The Washington times., 1905-12-03

tCopyrlRnts lSOs. by Joseph b BOwlesb
There are some funny sides to every
thing, and now after the years have
gone by-grown into something over
twelve-I can afford to sit back and
crack a quiet sruile at the things that
came of down in New Orleans when I
fought Jim Hall in rne National Ath-
letic Club. and, incidentally. lost a
bunch of money: and the same old story
you know. Easy mark and know-it-aIl
got trimmed again. OF course it's funny.
II it wasn't then. it is now, and 1 guess
we'n all have to get in on it.
On February 10. 1890. 1 fought Jim
Hall in Sidney. Australia. and lost
the decision-and not because 1 couldn' I
knock him fat any time 1 wanted to.
either. But that's another story. that
maybe I'll touch UP later. Ever since
that fight I'd been trying somehow to
get another go at Jim. principally be-
cause he'd been blowing all over the
world how he'd found an easy thing out
there in Kangarooland. I was out for
Jim, and 1 needed him in my business.
and II was long while l took TO set
him.
Thought Him Watered Stock.
However. I came over 70 this country.
and landed in San Francisco, and no
body there seemed to take much of the
F1tzsimmons stock at anywhere near
what l thought IL was worth Maybe
they thought it was watered a bit, and
from what i learned since. IL wouldn't
surprise me, knowing San Francisco as
l do. II they hadn't had a lot OF good
hot ones put over the plate before that.
However. they didn't cotton to me very
much, and I had 10 wait a bit
All they knew was that Jim Hall had
got a decision over me out in Sydney.
and Jim hao forgotten TO hand over all
the details at the same time I followed
Jim's trail around a bit. and finally L
got an offer from the Minnesota Athletic
Club. of ST. Paul. TO pull off a go with
the good James As I said before, Shey
didn't know me very well. and had to
put up guarantee of about 5000 simo-
Icons that-Td be there when the gong
tapped. and have Jim in the ring.
IL looked easy TO me then. but Jim
had figured out that he was I'm wrong
somewhere. I guess. and he didn't seem
10 see it in the same light | did. Maybe
] was a little overanxious. because
that Sydney business had to be wiped
out somehow, but TO cut long lodging
story short. ! didn't get Jim into the
iing, and the club pulled down my 5000.
and left me to square the bill with Bob
Fitzsimrlons the best way / could
Dempsey Dope Jared Jim.
Afterwards 1 heard that Jim looked
over the fight I'd had with Jack Den.D
sey. and figured himself in at the small
end. but while I thought about it then.
] didn't stop watching for a chance 10
set jim I made him a few offers that
the ordinary professional would have
grabbed at and swallowed, hook and
sinker. but Jim was a bit shy, and steer
ed clear of the bait. That was July @
1921. and 1 was out looking for other
business all the time.
In March L met Peter Maher in New
Orleans, and dropped him in twelve
rounds. and that made Jim shy off a
little further. Then 1 put Jim Farrell
asleep i'm two rounds i'm Newark. and
Jim sat down and waited. A week
later l went after Joe Godfrey In
Philadelphia, and laid him away 10 rest
in one round. and six days later picked
up Jerry Siattery I'm New York. and
fastened the crepe on his record In two
rounds. Al; this time Jim Hall was
fading away a little bit farther. and
] didn't do any more fighting until Sep
tember, when 1 went down in Admission.
Ala, and trimmed MiIlard Gender with
out any trouble.
I could see Jim watching mo out of
the corner OF his eye. and l tried 10
draw him out, but he'd got money mad
abou- then. and he couldn't see it anv-
way he fixed IT. He was still talking
pretty big about what he'd do to mo
when We did meet. but every time no
saw a lithograph of me they say he'd
shiver and say 1t was a goose walking
over bis grave. / went out with a SHOW,
that winter. and we hit some high SPOT 8
that kind OF rubbed our nice new paint
off here and there.
Turned Down 100000.
However at last / managed to get jim,
nailed down. and IL was fixed that no
pull IT Off in New Orleans. The Ma
tional promised TO hang up a purse OF
$4,000. and they did It all right. Then
certain party offered us $4,000 TO come
up North and pull off the mill I'm New
York. but the cinch. which is me
wouldn't have 1t that way I got uI
en- my hind legs and made a how
which simmered down about like this
No stree. I've got good friends II
New Orleans, and I know III get a
square deal here. I'm going 20 stick t.
my pals in New Orleans"
incidentally, I'd borrowed about s5.Oos
from man down there who was inter
ested I'm the club, 10 get me out of a
hole. and pay off my show people, and
couldn't see where / came in to toss him
in the air J stuck out for New Orleans
and New Orleans il was.
Here is where the comedy commences
Nobody, but a few wise ones, believed
ever had a chance with Hall. My figh-
with Dempsey ought TO have put them
wise. but IL didn't. and so when the
betting was called I was the short end
of II, and most OF the club outfit could
see almost anything but Fitzsimmons
This is not swelled head or anything
like that. but after I'd whipped Demp-
sey. that lad was always watching ou;
for me. and his wife told me once that
when he was on his deatfbed he put a
roll OF money he had saved into hel
hands and said:
Dying Mans Prediction.
Whenever, or whoever Fitzsimmons
lights. place your money on him, for
he's bound TO beat every man OF any
weight he ever meets"