The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
AL SMITH, THE
 KING OF SPORTS Remarkable Career of For- tunes Veteran Soldier SULLlVAN'S BEST MANAGER Backer of Great PugiIist, Referee, Stakeholder and Gambler, He Had a Reputation For Square
 Dealing.
 
From the Omaha Bee.

From the Omaha Bee.
 New York.--Al Smith, tn he best known and most popular sporting man in America, who died at the Gilsey house the other day, had an eventful career. He began life as train boy on the old Cleveland, Columbus and Cincin- natl railroad under Conductor Robert Blee, who became mayor of Cleveland in 1878. Blee took fatherly interest in Smith and through his influence the latter got, control of all the newsb boys on the Ohio and Cincinnati road. which enabled him to make a small fortune long before the days of the news com panies.
 When Smith was about 25 years old he drifted out to Montana and 1t was not long after that he came near losing his life The vigilance committees we're very active against gamblers in those days, especially around the mining camps. One day the vigilants took Me- Carthy out and shot him and were about to kill Smith when a miner named Lewis who admired Smiths ways pleaded successfully for his life.
 Shortly after this experience tie civil war began and Smith became A. lieutenant in the Union army. He fought through the war, showing dfs- tinguished bravely In the battles of Wilson's Creek, Carthage and other places. Smith was natural athlete who would fight with his fists at the drop of the hat and was generally respected because of his prowess. Smith had many rough and tumble battles in that day and he was always victorious. Shortly after the war he whipped the biggest bully In St. Louis.
 Smith was not only a scrapper but also pedestrian of note. In his early career he could run like a deer. In a match race he defeated the famous Dan O'Leary and then took him to England where he won the Astley belt. When they came back Smith managed the first big walking match at Madison Square Garden, which attracted great crowds. That was 80 years ago and Smith made big money out of several such affairs which were held in various parts of the country.
 In 1883 he managed John L. Sullivan during his famous knockout tour from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Sullivan and Smith divided about s30oO0o as a result of this tour, which helped to make Sul- livan the most popular pugilist in the world. Smith fell out with Sullivan when the latter failed to meet Charley Mitchell for the second time at the gar den in 1885. John l.. appeared on the ring platform and declared in maudlin tones that he was too Ill to box the Englishman. Smith never forgave Sulli- van for this and that night he wanted to refund all the money taken in at the doors. This the pugilists would not do.
 His Big Betting Room.
 In 1886 Smith and Butch Thompson opened the famous White Elephant pool room on Broadway, between Thirtieth and Thirty-first streets. This was the biggest betting room established in America. It was wide open, and thou sands of dollars changed hands there every day. Smith and Thompson coined money at the White Elephant for three years. Their profits ran up to more than $1,000,o00 when they decided to sever part nership. Smith later on lost his share in Wall street. and when Thompson died few years ago he left his old partner $1o,0O0.
 Smith refereed some memorable ring battles. He was always on the square, and on three occasions he decided his own money away. When Johnny Mur- phy and Jack Havlin fought with skin tight gloves in Hoboken 25 years ago. Smith had 5000 wager an Murphy, but he gave his decision in favor of Havlin When Sullivan met John Flood on a barge in the Hudson river off Yonkers in 1881 the crowd of New York sports were all with Flood, and they intended to have him win by fair means or foul,