Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-10
OLD-TIME RING
FIGHTER TALKS
STORIES BY MAN WHO FOUGHT
JOHN |. TO DRAW
PATSY CARDIFF, HERE FOR FEW
MINUTES, Is REMINISCENT
Recalls Mill in Minneapolis When He
Held Down Great Worlds Cham
plon-Puts Jeff Above
johnson
by A. E. DUNNING


Patsy Cardiff, one of the fast dwind-
ling members of the ranks of the old
time pugilists who fought with bare
fists for a mite OF a purse and the glory
of it, hurried through Los Angeles the
ether day on his way to San Francisco
patsy tarried but a few moments. In
fact. ne did not get outside the railway
station, for he merely changed cars
but | happened to be lucky enough TO
obtain a few moments conversation
with him, and there remains IN my
memory a vision which will fade sio"ly.
A big. genial Irishman quick OF
speeeh. courteous to a degree Which
might prove a lesson to the brazen
Youths of the present generation, quiet
and self-contained-thi ring star of the
long ago was a wholesome sight. HIS
10 Vears-he is lust one year older than
John L. Sullivan-sit lightly on him.
He has the powerful frame, the Dig
muscles the iron physique of former
days, though his hair is tlnged with
gray, and he lives in a world which Is
all of the past.
Fought John L. to Draw
PATSY Cardiff is one of the three men
who fought John L. Sullivan, past mas
ter of them all, to a draw. Patsy was
the man who came within an ace OF pc
ing worlds champion by whipping
Sullivan, but no one is quicker to ac-
knowledge than he that Sullivan was
the better man. Therein lies the es-
sence of the old-time spirit. 1t was a
give-and-take savage spirit, but one
tempered with justice, fairness and the
love of fair play.
The barest mention of John L. Sulli-
van sent Patsy off into day dreams
t1,o uvif1 &c Nxrt1
recalled him. 1t was pleasure 10
listen to the flow of the mind which IS
wrapped UP in those long forgotten
days.
patsy told of the battle in which he
met Sullivan. 1t was on January is,
1887. at Minneapolis, that the two met
Patsy was 4 young Apollo, with pig,
handsome head-for have since talked
with a man who saw him that day-a
tremendous frame, and the courage OF
a lion. He weighed about 10; was in
his prime, and was a fit opponent for
the champion of the world. Sullivan Of
course was picked to beat him easily.
Might Have Won
In fact, Patsy himself constituted the
small minority which believed that he
could win. Patsy shook hands with
him sturdily, and met him as firmly
In the second round John L. broke his
right arm when he swung it against
the big wooden post which supported
the ropes in the ring corner. For six
rounds the famous champion fought
with only one arm, smiling and teasing
his man, taunting him to stand up,
crying, TOE up, toe up; put up as
good a fight as you can!" knowing that
if he relaxed his title might pass. Had
Patsy known of the injury il Is prob
able that he would have beaten Sullf-
van, for with that terrible right out of
commission Cardiff could have taken
advantage of his opportunities to rush
In. But he didn't know, and he only
fought him to a draw in the six rounds,
though he was considered almost q
hero for accomplishing this much.
Fought Once Too Often
But Patsy is out of the ring for good.
He re-entered it to fight Peter Jackson
in San Francisco, and now wishes he
had remained in retirement, for the
great colored fighter finished him in the
fifteenth. Patsy had been too long
out of harness to do himself justice.
Nowadays Cardiff is established in a
quiet little home in Portland, with
three strapping children, whom he has
taught to defend themselves, but whom
he will not permit 70 enter the ring.
Also he has with him the three children
of Jack Dempsey (The NonpareiD.
Before he climbed aboard his train
] sought from Cardiff some expression
of his views on the coming Jeffries-
Johnson fight. OF course it wouldn't
do to let former ring star get away
without his judgment as to the winner.
"Well, I don't know" says Patsy,
crossing his knee and giving his nose a
little tweak, q habit he has when
thinking seriously. II don't know.
The big fellow ought to win. you know.
for | don't believe Jim would enter the
ring unless he knows he is in shape to
whip Johnson. OF course the black S
a bit clever. I grant, but Jim, if he's as
good or nearly as good as when he left
the ring, ought to do pretty well, !
think"
Which is typical of the modesty with
which the giant of old days expressed
himself. Behold. all ye Willus Britts,
a miracle! A fighter with modesty and
good manners.
One About John /.
There is another good story connected
with my talk with Patsy Cardiff which
perhaps should have been placed to-
ward the beginning Of the story. For
thousands throughout the country 1t
will be the first explanation Of a stand
taken by John L. Sullivan which they
never have been able to reconcile with
lengers of the white race. Sullivan, it is
well known, drew the color line with
rigid firmness. He never would fight a
negro. Patsy Cardiff knows the reason
why.
Years ago, when John L. was just
coming into his own as world s cham
pion, his wife and he fell out. In the
course of their disag greements, when she
filed suit of divorce against him, Mrs
sullivan placed on his trail as a private
detective a negro who had been en-
ployed by the family. Everywhere Sui
livan went the negro tracked him.
Night and day he followed him, but 1t
was several days before Sullivan be-
came aware of the steady sIeuthing
When he noted it Sullivan became like
wild man. He started out after the
negro, and in the course of his wander
ing walked into saloon in the CITY in
which he was stopping, which, II
memory serves me right was Min
neapolis.
AS he stood at the door the negro
all unsuspecting, walked past him. Sui
livan walked UP to him. seized him by
the collar and tossed him with terrible
force against the wall. Then he started
for him, but Cardiff says that negro is
running yet. At all events, thereafter
Sullivan declared he would never meel
a negro in the ring, and history shows
he kept his word.
JAPS WHITEWAsH BADGERS