The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-17

Moore, in backing away from II,
slipped and fell, his head striking one
of the posts of the ring, opening his
scalp and laying him out as/if dead.
II was a fluke victory for Baker, and
when / congratulated him on his lucky
win, he said Lucky. What are you
talking about. / laid for that punch
for six rounds and when the opening
came ] let so and landed it. II you
know anything about fighting YOU will
give me credit for landing a scientific
and well planned punch-a punch that
opened his head and demonstrated that
/ am the hardest hitter III t-a bust
ness"
And he meant it.
Bakers one punch victory reminds
me OF the fight Mexican" Pete Ever
Ell won at Cripple Creek on the af err
noon OF July 4, 1898. Some Of the sports
ia town wanted to get Pete licked, so
they sent to Denver for d big COlored
man who, they had been Informed. was
Bob Armstrong, pan-ha 1dling the
country looking for easy money. The
supposed Armstrong arrived al Cripple
Creek about two weeks before the day
set for the battle, and. as he showed
up pretty well in training, he entered
the ring a hot favorite. Pete, as those
who have seen him in ring action can
attest, devotes the most of his time
To covering up his head with his arms.
He did this with the big black through
out the entire first four rounds, and
never attempted to deliver a blow. II
looked like money from home for the
black during these sessions, despite the
fact that he did not land an effective
n
being thoroughly acclimated. ne an
sWered the call OF time for the fifth
round as limp as dishrag, seeing
which Pete came out from behind the
cover of his arms, hit the supposed
ringer one soak on the jaw, and took
the money. The sports chased the big
black out Of town, and, as Pete liked
it soon after, the impression got abroad
that the fight had been fixed and that
the supposed Armstrong had been
planted in Denver by the cunning Mex
lean.
The name Of Bob rmstrong brings
to my mind the trimmings he received
at the hands Of Frank Childs. at one
time dubbed the "colored heavyweight
champion Of America" sam Summer
field had Childs under his managerial
wing. and also was the matchmaker for
the Chicago Athletic association, and
Charles Z. Davies AT the time had con-
troll OF Armstrong.
The athletic directors Of the c. A. 4.
demanded q fight between a pair OF
heavies, and Summarized, without con-
sulting Davies. induced Bob to go on
with his man Childs. Armstrong in
those days was touted as the second
Peter Jackson and Davies, as did
others posted IN the game. looked upon
him as the coming champion, which
made the match appear lOp-si1ed.
The clubs large gymnasium was
packed like ssrdines when the two Big
blacks stepped into the ring, and as
Bob had the advantage OF fully six
inches in height and probably twenty
pounds in weight, not speaking Of his
superior knowledge in the fine points Of
the game, there was no Childs money
in sight The disparity between them
when they shaped for action was ludi-
crous. and the betting was not who
would win but how many rounds Childs
would stay.
There was nothing doing worth men
tioping In the tiFst round, but in the
second Frank brought over a swing
ing right which connecteL with the
back OF Bob's beau. sending him head
foremost through the ropes. This was
considered Il scratch hit, and one, il
was presumed. that meant the utter
humiliation Of Childs. Instead. how
ever, Frank dropped him with a clean
left on the jaw, and when he arose he
hung one on him that did not come off
until ten minutes after he had been
counted out.
After the fight the story went the
rounds that Armstrong had been doped
before he entered the ring. 50 another
match was arranged TO take place az
Cincinnati. Bob trained 20 the edge
for that contest, and it was write your
own ticket that he would win. 1t was
not in him. however. 20 beat his sawed
off opponent. as Frank heat him so de-
cjsively and 50 artistically the Chicago
dope story never again WIS alluded To.
Armstrong; best showing was With
Jim Jeftr!es when the now retired
champiOn matched himself 10 stop Rob
and Steve O'Donn-.l each In ten rounds.
Bob was selected 10 go the first ten
rounds. and he rot only staid he limit
but did not have any The worst Of the
argument JEFF, il was reported, Injured
his hand in the contest and did not
take Steve on. Jeff's record shows Il
victory over Armstrong, which, accord
ing 10 the conditions of the match, he
did not gain.