The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-05

impression in a small community hat
lie is not as advertised. When one lands
In a place where he is = stranger IL per
son, but familiar individual by rsputa-
tation. he has to reconcile himself 70 a
multiplicity OF ideals which have been
established about him. In the mind :
eye OF the pOpulace he may be big.
broad shouldered person about six feet
tall and weighing about 30 pounds. or a
small man with sharp features. q nervous.
temperament. and an eye that can see
around a corner. They may look for
somebody TO I'll his description, a-rayed
in large checks and large diamonds. or
they may look for him in sober black
with Il shoestring uecktle. When the
real thing shows Up he may be a fellow
% medium size. with a quiet manner. and
10 suggestion OF the conspicuous about
him. II he does he falls outside Of nearly
every one OF the mental pictures painted
about him.
There arc always p Few persons IN a
small town who have visited the big cities
and AFFECT 20 know II all. Those are they
who make Il unpleasant for tn unidenti-
fed stranger. It is disagreeable to be
d!sagreeable 70 spend his entire day In
van attempt to establish his own Identity.
At Sandusky, O., where l hired out 10
referee boxing match / was taken for q
ringer. and as far as 1 know the sports
or that place think to this day that the
man who purported to be Sller was an
imposter.
It came about in this way. A man
named Smith. imbued with he idea that
The easiest and quickes. road TO fortune
was by tho prize ring route, hired a thea
ter and matched a pair OF fighters. one
Cavanaugh OF Buffalo and one Frederieks
OF Cincinnati. That part of his get rich
quick program arranged. he began dicker-
erinK for my services, thinking | might be
an extra attraction. He informed me by
letter that he was not overloaded with
coin. that the town, sandusky, was small.
that Il was his frEt attempt In the dgh,
promoting line. and kindly requested me
10 tx my price within reach OF his coaI sesl
bill. which was not very coarse.
After about a weeks correspondence We
came to terms, and, as I learned after
wa-d s he advertised me as top liner end
che fighters as adjuncts. In fact he
played up my reputation as the referee
Of the Carson City tight between COrbett
and FitzsimmOns for all that Il was
worth and led the Sandusky sports to be
lleve he had gone to enormous expense
20 secure my services lie, however,
found Il difficult 20 convince the Sandus-
ilyites that I would be the third man In
the ring, as about "A month previous had,
because OF other engagements, refused
lob at Cleveland. That brought up the
argument that II Cleveland was not big
enough for ny referee stunt they would
have to annex the whole county TO induce
me 10 offclate in their burg. The argu-
ments set Smith 10 thinking, and fearing
ne would lose his star attraction, he con-
tracted with the Western Union 20 keep
SIS wires hot with " I hope you will not
disappodnt me queries. 10 all Of which
replied. collect. OF course, I'm be
there"
7 arrived a. sandusky the morning OF
the day set for the battle and when
swung or the train. tangled up with half
dozen farmers. and was making my way
towards bus. was waylaid by young
man who said: =" Excuse ne. sir, but are
you Mr.. Silerc'' My having answered in
the affirmative, he came back with: d" I
mean Mr.. George Siler OF Chicago"
The same" replied
You do not seem 10 understand" he
said Il am expecting George siler. the
great referee, and THAT ISL expected
20 see a man fully six feet tall. Weighing
about 200 pounds, with 3 fierce black
unustache. and-and bit sporty"
- am the man that you have been cor
responding with 10 referee a tight to-
night and 1 am sorry do not come up
10 your idea OF Mr.. S!ier," answered.
Looking me over from head TO foot
rather suspiciOusly and taking mental
note OF general appearance, he shook mis-
head. as II disappointed, and IN q half
hearted manner introduced me 20 the
town sports 5yho came with him 20 the
station 10 meet ne.
Allow me-" he SAID, 70 Introduce TO
You Mr.. Simpson, one ~ our fight enfhu-
siasts. Mr.. Simpson, Mr.. Siler o. Chicago,
the man you have read so much about and
The man whom you said you admire"
Simpson greeted me coldly. He curled
up his lip. sized me up from the corner
my outsIretched hand. said: Glad 20
meet you"
The other sports took he cue from S.mp-
son and I must admit my reception Was
anything but fatteriEg After an en-
barrassing ten minutes al the station.
during which time the promoter and the
sports gazed a. me with suspicion and
talked OF me. presumably, as a ringer,
broke up their confab by asking: " Which
way TO the bes, hotter"
This way" replied Smith. ard cOntin.
wing, said; M. Siler, I've experienced
considerable trouble trying 70 convince
the town people that you would come, and
II you have no objections l would Ike 10
take you GROUND the town and introduce
you to our leading citizens. They and
the sporting class. are a bit skeptlCaI
about your coming and want 10 be
shown"
- Mr.. smith, I said. II am not a nu-
scum freak. and DO not care 10 be placed
on exhibition. and would much rather so
20 my hotel. But as you and your friends"
aIluding 10 the dubious sports who were
trailing US. - doubt my identity / VIII ac-
cede to your wishes. much as 1 detest t..
Smiths face lighted up with pleasure.
Is he as well as myself was In hopes some
one would bump into us with "a How
do YOU do. Mr.. Siler? You probably will
remember ! met you IN Chicago" etc.
This was about 10 a. m. and we hot
footed the town until 1 p. N. During
those six hours believe I shook hands
with and looked pleasant az every man
IN town, but failed 20 establish my Identity
Il was the first town I ever struck wherein
I failed 20 run across some one that az
some time during my career had not got
glimpse OF me, and must admit ! was
as much disappointed as was Smith.
About 4;50 Smith happened to rene mber
that a respected citizen with few ounces
OF sporting blood eourSiug through his