The Detroit times., 1908-10-17

Coy, whose father was a minister. ran
away from home, and became a regu.
lar knight of the road. His first hghc
was with another tramp. and tho stake
was meal ticket on a hash house.
Then came the chance TO join the
camp OF Mtddleweight Champion Tom.
my Ryan. and Mccoy took 1t, He
learned fast enough 10 take the clever
Ryan out and hand him lacing
which Tommy never forgot.
Terry McGovern worked on push
cart In Brooklyn. He was a member
or one OF the South Brooklyn gangs OF
"terrors," and some say that this is
the way In which Terry got his name.
Anyway, the whole gang was assem-
bled In lumber yard one day. aud
! Terry became involved In dispute
with a chum named John Malay, who
afterwards became National league
ball player, and was In the Eastern
league last season.
McGovern weighed about 115 pounds
and Malay about 140. But they de-
cided 10 fight IL out, and after almos.
two hours OF solid battering at each
other the referee called the battle Il
draw.
Terry and Malay afterward became
very firm friends. and still live In the
same ward in South Brooklyn.
Willie Fitzgerald was a spindly lit
tie fellow when he began boxing. He
was with his South Brooklyn gang
and a juvenile promoter ran a prize
fight In a basement.
He charged 10 cents admission from
ha nfh MO ~ hn
split 81 for the purse. The fights were
always until one OF the contestants
yelled "'Nuff,"
This day he had nobody to pit
against a lightweight Willie Fitzger-
aid appeared. He was a respectable
messenger In plumbing shop.
How much is der in it," Willie ask
ed.
"Dollar'n half IL you win. Fifty
cents IL you lose" was the reply.
Ftz took the chance. won the dol.
lar and a half and became real pro
| fessional ~
Harry Lewis was hostler for several
thousand feet OF flooring in a machine
shop, and drew the princely stipend
OF s. week. OF this. his dad took
s4.75 and allowed Harry a quarter u
week for spending money.
Harry went down To Baileys Ches-
ter club one night TO see fight Ball
ey was shy featherweight. and
manager named Lewis was asked Il
supply one. He looked in vain until
he came to youth named Harry
Besterman.
Come on and fight this fellow?"
] a lyrA tha AUG
spot in II. a
Harry declined me fadder'll lick
me IL got in there" was his excuse.
Your father won't know you fought.
Change your name" importuned the
manager. Take my name. Yer Harry
Lewis. Now come on and fight"
Harry clambered into suit and
the fight He pocketed the IS ana
Istarted home. His father met him at
the door. but Harry had met some
chums before. and spent the entire s..
Where ga been?" asked the dad.
Harry didn't intend to tell. but he was
so proud over his achievement that he
could not keep the news to himself.
I've been up to Bailey's, pop" he
said. I'm prize fighter now.
licked Teller and got So"
! ne ora man DrlBnteneu up Wnen
you want TO see a man make an imi-
tation OF bright sun just mention
money to Harry Lewis dad. Putting
his arm around Harry. he said? =
WHERE'S DE FIVE?"
Gee, spent It, dad" was the an
swer
"Oui, oui, ouf," walled the old man.
Come wild me to the woodshed"
And the chilly air OF South Phila-
delphia was pierced with the shrieks
of him who but a few hours before
had paraded proudly out OF the prize
ring, victor In his first battle.
AID Wolgast the sensational little
Michigan fcatherweight, who has come
so rapidly to the front, broke into the
game through working around the
training quarters Of Harry Lewis IN
Grand Rapids. woigast was lfttlo
understood fellow-he didn't look like
a fighter In any sense OF the word.
But he secured trial In a prelimin-
airy, made good. and Is now a formid.
able contender for the title OF Ado
IAttell.-Boston Traveller.