The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-12
ORTING GOSSIP BY EXPERTS.
STLER pucm e
STORIES OF A REFEREE.
By GEORGE SILER.

There are times when one who is prom
fnent In his profession and spoken OF the
world over labors under the impression
mat he should be known In person as well
as by name and reputation in any old
burg which he happens TO step foot N.
such may be the case in large cities among
the " sports especially those who keep
close enough tab on pugllism 10 talk in
telllgently OF the dO!ngs Of all the fighters
OF note and who are imbued with the idea
they are on speaking terms with the fight
ers and the gent who Officiates as ref
cree. but not IN small buTgs.
Having acted as arbiter Of fights. impor-
tant and unimpOrtant, in nearly every city
in the country. large enough 20 receive
honorable mention on the maps, ! became
inflated with the idea that / was one Of
the best known men on this continent, and
that ! could not swing of a train at any
Jerk water town on any road without
meeting some one who would greet me as
an old time friend The imitation hereto
fore mentioned. took fun possession of my
five feet six inches OF anatomy before my
experience in SaUdusky, o., where. after
being placed on exhibition for twelve
hours by night promoter named Smith,
10 whom ] was engaged as the star at
traction for a fight he pulled off. practi-
eally was accused of being a ringer. The
frosty reception rendered me Ia that Ohio
town caused a noticeable shrinkage In my
self-impOrtance and convinced me that the
United States was large enough TO move
about In without my rubbing elbows with
every man in II. 1t made me determine
never again 10 be hoodwinked into meet
ing and being introduced 10 every promi-
nent citizen in town. as my friend In San
dusky induced me 70 do. so when a few
weeks later / received a call to go to Lex
ington. Ky. To sit in judgment over a bal
tie between George Stout and Johnny Van
Aeest. / mapped out a plan whereby the
sports and the respected citizens would
not adjudge me an imposter until after
had worked my referee stunt on them.
Ny plan was 70 steal into town, meet
he promoter who had engaged me al my
hotel and demand ] be kept under cover
until presented IN the ring. Fully deter
mined TO adhere 20 my self-imposed prop
nsition, liked TO the train, and upon ar
irving at the station at Lexington / was
surprised 70 see crowd or ~ least BOD
awaiting my arrival. The sight or the
arge reception committee almost made
me lose faith in myself, but after taking
hooker from a glass receptacle which
Twas careful 10 stow away in my hip pock-
II before leaving Chicago. 1 ducked
the crowd by swinging on the train on the
aide opposite the depot and walked leis-
lreiy 70 the Phoenix hotel where l regis
tered and was assigned a room. As II was
he last train that could reach the city in
time for the fight. the promoter of the con-
test, a man named Marks, as ! learned
afterwards. was beside himself with rage
at being disappointed, and, presume the
crowd said some naughty things about
me. II was a mean trick. must admit,
but the Sandusky AFFAIR stil was sticking
In my crop. and l was not seeking a rep
stitiOn OF q. After being shown 70 my
room stripped 20 clean up. and as l was
digging the dust and ctnders out OF my
eyes and ears a rap care at the door, and
upon my Invitation 20 " step In % the door
opened and a half dozen sports sWarmed
IN.
Excuse us" said the leader. I'VE
made mistake That is. We got tnto the
wrong room. We were informed that Mr..
siIer was here. and we are looking for
him"
With that they backed out OF the room.
nut halted and reentered, when replied;
" am MIR Siler."
" Not Mr.. siler. the man who refereed
the big fight at Carson city, said the
spokesman IN apparent establishment.
The same" said.
Well. WELL he replied. I'VE expected
70 SEQ a larger man. a man fully feet
tall and built in proportion. We have seen
your pictures In the papers. from which
we judged you big. husky. sporty looking
man. But we suppose you are the goods,
so come down as soon as you TX up and we
viii tote you around town and let the
sports see that you are here. We missed
you at the depot and it Is being reported
all over town that you had thrown Us
down.