Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-14
FIGHTING AND FAME.

There is no quicker way to obtain
fame, except through some heroic act,
than as prize fighter, providing al
ways, that one is a good prize fighter
the best in his class. He must not
be merely good, but he must be the
premier. Battling Nelson, the son of
a laborer who tolls away his days in
steel mill at Hegewich, Ill.,, sub
urb of Chicago, is champion light
weight pugilist of the world having
won the title by defeating James E.
Britt in California last Saturday. He
has become famous, this little Dane,
and in few days he has sprung up
out Of the ruck of prize fighters to the
very top, the championship, and to a
place where he can command a huge
salary as an attraction at a theatre.
Perhaps this is not the exact manner
in which many of us would like to be
treated if We We're to become famous,
but Battling doesn't nave any Gualms
of modesty nor fear of social ostracism.
He mas signed contract to box once
day with mediocre boxers, in a San
Francisco theatre for the weekly sti-
pend of $1,000. At any rate, that is
what the press reports say he will get
and it is reasonable to suppose that
when this sum is cut into thirds one
of the three parts will not seem too
Unfortunately high q wage for the little
fighting machine.
Battling used to work in the steel
mills, but when a piece of grindstone
came hurting through the air and
struck him he retired, via an ambu-
lance to the hospital where
he fingered between life and
death for weeks When he was
finally discharged cured the story goes
that he announced his intention to quit
work of that kind forever. He chose
prize fighting as a less dangerous and
more remunerative occupation. His
ascent was not extraordinarily fast,
though he is now only d boy. He fought
among the fight followers in Chicago.
He lost many times but kept fighting.
He lost once to the man he whipped
last Saturday, but he was never dis
couraged Now he has fought his way
literally to the top of the heap and he
will enjoy the prestige it gives him
while he can.
Fighting is not an esthetic occupa-
ton, to be sure, but despite that
fact there is something to be learned
from the experience of the little Dane.
1t shows that perseverance, linked
with right ability, will bring success If
turned in the right direction 1t gives
lesson in physical endurance and
argues for the pursuit by every man of
some line OF athletics, in order that he
may retain his physical strength. But
the sum realized by the sale of tickets
and privileges, the sum that represents
the value of the public's interest in
fighting, teaches another lessen. The
receipts were S4S,314, and would have
been considerably enlarged bu, Tor the
fight over the referee that preceded
the match proper. When men will
spend such sum to see an exhibition
by two opponents of the manly art of
self defense. it is natural to conclude
that it is of wide interest. When bus
mess men leave their desks, their
stores ard their offices to see a fight
or to read Geographic reports from one
they go because they like the sport
and the men to whom they look for
entertainment give them what they
like best. This is the reason they give
for giving prize fights and figures show
the reason is a good one.