Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26
HUMOROUS SIDE OF PUCILISM
Good Natured Franks Involving Star
Fighters.
ONE THAT HAD REAL MERIT
How wiuIie Lewis Proved that
Americans Are substantial
Young COrbett a Jo-her
in the WinE.

difficult matter to believe that there are
any good natured pugilists because OF
the strenuous lives they lead, but It is
nevertheless a fact that many fighters
revel In funmaking when they lie up In
their training. Some of the best trainers
OF pugilists say that good humor Is an
important factor in scoring successes in
the ring and that pugilists who enjoy a
good laugh now and then while preparing
for a mill are easy 20 handle and invari-
ably show coOl-headed judgment. A
fighter with n hot temper seldom climbs
20 the top Of the ladder because he Is
inclined to lose his bearings under fire
and thereby permits his antagonist to
take advantage of his errors of judE-
ment. Jefferies, Fitzsimmons, Sharkey,
Mccoy, Nelson, Ketchel, Driscoll, Attell
and other great pugilists possess even
tempers and consequently I'm all of their
battles they have never lost control Of
their brains. They nave always enjoyed
the humorous side of the boxing game
and have taken part in many practical
Jokes.
When Willie Lewis, the clever East Side
middleweight, came across the Atlantic
from England. recently, he thoroughly en-
joyed himself on the big liner, Oceanic.
Among the passengers was a big, import
NAAN~ANNhAAAe AfAA6A IA WIN al "
take extreme delight in decrying everything
American. One afternoon there was an
entertainment in the first cabin and the
temporary stage was decorated with an
English and an American flag. Suddenly
the Stars and Stripes fell to the floor ao-
cidently, whereupon the Engllshman ex-
claimed:
That's like every blooming thing
American rs ndf gnhatantial and 10 hound
to fall"
"Wha in thunder do you mean?" de-
manded Lewis, with fire in his eyes.
Just exactly what 1 said" replied the
Briton. Don't you Yankees understand
the English language?"
Yes, l understand you," said the Amerl-
can fighter quickly. Just step down below
and IN show you how substantial you
are!"
'Haw! Haw! A mere STRIPPING like you,
Ell? why, I'D thrash you in a jiffy!"
laughed John Bull as he accepted Lewis
invitation. Boxing gloves were brought out
and many passengers went below to see tho
fun. The Englishman was very aggressive
and made a number OF wild rushbs, which
Lewis nlmbly sidestepped with a broad
grin.
Very clever! Very clever, Mister Yam
keel exclaimed the Brlton. But I'll get
you flnallyi See II l don't!'
Lewis continued to feint and sidestep and
did not attempt to land a blow in the first
round. In the second round the young
American cleverly ducked the terrific
punches of his big antagonist, but finally,
just before time was up. he crossed him
with a hard right on the point Of the jaw
and the Engllshman fell In a heap. When
John Bull had been revived and was led
20 the deck to get a breath OF fresh air
he asked:
"Who is this young Yankee, anyway?
Why, he hits Ike a trip hammer!" But
Lewis. Identity was kept a secret until the
steamer reached its dock. Then 1t was
tina the Briton heard a crowd Of sports cry
out:
"oh. you, Willie Lewis! Welcome to our
city!"
And he's a real fighter, eh?' gasped
the Englishman in establishment. well,
who'd have thought it?"
1T was only a bit Of fun" explained
Lewis TO his friends later on. Il didn't
want to hurt the big cad. 1 only gave him
a little comic lesson In politeness."
Young Corbett has always been a fun
maker. even in the ring. When he fought
Battling Nelson the first time he 'kidded'
the lightweight champion TO such an eX-
tent that the ringside spectators laughed
outright.
who told you that you could fight?'
CoTbett whispered in a clinch. Why, Bat,
you're u joke" Even when Nelson got
home a solid wallop on the jaw Corbett
continued his joshing.
Huh, 1 thought you were a hitteri' he
remarked as he came back from this punch
and mixed 1t holly. You couldn't put a
dent In a Charlotte russo. Say, what's the
name of the town you came from?"
Nelson was furious and was on the point
OF replying when he cooled off quickly and
lodged a heavy blow aimed for the jaw
that LRight have ended the fight then and
there.
You've got an awful nerve to be fight
ing. Nelson" Corbett went on. you ought
to go back to work as a hash Singer
This was only a few moments before Mel
son landed a terrific stomach punch that
dropped the Denver boy to the floor for
the final count. But in spite of the fact
that II was the most severe beating he
ever received Corbett was game and full
OF fun to the last.
Nelson, by the way. was the victim OF a
practical joke once away out in Las Vegas
N. NJ, that made him look like q gutter
ana the sports OF that lively little town
are probably laughing yet. 1t appears thai
Nelson dropped into> town and put up al
the best hotel, such as It was, where he
was welcomed by ranchmen, greasers and
Indians, They insisted on naming thciI
new park after the distinguished visitor,
also showing him much attention in other
ways. Nelson was a hero at once, tn,
local newspaper printing his picture and
stories OF his victories In the ring.
One day a sweeping challenge appeared
I'm the paper from the Cherokee Kid. a loca
puGilistl who had been forced into thu
background by Nelson's presence. The KID
had drifted In from nowhere in particular
several weeks before and had been in tn,
limelight until Bat appeared, There wa.
a hot political fight on at the time, tn,
rival factions being led respectively by 4
physician named Des MariRs and a brother
Of Sheriff Romero. The Cherokee Kid haC
trimmed every fighter for miles around
excepting, OF course, the gun men, anC
was quickly hailed as the proper person
q lower the colors OF the battling Dane
Between the prospective mill and the Do
litical convention, therefore. the town wa.
the scene OF many encounters with gum
and fists; in fact, the night before IN,
convention the doctora ana nnaartoL.-