davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
Il there :. ever one question which viii 4

II there = ever one question which VIII
/ not down IL she is't:u-; game. it is rhc
F query "A. Ia what grounds n" r"f'-e-
should follow in awarG ding the verdict To
/ either comhataut over whom h. rFesltes.
. II eye mere was = lara! case in point. it
wrS thr contest between Jonrry Eo-,-:.
a:f+ Nrl.;. Att.u at fae West End cab
I last thursday evening. Could Il ballet
have been taken of th,. spectators II t::c
I horse. there is 70 question b.: that R"S2I
vog., hove re"e:v"i jhe v,riict-for l..
vas the pop'-lar favoriie.
Had = composite opinion OF those IN the
press r5= ard such members ot the pu
gil.=iir profssSiol as wo--. present been
rendered. II would seem aA if draw
wou,d have been the decision. While
thee were not lackirg supporters OF NJ
tell vhn enthusiastically supported t1e
judgement q Referee Smith. and Who he
lieyel I,ia: lis OT;nioG was correct
s. iar as the writer i concerned. lre
believes hat an even break in the ,ieri-
sion v5uit have been 10 wrong I" either
man. ~" nks that ReGaE's constant
aggressive mess and the number of IelIs
h.. lIua"d with e.thpr hand more than
compensated Tor the superior strength At
tell showed IT tines
1t was one case Hha-- d draw would
have been frst-c,asS. DECISION These
split ver5:--s are usually LANDED down
as 4 Sn-- e compromise wne. the crowd
commences u veil for one man or the
other f5ut in this fight X surely looked
Ike an even break from the standpoint ..
the writer. lie il q a loss - see where
Atten had sEch an Overwhelming edge
that he ,.arItF decision
SPRAWI.ING ON FLOOR.
Attell was Spawning about the floor in
one round. clearly dazed from Resan's
blows. He came back eamely enough and
put W good contest Yet it did not seem
If he had any great edge over the
Brooklyn boy a. any stage once he sent
Regan 10 the floor for the first time in
Johnny's ring career But Resan came
back strongly and Ganey and was rot in
trouble al The time.
Regan put Up an aggressive battle SO
different from his old policy o: blocking
and holding back that he Won Wild ap-
plause which flied the club throughout
He Is Far and away the more spectacular
boxer o. the pair. Actell still having tka:
unfinished appearance about his move
Inents in The ring which detracts appar-
entity. though not in reality, from his
speed
That Attell was ths stronger man OF the
pair was clear. Moreover, he was favored
by the weight of lie pounds. The route,
Il anything. favored Regan.' This makes
the question OF their next meeting an open
problem, inasInuch as the distance IS 10
be twenty rounds. while tho weight is TO
be us pounds.
The battle was a meeting between fight
ers OF dissntlar style. Ono was the stur-
dy and aggressive man who depended on
mixing and slueging. 1T the same time
having enough c!everness 10 slip out OF
a bad position The other was a snappy
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
EnR ETrvSTNN,nNS
't!1 product o: the last decade. wne
.il. dangerous t. his own division

