The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-02
"STALLING" IN A PRIZEFIGHT.
How an Unexpected Move by an
American Won a. Fortune for an
English BoOkmaker.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
1T is probably not well known that
an unavoidable move on the part of
Harry Harris in his noted fight with
Pedlar Palmer in England a few years
ago won a pile of money for the
Americans hackers" said a prominent
trainer of pugilists. But such is a
fact. When Harris went to England
he was practically unknown. He had
done excellent work in the ring on this
side, but did not get many chances
to display his powers. Harris, who
comes from Chicago, is a wonderful
boxer and somewhat of a puncher. At
the time he went abroad he weighed
only lis pounds. He is tall and lanky
and would not pass muster in a crowd
as an athlete. In fact, judging from
his looks no one would think that he
was able to punch pole in a piece of
butter, let alone stand off and beat
such lad as Palmer in a twenty
round encounter.
'One day after Harris reached Eng
land he went to the office of London
sporting newspaper and issued a chal-
lenge to meet any bantam in that
country. Several of the fight promoters,
after sizing Harris up, thought it I'M
wise in view of the Americans ply
sique to give him a chance. One pro-
moter, noted for his candor told Har-
ris that he would not let the latter
fight at his club because he thought
that Harris would be killed in the ring.
Why, solid blow m'boy, will ami
hllate you, he was informed. You
'ad better get job as a clerk. Thar
Will be much better for you, boy
Harris was surprised at the recep-
ton and tried to convince his detrac-
tors, but to no avail. Finally he had
a long talk with Bert Dorman, an
American sport, who had urged Har-
ris to come to England, and Dorman
finally secured Harris a match. The
chicago boy easily trimmed his man,
but this did not help him any. In
fact, it was a detriment and Harris
was so disappointed that he made up
his mind to sail for home. A week be-
fore he was to depart he had the
good fortune to meet a prominent
wealthy English bookmaker. Harris,
who possesses more than the aver
age intelligence, explained his i'll luck
in securing fights and his intention of
going to America. He assured the
bookmaker that he could whip any
lad at his weight in England if given
trial and urged the layer to match
him at once with Pedlar Palmer.
can whip him. said Harris, and
if necessary / will invest the losers
end of the purse that l am success
full The bookmaker was much i'm
pressed by Harris frankness and de-
termination and he went ahead and
brought about the fight. In order to
facilitate things Harris was introduced
to Palmer, and when the Englishnan
saw the Americans slightness of build
he was all the more anxious to face
him. But he insisted on a big side
wager, which the bookmaker produced
Harris confidence in himself was
reassuring, but the bookmaker was a.
trifie sceptical until Harris began
training. While preparing he showed
his true form. He insisted on boxing
with men heavier than himself The
way he disposed of his sparring mates
was surprise, and the bookmaker
realized that Harris was a wonder.
"One day about a week before the
scrap Harris saw his hacker and said
to him: Tom, l can beat Palmer to
a certainty, but If you don't mind l
will stall for a couple of rounds, Just
to give you chance to get down some
extra money
The Englishman was taken aback
at this proposal and replied: No, no,
Harry. Go ahead and win and do it
as quickly as you can. You know
what a wonderful fellow this Palmer is
and 1t would be unwise to take any
chances Harris excused himself for
making such a suggestion, and the in
cident was entirely forgotten until the
night of the bout.
THE fight took place before the Ma
tional Sporting Club, London, and Pal
mer was favorite in the betting at 8
to l on. When Harris took his chair
he was in fine shape, but he presented
decided contrast to Palmer, who was
muscular and strong in appearance. As
soon as the bell sounded for the open
ing round the parting injunction from
Harris hacker was to try to win as
quickly as he could.
We'll, if you can recall that scrap.
Palmer made Harris look like a now
ice for two rounds. He walloped and
smashed Harris all over the ring and
1t looked like a cinch for the Briton.
Harris hacker was amazed. He had
invested over $4,000 on the American
and he thought that his money was
lost. But suddenly it occurred to
him what Harris had told him at the
training quarters. The Palmer adher-
ents were very enthusiastic and began
to buy the bookmaker for his conf
dence in Harris. The betting took a
jump and Palmer was the favorite at