Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-03-14
ATMOSPHERE
SURROUNDS DLACkVOOD.

Inc people living IN black Woou hLc al
more or less eager for a fight whenever
anyone Of pugnacious disposition comes
around, for Spike Robson, the light
weight champion of England, and the as
piriant for the American honors is in train
| ing there, and fighting spirit runs high.
! From old men with gray boards and gray
heads, to the fair danes of the town, every
one is interested in Spike, and the prize
ring 1t is said by some that farmers wives
| who live along the county roads within a
radious of three miles Of the town neglect
their work in the morning to watch for the
prize fighter TO pass the house on his morn
| ing run; and by others that business in the
town is neglected in certain hours Of the
day when the fascinating boxer is in the
gymnasium training. One man said the
young girls of the town haye given up
their ssteadiesv in hopes that they might
capture the heart of the town idol
Spike Robson, the plucky little Eng
lish fighter is managed by Albert Crow
hurst, sporting editor Of The Bulletin who
boards in Blackwood in the summer near
the bass and perch fishing grounds Spikes
Danager conceived the plan OF having his
man train in South Jersey where the air
was pure and the food wholesome, so
Blackwood was the ch osen place.
'sSpike, Pas the fighter is known to the
sporting world, arrived in Blackwood on
Thursday, February 2l, and straightway
began training as did the whole town.
The fighter, with Frank P. 0'Brien, his
trainer, no sooner arrived by train than the
populace swarmed out, open-armed to well
come him. It had been arranged that
sSpike'' was to board with Ed, Wilcox,
near the lake, SO the Wilcox Bungalow, on
the lake Immediately became the rendez-
vous of the town folks
sspikey il q mere boy Of man. In
height he is scarcely more than feet or 5
inches, and in fighting trim he weighs 1877
pounds bone and iron-like muscle.
/ That such small fellow could lick the
best boxers in his class in the British Isles
was astounding to the populace, but their
wonderment dwindled when they saw the
boy" in action.
The first day Of training, the boxer
started out in light clothes about o'clock
in the morning with his dog for COM
panion. He trotted lightly down the hill,
across the lake dam, up the hill on the
other side, and was then lost to view in tho
distance A farmer driving into town said
he saw some blame fool running like a
streak over by Hurfftown with dog lag
GIN on behind, Z another saw the runner
at Turnrrgille. About noon Spike
entered town from the Ciementon road,
running easily and as fresh, apparently, as
when be started out Then the people be-
gan to wonder. tSpike', went into the
house, where he had good rundown"
by O'Brien, then little lunch and nap.
Between three and four o'clock, the pugi-
list was seen going to the gym, which is
! located over the blacksmith shop, near the
depos. The ''backers'' Of the town fol-
lowed to see what was to happen.
In light clothing the boxer was jumping
about the floor, with boxing gloves on and
head bare, punching first one way then
another; giving left swings and lightning
| like upper-cuts. But there was no oppo-
nent. sGee, that's the funniest kind o.
| tighten I ever saw, said Jack Middleton,
a venerable citizen. ANY old chump
could lick bis shadder and not make half
shat fuss about it. wonder what kind Ct
"a guy he had to lick anyhow, to be cham-
pion Of England?'' O'Brien, the trainer,
was standing near and he explained that
sSpike'' was going through the funny
antics Of afghting his shadow to get
quiekness Of foot and action, SO that be
could be prepared to duck or side-step an
opponent in fraction Of a second.
The boxer fought silently for half an
hour, jumping about at a great rate; then
he took up a rope and skipped it with celer-
Iity. grace and ease that would make a
| school girl turn green with envy. He
skipped it on first one foot, then another,
and the speed with which be did il made
| the slow going townsfolk hold their breath.
IA IL minute solitary dance followed.
Spike is quiet fellow. He is not
much Of talker, even with those who
t t,;,,> yVl,e.,s f,a. .or,elufled his dance