p1.Ei-.-'t2c product o: the last decade. VINO
Is still. DANGEROUS IT, his own division
Those wlo follow -aa d-i-us ot 70
prize rrg often v-a.s~ what t-ronle< ct
al th- Ir.-'.4S-e v.n ll. - helped ru max
Gst!c history. Since John =. SGl-:.ar vas
N h.= prime uagv fighters haze come ard
g5le- Te- IL IS only rve.vr Years, sine
sll.irau vas defeated b. i'm Cg-Sett 20
the heavyweight ,.tis.
S:Gce So. uE.a sullivan re4-:ze5 what
decisive defeat meant. -rriJuSt-:1s in
tie various classes hay cra--ed tarfe
many rimaS- Ire ar has improved. O.d
..-erho-s have gwen place 70 uc-to-d i.e
ideas. cubs have hen organized and
diSeanded. New referees with new inter
.retatiors q the oil! rules have sp--:-9;
ia:o prominence. ". The principle % box
.aE Is the same. and VIII ~ doubt remain
The same until the end OF time.
Twelve Years ago last September the
sporting word wss pairing homage TO
three Jzclss-JohE L. jack McAuIifss. - !:
Jack Dempsey. With the exception of
Dempsey they are Sill awe. bGt a-= dad
- julius Caesar as fa- "a ever fighting 8
again is concerned There il f peculiar
t:sic about fighters @ which the public
knows lt-la Il Is th-ir Discrimination %
ADMIT tina. their days " usefulness IN the
ring are o-e-. \ pueIisc Will do every
thing in his power 20 keep f-p-1 being
I Ca.led q has been There * aoth'rg
nat pains tin more thar 10 be ignored.
while others succeed him in the affections
OF the public.
Some fighters ot = decade ago are still
3 popular as they were in the heyday Of
their career. An instance is John l. Sui
! Ivan. VINO still retains his hold on the
affections OF the people TIE same can be
said of Jim Corbe:t. ice CnoyuSEi and Bob
Fftzsimnons. T-hev have been abe to
keep their CoEnomers a..vs by fighting
Corbett has other ways oc ingrattatirg
himself with the public Ea is Intelligent
and a good talksr. He IS now an actor, q
profession tha: invites uoto-ie-y.
Very little ts heard NOWADAYS 0, George
Dixon He Is IN England. and. although
he f=h-s as often as twice month, tie
results Of these contests rarely reach tris
SIDE OF the Atlantic Yet five years ago
D.xca's name as a pugi.ist was something
10 conjure with. Eddie Connolly. who
tough, best az the lightweight limit; Kid
Lavigre. one OF the best lightweight
Young GriIo Of Australia. as skilled
boxer ever Wore gloves: Frank Craig
he Harlem Coffee Cooler" negro who
was near the top OF his class: Dan Cree
don o. +tust-a-!a- 4 champion IN his day:
Willie Cu-!ey. 1t TOP noIcher from Eng
i1:id: Jack T'Vwnsy Of Brooklyn. who drew
crowded E-uses every time he fought;
Billy Ernst. Jack E,ssrhardr OF New Or
Heasr .ks.
man to the floor: Martin F1ahertv OF Low
FL and Oscar Gardner. the Omaha Kid"
who was the first man TO knock Terry Nc
Govern of his feet. are still # the land
u the living. but out OF the business.
Then there are Casper Leon. a bantam
who vas at the top Of his class: Jack
Hamilton OF Troy. George Green Of Cali
fornia. the original Young Corbett"': r:aI
Hl-lSins. wko had a right hand that could
land the large end OF the purse: Spike SUI
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18

| baby Of the family, are IN school. Two
/ children are dead.
FAMILY LIVES MODESTLY.
The Nelson's live nodestIy, comfortably.
IN g little cottage at No. 1344S Superior
avenue. Battling has helped materially IN
. providing for tte home. and hLs mothers
testimony that he IS u good boy is enough
recomperse tor any aspersions that may
be cast upon his calling.
One day while he was acting as black
smiths helper in the Hegewisch shops an
iron fragment flying from q broken ma
chine struck the boy IN the face. laying it
open. He was taken more dead than alive
to Mercy Hospital. where lie lay uncon-
sc.ous for forty-eigh. hours He came out
after fifteen days with c distinct aversion
for the Job OF smiths assistant
So. VIXEN urged and begged not to take
up N,other." he said, IF / run
such risks IN the shops. how can fighting
be more dangerous than that" An unan-
swerable argument for hi. critics.
Were the Nelson's interested in Bat
things fight with Corhet? Yes indeed
Even the mother, not unmindful Of the
fa1ne-of however doubtful a variety-that
would accrue TO her son and to the family
II Battling should win. waited until her
husband ard tho hoys returned from the
telegraph Office at o'clock IN the morning
with the rews that Battling had won.
Il could not sleep until found out the
result" said the little, mother. in telling Of
the incident. TO a certain extent 1 felt
that the boy was IN some danger, but l
was not very anxious on that account, for
~ ho.a
always able TO hold his own IN anything
he has gone into.
of course. his father and brothers were
deeply concerned IN his contest. and they
were not alone. for many of Battlias's
friends In this town We're with them get
ting the returns"
FARMING NOT PROFITABLE
Nels Nelson and his good wife. Mary.
came 20 the United States when Battling
was 10 months old. After less than a
year spent at Oshkosh. Wis. the family
came to Chicago. whence it went to Dol
ton TO take TO farming. But this did not
prove as profitable as might have been,
and the prospect of work in the Hege-
wisch shops attracted the Nelson's there.
And there they have been ever since.
Battling went TO school until he was Ib,
and then, because there was no work In
HegewisCh, he started out on his own
hook and found himself one day in Huron,
5. d. unknown and without money. He
WAS strong boy and speedily landed"
as helper in a butcher shop.
! year at this, and then the war with
Spain broke out and Battling enlisted.
The Huron company Travelled south-Is far
as Sioux City. Ia.-when. for some rca-
son. the little compaHys Captain was not
accepted. and his men. who had agreed to
follow his fortunes for better or worse,
disbauded and Battling Nelson came home.
II is a far cry from n third-ratc pre-
liminary TO 4 har2pion-hip contest. The
Eap IL almost a= wide ~ from HeseTisch
10 san Francisco but BATTLING Nelson has
b-idgel both Cap.A and With every step
has strengthened his hold.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
TOMMY RYAN.

