Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-07
THE4PUGILISTS
STORY THAT
 READS WELL
"Reminiscences of Parson Davies Which Take You Back to
 the Palmy Days.

Of all the sporting men in this
 or any other country there is none
 better known than "Parson" Davies
 and the following epitome of his life by Bat Masterson is worth quoting: ''The press has spoken of 'Parson" Davies as an old man; when, in fact, he is but 56 years old, and, barring an occasional attack of rheumatism in the last two or three years, has never been sick a day in his life Nature. to begin with, endowed MT Davies
 with healthy, robust constitution,
 which he, in the course of a good
 many years of constant association
 with leading athletes of the country,
 developed into a state of almost
 physical perfection. MT Davies has
 in his time handled more champion
 athletes than any man in the world, and it is a matter of athletic history that the "Parson" never had an ath-
 iete-whether a walker, wrestler or rizefighter-under his management that did not have to do his best to stand Davies off when the latter set about it.
 "Parson Davies, by which name he is best known in the sporting world, was a wonderfully fast walk CT for a man who had never made walking a profession, and about the time he managed the great walk ing match in Madison Square garden, when the name of Dan O'Leary was on the tip of everybody's tongue, it took real sure enough champion to beat him in a five-mile dash.
 Evan Lewis, at one time the champion catch-as-catch-can wrestler of the world, will tell you that at the time he was under the Par sons" management, he was forced by the latter on numerous occasions in his training camp to extend him. self to the very limit to put the "Parson" on his back.
 :. More than once when Davies was travelling around the country with a boxing show in the early eighties, offering $100 to any man whom the star of the combination failed to knock out in four rounds, he had to go on himself and do the knocking out, in order to save his money after the star had refused to meet the GUS toner who was seeking to win the $100.
 ''In those days boxers who were 'travelfns aro1fnd the country offering a certain sum to any man who could stay four rounds with them, always used two-ounce gloves in the contest, and they were the sort of gloves the "Parson used. He got many hard wallop in those bouts, but he never failed to put his opponent out.
 "On one occasion, when he had Paddy Ryan for his star performer, the show was giving an exhibition in ogden, Utah, and the "Parson" advertised the usual $100 cash prize to any man who would stay four rounds with the late heavyweight champion of America.
 The def was accepted by big, husky-looking miner from Montana, who happened to be in town and who was in need Of S100 at that particu- lar time, and who believed it would be easy for him to trim a big "stiff" like Paddy Ryan.
 That evening when the theater doors were thrown open the minor strolled in, and after hunting up the "Parson" informed him that he was the man who was to meet the cham pion knockerout. and inquired if Paddy was about the place.
 '' He is inside somewhere replied Mir Davies, who was somewhat i'm pressed by the looks of the fellow. The miner went in and found Ryan, who was dressed up in the regula- tion frock coat and high hat. busily engaged in explaining to a group of admirers how it happened that he failed to beat John L Sullivan for the championship.
 The miner broke into the conver- sation and informed the big Trojan that he was the man against whom he had to go that night. Paddy looked the fellow over carefully and was so impressed with his looks and the confident air he assumed, and he hunted up the "Parson" and told him he didn't think it would be advisable for him 10 go on that night, For you know 'Parson,' said | Paddy, I am matched to fight Sulli- ran again in the near future and I might break my hand on this big iub.'
 Not afraid. are you?' said the 'Parson.'
 Well. mo- replied Ryan. but all he same I'll not go on against this ielIOw. for think he is a ringer
 The .Parson'' endeavOred to ex- ,lain 10 his star that it wasn't exact Y good show business to travel lround oyer the country advCrtising I1O0 to any man who could stay our rounds and then have Ryan . funk the first time he was called All the ''PaTson" could say had no 4 fleet on big Paddy. who positively i 'efused to go on
 All right said Davies. I'll go m myself; and. what's more. ringer IT no ringer. I'll knock him out He E lid. but he had the fight of his life. sooi. after this incident the "Parson' 1ot another star for his show.
 saTEe last time Jimmy Elliott ever 4 ,ut on a pair Of boxins gEoves was r DodEe City. Kanszs- At that tine f lzvfes had Elliott and Fred Pisistezd he ozrsmz1. giving boxing exhibi- ions throughout the west. and rhszsTer Elliott got drunk. which rss quite often the ~PaTso1- used Q do the four-Toua5 wizd1p with I sEsFsrezs- wro was s r0we~TuI ss--