The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-04
SPORTS


srandfatherly appearance that ones
gaze was instinctively turned upon
him.
Snow white curls rippled from be-
meath his glossy silk hat, and dia-
mond pin of dazzling sp1endor illumi-
mated even the brightness Of his Grim
son tie. A long fawn overcoat covered
a pair of massive shoulders and half
concealed the immaculate white fan
mel trousers. The elderly gentleman
seemed to have no object in life but to
smile in kindly way upon the world.
Presently he arose and walked with
somewhat aged footsteps on to the
stage and passed through the little
door. Anon ne appeared and SO chang
ed was he that one could scarcely rec
ognize him.
Appears Stripped for Fight.
Like the old blacksmith in Conan
Doyle's famous pugilistic tale, Rodney
Stone" the elderly gentleman stood
forth, stripped, with a gnarled neck,
and long strong arms, upon which the
muscles stood out like whipcords. But
he still smiled in a most benign and
grandfatherly way.
AS matter of fact the elderly gen
t1eman was Jem Mace, who after near
~ so years of secluded and peaceful
life, stepped again in to the prize ring
at the age of "A. Not that Jem Mace
is IA years old in spirit. He is still a
boy at heart, and mis- youngest daugn-
ter was born only nine weeks ago.
Nearly half a century ago the name
OF Jem Mace struck awe into the heart
OF the average man. Tom Savers, per-
haps the best known prizefghter in
the history of the ring, gave up his belt
to Jem Mace sooner than meet him.
Spars Nimbly at Benefit
Jem Mace spared nimbly at the ben
eft organized on his behalf with Wolfe
Rendoff, VINO some years ago, backed
by Barney Barnato, fought in South
Africa for the biggest stakes on re-
cord-e4 ,5OO a side.
The smiling and white haired old
gentleman led off with a lusty left,
and then skipped nimbly out of punish
ment upon pair of feet that once were
the pioneers of leg work. in the prize
ring. The first round was brisk and
full of hitting.
But it was not brisk enough to suit
the septuagenarian, who between his
smiling lips was murmuring, Hit
harder, boy! Hit harder! I've a bard
old nut and a nard old heart. Hit
harder!"
So in the next round Wolfe Bendoff
hit harder, and the sprightly, slippery
youth of IA hit harder still. The as
sembled sportsmen of Cumberwell and
Kennigston cheered loudly.
Sill in Game at End of Fight.
At the beginning of the third round
the boxing grandfather came up game
ly and smiling more benignly than
ever. The gnarled old arms flashed
and twinkled, and nit and parted and
countered with the swiftness of a mo-
tor car and the strength of traction
engine. Blows fell upon the grand old
arched breast, but Jem Mace did not
seem to feel them, and at the end of
the final round shook hands with his
opponent, blew kisses with his gloved
hands, and then skipped off the stage
with the air of kitten which had been
toying with a mouse.
Afterwards, amid an admiring circle
OF pugilists, at least three generations
younger than himself, he said that he
did not want to fight any more, but,
by jingo-if he did. And he threw out
a challenge to the whole world. He
was prepared to meet any man of his
weight 20 years his junior.
Police Interfere With Bouts
Fortunately, for Jem, his exhibition
was given early in the evening, for
after his rounds with Bendoff the po-
lice interfered The management had
brought down a real boxing ring, with
the orthodox crimson posts and ropes.
but for some reasons of policy this
had to be hidden away behind the
grand piona. A batch of well known
champions had gathered to demon
strate on sparring. They stripped, but
the police would not allow them to put
ul their hands.
There was George Bowker, who the
other day knocked out Pedar Palmer;
Dixon, "the colored wonder" who has
fought more fights than any man in
the world; and Stanley, the eight
stone two pound champion.
Shivering in their boxing kit they
were paraded on the stage, when the
of the place announced
that the police would not allow the
sport to proceed. Upon this there were