= eminent II TIE TlrS
'irs- al his tr--aer Dave. as game a
r's-- % i=-s- ts7vv ar ever to.ai The scratch
% r cz3l a. -s--a- NARY McCue. Charlie
Si.---.va-. aid Mcfarland. Steve O'Do--
1e.l o. 49, ,..t- Frank Mcconnell OF Ca
-fr-Eia. :tvs.e-.au< BilIr smith Jimmy
StG-G'er ~ Newark SoIIy Smith. who
-=rCc within an ace c< teating George
uiEo- wen h later was in his prime:
Tom T-EEr,- % AuSt-a-.s- Tommy West
..aL Bi.!F Whis-i--. They are rot heard
! mI"h now
Many wonder what ha. bscone o.
--i2uhe'' F'-r-s. who was formerly the we!-
te--ws:glt champion: Dick Burge OF Eng
and Billy Pl.mmer. former bantam
champion o. the world: ZiEy Meyer. Ed
die Pierce. Jack SkelIy. the ''Streator cy-
clone: Billy Darey. lack Fogarty. John
ny Reagan OF Brooklyn. BROOKLYN Jim
I-y'' Carroll and Jern Smith OF England.
All these have laid their boxing gloves
away and gone into other pursuits. Ferns
S working somewhere in Buffalo. Burge
Is y: fail IN England and Plinmer IL
teaching boxing in Birmingham, England
Neyer g superintendent OF one OF the
race tracks In chicago. and Fogarty =
ing commissioner. Charlie Mitchell has
plenty OF money and is playing the races.
Mysterious Billy Smith Is running a
boarding house IN Portland Ore; Reagan
and Carroll are in business In New York:
Jack NIcAulifTe follows the races, while
Spike Sullivan and his brother Dave are
in this country engaged in commercial
business Creedon is in Australia: West
teaches boxing; Leon has Job IN San
Francisco and /, doing well. McCue IS
also IT business. whtle E>verhardt IS some
where aro-nd the county doing a vHu6e-
VILE specially.
jim Hall OF Australia, 4 wonder in his
day. "a IN America while his two noted
courtryuen. Peter jackson and Joe God
da7d. are dead. Johnny Griffin. the Brain
rec lad. has also passed away. So has
George Godfrey. ''Oid Chocolate" a ne
gro heavy weight. whose name Is still re-
vered as one OF the greatest fighters OF
his race OF the old timers Tommy Ryan
and Peter Maher are still before the pub
lie. Evan IS the only ore Of the veterans
who IS still a champion Occasionally
Owen Ziesler. who has record milo
long. bobs up. Sollv Smith is in Caliror-
MIA doing the best he can. KID Lavizns
is abroad. where. It IS said he is success
fully teaching Trenchmen the art OF box
ing The list does not end here IL some Of
the pugilists less known IN their time are
taken into consideration.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18

