Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-27
HERRERA REELS
WITH DAGO RED
WIDE PATH MADE FOR FALLEN
GLADIATOR
Thronu Which Witnessed Breakdown
of Mexican Boy Refuse TO Ae-
cept Excuses and Nelson
Is Idol
by ED MoRIARTY

Aurelio Herrera was filled with daRo
red, or, II you will. the vile concoctions
stopped across frowsy bars which line
Main street. The Mexican's eye was
lusterless, and the cruel light which
shone but few hours before as he sat
between the ropes of the Maud junction
pavilion cursing the Hegewlsch boy
was blended with an ugly blear.
Staggering and stumbling along First
street last night. Herrera was perhaps
an object of pity. An outcast of the
rankest sort, the Mexican went sinking
past the resorts where formerly he had
been pointed out with awe as the man
matched to meet Battling Nelson. the
worlds lightweight champion, for a
$40, 900 purse.
Herrera was down and out, and he
probably recognized it in his dumb
weak way, as he lodged and shuff1ed
past those who but a few hours before
were ready to extend a friendly hand
and ready word.
The bright star of his chosen career
had lickered and passed into darkness,
and with the Indian features couched
with hatred and defiance, a one-time
hero of the ring was going the gait
which sooner or later will end with
the six feet of sod in a lonesome place.
Herrera has done that for which he
will never be forgiven, whatever the
trend of the future. Before amazed
and disgusted thousands he refused to
meet a little. tawny-haired, urchinlike
youngster who volunteered to waive
nine pounds of solid Mexican flesh and
do battle for the sake of those who had
paid good American coin.
cllriOus sight and one thrObbiOp
with human interest was the specta Gle
of Bat Nelson as he stood alone in the
Maud junction ring Friday night. Those
who witnessed and heard will never
forget.
Nelson in Ring
With a wave of Kisses greeting his
poor, crumpled ear, torn by battle with
men of savage strength, the slender
Dane stood still until the crowd had
shouted itself hoarse.
They called him coward-the hardest
word that may ring in the ears of a
man. Conscious as he was of his own
right, blush of shame deepened the
ruddy features of the Swede and crept
down over the Sinuous neck.
But at last the Dane might talk and
the plea which went forth from his
boyish face in the midst of the mad
dened throng was such as hard
pressed gladiator might have made in
the days of the Roman amphitheater.
But it was not a cry for mercy-it was
Justice that the Dane asked for, and
in the quaint lingo of the street he
made stand for his 131 pounds of
valiant Hegewisch flesh
"Gen- en-en-lemen, I amt scared o. no
one. Don't tink don't want to fight.
Come on now, be good fellows. You
know me, don't you? Only jes let
Aurelio weigh here in de ring. OATS
all 1 want. Let him weigh 140 pounds.
OATS de square ting, amt it?'
With the unfailing instinct that
recognizes sincerity the mighty crowd
gave vent in thunderous measure as
the valor of the shaggy-headed lad
dawned upon them. Nelson had asked
for justice and from the throng he
received it.
That resistless thing, public senti-
ment," had been touched and there
were none to say him nay as Nelson
glanced appealingly towards the
MeXican's corner and waited
1t was not a long wait, however,
for the Dane refused to remain pas
sive. He followed Herrera to his
dressing room and with friendly per-
suasiveness implored him to enter the
ring and satisfy the house that the
imputations of "yellowness" had been
false. With a fraternal hand on the
dark shoulder he kidded and pleaded.
1t was all to no use, and the Dane
gave up.
MeXican's Downfall
Maybe sometime, Aurelio Herrera
will face some other man in the ring.
Maybe it will be for a worlds cham
pionship-maybe a preliminary battle
with Nelson to enter later for title
contest.
Time makes changes, but last night
as the sinking, drunken outcast stag
gered along the street wide path was
open for him. He was the man that
Battling Nelson drove from the ring.
A daring few jeered, but there We're
those who shook their heads and said
%Too bad!" as the Mexican boy disap-