumped between the men and there the matter ended, This is probably the first time this story has ever been published and will be news to many admirers of Dempsey; but any of the men whose names are mentioned above will bear me out No sooner had the trouble in the back room blown over than another argument started between them out at the bar as to who was the heavier. You're . big heavyweight. I only weigh 15S pounds, said Dempsey. Mitchell laughed for a minute and then said: Now, you have been kidding around here long enough. You talk about giving away weight in a. fight with me. Why, that is what I have done all my life. conceded forty-five pounds to John (meahing Sulliyan) when fought him, Now I will tell yotii what I'll do. win bet q basket; Of of Wine for the house that I, don't weigh five pounds more, than you do, and we will go to some Turkish bath house and weigh right now Dempsey jumped at the opportunity and accepted the bet. All hands then walked out to see them weigh, and Mitchell just weighed three and one-half pounds more than Dempsey did and won the bet. T am willing to lose the wine to find out what you weigh was the way Demp- sey turned it off. Jack, you better be good boy and stay in your class. If ever you and meet you won't even have a bloomin' lookin. said Mitchell. ,