BY the victory OF Battling Nelson one
more town stands on the map of tht
United States And by the same victory
the name OF Young Corbett's conqueror is
entitled to be written without ITALICS
At last Hegewisch is famous Handl-
capped by its name. existing mainly be-
cause the men employed in its great car
manufacturing plant had TO live convent
ent to their work. It has remained for a
boy pugiIist to put Hegewisch on the
map. Now Hegewisch stands for some
thing-it IS the home of the boxer, Osca-
Battling Matthew Nelson. the boy who
would be known as the Champion OF
Chicago.
Battling Is no nickname. When the boy
was born in Copenhagen on the 9Th OF
June. 1892, his parents poncered duly be-
fore giving him his name, but his mother,
who had brother Battling and wished to
90 him honor. insisted that her third son
should bear It The Oscar and Matthew
came easily enough. but neither was near
~ so distinctive as Battling, SO Battling
has his name been. for short. ever eince.
Probably the original Danish name is not
spelled that way. but that is as near as
the English title approaches the original.
Whether the boy was attracted into his
calling by his name does not directly ap-
pear. but that the title had influence that
way is certain AS boy among his mates
at school he was not TO he trihed with. Not
that he was unduly belIiserent. seeking
contest without cause. but once the gage
had been thrown down Battling Nelson
was a youth to be reckoned with
Battling. one OF ten children. comes Of
good Old Danish stock Possibly he has
inherited some OF the traits which Of old
made the Danes such sincere fighters when
warning on their enemies. Possibly he has
irabibed some OF the spirit OF the vikings
and OF the men OF old who believed i'm
s.egfrieds of the Scandinavian mythology,
Hammer OF Thor. Who can say?
But the boy has put such fighters .s
Herrera Canole. Hanlon and now Young
Corhett behind him. and in looking fo- vet
greater laurels has shown that in him runs
the blood of worthy ancestors.
The family IS OF the thrifty Scandinavian
type. The father. Nels, a carpenter,
works at Indiana Harbor. The mother, a
little woman of about 45, takes care Of the
cottage and takes immense pride in her
Children. Albert, the oldest. is 2s. and is
machinist in the Northwestern shops.
Henry. "a, is a blacksmith at Washington
Heights Then comes Batting. =. John
ME. 20. Is ulolder in the Hegewisch
works: Charlie. a bright boy Of Is. IS IN
High School. Ida. 16 the only daughter,
is learning dressmakinE. and Arthur. who
will be IA in January, and Harry. 10. the
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18

aggressive little fighter. who landed and
jabbed with he qu,ckne>s of cat. besides
forcing the bout throughout.
Attell was the hard hitter. He=au vas
the jabhe- and leader. Atteu was fight
ing his ratIra! battle Regain was not
AtteL was favored b. tie method IN
which Johnny rushed ~ him. leaving him
self uncovered. johnny put Himself - q
Disadvantage by this very excess OF az
gressiyeness.
Had it not been tor the perfect condi-
tion Of each man. the fast pace would
have worn them cut long before the finish.
As it is, it is hard to say decisive!y that
this man or that was the better On the
question Of whether a spectator favors a
fighter Of the smuggling type or one Of the
snapr- sort % cIeveruess shown b. Regaa
depends that same Spectators idea OF
where the verdict should have gone. to /
great extent.
Yet the spectator who appreciates both
styles would probably have but one thing
to say on the point-and that Is that the
bout should have been ! draw.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
Five Year. for coanterfeitins.

ELPJ BLIC SFENilNb.
Philadelphia Dec. 1T.-Convicted on the
charge OF making and having in his pos
session mouIds for the manufacture Of
counterfeit half dollars. James Hall. alias
James Hart, was sentenced to five years
by Judge Holland IN the United States
District Court. Han was arrested on oc-
tober q last by Secret Service Agent
Griffin. A number OF plaster Of paris
moulds FOR the making OF counterfeit
coins were found and a quantity OF metal
such as used by counterfeiters.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
ATTELL-REGAN BATTLE BRINGS TO FORE
EVER PRESENT QUESTION OF DECISIONS

Hard Find Common Ground Which
Mixing and He Who Prefers Boxing May Aei.ach Believes
That Man of His Own Particular style Should
Verdict in Close Fight.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
VICTORY OF NELSON OVER CORBETT
PUTS ANOTHER TOWN ON TIE MAP

Hegewishc Little Settlement Where the Danish Fighter Was
Born Was Practically tDkn"wn nt Nelson Scored His Vie
tory Battling" Is His Real Tide and Not Nickname.
The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
STARS OF LAST DECADE
HAVE DROPPED FROM PUBLIC VIEW

Bob FzmnoS and Tommy Ryan Alon" RInam Active Fig
Those Who Contested Ring BATTLES Ten
- Professions Adopted by Those Who Have Retired.
The Minneapolis journal., 1904-09-26
world's Fair Excursion

