The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-05
.PUGILISTS' VARIETY
OF ODD NICKNAME S
Kid" Is Most Common Of
Them in Late Years.
A LOCAL MAN IS DUBBED
Frank Craig Gets Sobriquet of Coffee
Cooler" in Cheap Washington
Restaurant.

There are few fighters In the ring to-
day. from champions down to the hum
biest scrapper. who do rot rejoice in
some sort of nickname
The most common design alton in later
years has been the word Kid"
This sobriquet has been applied TO
scores of pugilists. and no matter how
old the possessors become, the name
sticks
Probably the only one Of the latter
day bruisers nicknamed Kid who be-
came champion was Kid Lavigne
although kid" Carter and kid" Nc
Coy have attained prominence in their
class. Lavigne became known as the
Kid" because Of his youthful appear
ance.
Norman Selby. otherwise kid" Nc
Coy. battled under the latter cognomen
for many years before his real identity
became known.
Spike" Sullivan. who first name is
William. got his nickname is peculiar
way. Sullivan began boxing in 1872.
In 1895. in Boston, he met a fellow
named Eddie Burke. The latter had
great local reputation. while Sullivan
was practically unknown
Sullivan won in three rounds and the
young Irishman demonstrated such ter
rife hitting powers in that encounter
that Burke was completely knocked out
and remained unconscious for some
time.
When he came to he weakly asked 20
see his conqueror. Sullivan came for
ward and extended his hand.
You're an awful puncher. said
Burke partly dazed
Il don't know that" responded Spike
proudly. Il hope you're not much hurt
mo. I'm not hurt" said Burke out
| am still dizzy. But I'm afraid that
you had a couple of, spikes in your
/ gloves when you smashed me.
THAT last blow felt as though il was
landed with a spike
After that Sullivan was dubbed
The Mysterious One.
Mysterious Billy Smith. whose cor
rect name is Amos Smith. got his nick
name Just prior to his first public ap-
pearance in the East.
Although born at Eastport Me-. Smith
| fought mostly on the Pacific Coast In
/ 1899 Tom Williams. champion welter-
weigst of Australia. came to this coun-
| try in search OF a fight
EX-Judge Newton. who was match
maker Of the old Coney Island Athletic
/ Club. and who had seen Smith fight,
| sent for the latter 10 come on and
meet the Antipodeau. Very little was
/ known OF Smith in the East and there
was much speculation as to his identity
Some of the sports guessed that he
tured that he was a fourth-rater, who
was selected merely to try Williams
! Others figured that Smith was a hank
| clerk. while some heard that he was a
! college youth who was in financial
/ straits and became a fighter because
| he needed ready money.
! his movements and everything per-
! tanning % him were kert so secret by
/ the clue management that he finally
| became known as the mysterious 4ne -
! After smith fought JViIIianos and
| whipped. him so quickly. the newspapers
called lin Mysterious Billy Smith"
Frank Craig's Case.
Frank Craig. the Harlem Cofree
Cooler" colored. came by his name
! when he lived in Washington. That
| was in 1889, and he had no thought
of becoming "A pugilist
Craig in an intelligent fellow. and
| from boyhood had to hustle for him
self. One day he found himself out OF
a job. so he applied for a position in
a cheap restaurant as waiter
| The proprietor q white man. was
aNerse to employing negroes and told
Craig 80. Craig was disappointed and
was about TO go when he turned to the
| boss and said.
what's the difference whether I'm
colored or not as long as L do the
work p"
"A great difference" returned the
proprietor angrily. You better get out
Of here or I'll smash your head of. ="
! III tell you what I'll do. boss" Craig
said. IF you give me some work I'll
wait for nothing. All / want is my grub
and a place to Sleep
The proprietor admired Craigs per-
sistency and, in order 10 get rid Of him.
finally said: "All right, I'll give you a
job. IN employ you as A coffee cooler -
'WhaT IS that asked the negro.
"Afier a cup OF cofee Is drawn" an
swerc0 he man, you must go ahead
and wait gmtil it cools off Then when
IL is cool make it hot again
Somehow the story got about, and
when Craig came to New York and
Joined the fighting ranks one of his
friends hailed him as the champion
coffee cooler
] H. "A n.