Low rates over Minneapolis & st.
Louis Railroad-2 regular trains with
fine equipment, run direct to the gates
of the fair in 18 hours. Tickets at 424
Nicollet avenue, Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis journal., 1904-09-26
NO CAMPAIGN
LIKE THIS one
Minds of Voters All Made Up,
Says Tawney, to Continue
G.. 0. P. in Power.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Winona, Mimi, Sept. 26.-Congress-
man Tawney, chairman Of the speak
axs bureau of the republican national
committee, who on Saturday accom-
Fairbanks thru the first district and up
to St. Paul, spent Sunday in this city.
He left again at night for the head
quarters of the republican national
committee at Chicago He saws:
a"The national campaign thus far has
been unlike any other in the memory
of our oldest citizens. Our opponents
heretofore have commenced their
speaking campaign within month
after the national convention. It is
now two months since their national
convention, and only six weeks before
the campaign must close, and thruout
the states west Of Pennsylvania at
least there have been no democratic
speeches by any democrat Of national
prominence, except that Mr.. Bryan has
made q few in the west. John G.
Carlisle, former secretary of the treas
ury, opens the campaign in South Bend,
Indiana, on Oct. l..
there have been a great many speeches
made by speakers of national reputa-
tion in the states west of PENNSYLVANIA,
and our: meetings have. all been. very
large and enthusiastic; but it has been
impossible thus far to open the speak
ing campaign generally under the aus
pices of state central and county COM
mittees, or to assign speakers of less
note for this purpose. -
'"The fact is the people are not dis
cussing politics in this national cam
paign as heretofore. The large attend
ance and the enthusiasm, of, the meet
ings that have been held shows that
they are interested, but the absence Of
discussion abong themselves is strong
indication that they are satisfied with
the present conditions and the present
administration of governmental affairs
and have made up their minds to con-
tinue the policies Of the republican
party and the administration Of Pres
ident Roosevelt for another four years.
.HThere can be but one danger. in
the present apathetio condition, which
is that the republicans may feel that
the success Of the ticket, from the head
Of the national down to the county
ticket, is so certain that they need not
exercise the highest privilege of Ameri-
can citizens. The local organizations,
including precinct committees, how.
ever, will be very active from this
time on, and especially on the day Of
election in getting out the full vote and
thus minimizing the danger from over
confidence
The Minneapolis journal., 1904-09-26
FAREWELL LETTER
IN MURDER CASE
Prosecutors of Slifer for Uxoricide
Contend That He Wrote
Wife's AvowaI,
Special to The Journal.

trial Of W. E. Slifer for the murder Of
his wife will probably be finished on
Tuesday. The defendant was placed on
the stand Saturday and made a good
witness. He was cross examined this
went over all the details Of the trip to
Marshalltown on the day of the night
when his wife died, and described mi
nutely every move and action of himself
and wife that day.
The general opinion seems to be that
the state has made rather weak case
and the defendant will be acquitted.
defense was the introduction of letter
purporting to have been written on the
morning of the day on which Mr.. and
Mrs. Slifer came to Marshalltown by
Mrs. Slifer. This letter was farewell
to her husband and read as follows:. y
December 10, $3.50 a.m;-.My darling
Wi III No o{tsa doubt by the TING that you
sad. But T want to tell you that on
the Goth Of October I bought bottle
Of chloroform. I have used part of it
for a purpose I shall not tell. But I
will this very night, when we get back
from town and you; go, to sleep, swallow
You dear Will, shall know nothing Of
this until you find me dead. I have
good to me. T Shall not tell you Why 1
want to 90 to town today, hoping it will
not sadden your heart not to know.
Tel, them all goodbye for me.--Your
Loving Kate. ~
The state, Of course, asserts this letter
Is fabrication and was in reality writ
ten by the, defendant. A search of the
room in which the woman died is said
to have revealed the letter.
The Minneapolis journal., 1904-09-26
RAILROADS
WILL DISAPP0INT SOME
REPORT OFWIsCONsIN CENTRAL's
YEAR CONTAINS BAD NEWS FOR
STOCKHOLDERS. T.::. ,* .a.s,. =
Special to The Journal,

New. York, Sept. 26--The annual re-
port of the Wisconsin Central road will
be issued within few weeks. It will
not be satisfactory, document. for the
reading of those stockholders who want
preferred dividends very shortly. It
will show that the road is not in posi-
of this year, and that little more than
the preferred dividends were earned.
The report, will be satisfactory so far
as the bondholders are concerted. It
will show that the cash surplus is still
strong, and that. the other liquid assets
of the company have not been impaired.
In other words the actual financial posi-
tion of the company is today about as
strong as it was last year and its credit,
| at least, as good, if not better.
The reason for this condition Of af-
fairs, after very bad and indeed dan
gerous! year, is to be found in the fact
that, this company was one Of the first
to start on policy of retrenchment. It
was therefore not found necessary, dur
ing the stress of the past twelve months
| to do very much more than maintain the
road without incurr,ng fresh expenses
in the line of capital improvements.