Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-14
PRIZE RING WEALTH FATAL
Willis Britt's Sad End Due to Easy
Money.
PUs1LIsTs CAN'T STAND RICHES
same ola story hat Has Involved the
Lives Of Msny FiEhtinE Men
BiE Expenses and Hiah
Living.

AhNNNhNA EohNH HAanhEeIf was partly que
to sudden wealth easily acquired. Britt,
always a soldier Of fortune. brought
Ketchel east last spring and arranged two
battles with Philadelphia Jack o'Brien
which Melted about S25. 1000. OF this amount
the reckless Young manager received nearly
a third and with II ne proceeded to cut a
wide swath. Nothing was too good for
him. Late suppers with an abundance OF
wine, automobiles, fine clothes and other
Injuries soon put a crimp in the bankroll
and when Ketchel failed TO knock Papke
out inside Of twenty rounds Britt lost $500
In wagers-all that was left. Britt Dor
rowed more money and bet every dollar OF
It on Ketchel to beat Jack Johnson. When
the big negro won by a knockout Britt was
pennlless, his vision OF a great fortune was
gone and his heart was broken. 1t was the
same cid story. s~quandered wealth earned
In pugilism proved TO be a fatal weakness.
II has often been said that no persons
supported by the public live In such reck-
less luxury as star ~pugilists and their
closest associates. A great fighter may
reign only for a few years at the head Of
his class, but during that period he is gen
orally a high roller and goes the route.
He has a far more rugged constitution
than the rich mans son who was never
meant for hard work. for he is compelled
to undergo a course Of training for q
strenuous battle every now and then which
provides renewed physical endurance.
Ordinary Man Couldn't DO 1t.
"If the ordinary man lived like some of
these pugilists," said a veteran trainer the
other day, he'd be a physical wreck in
less than a year. A majority Of these
fighters, however, do a certain amount Of
daily exercise to keep their weight down
and in that way they do not feel the effects
Of a spree.
IF the wise pugilist gets a heavy cold
what does he do? Retire to bed like most
men? Not much. He ions a heavy
sweater and goes out for a run on the road.
He simply sweats It out If he can, and II
he can't, why he is then forced to seek
medical aid like an ordinary individual.
But that seldom proves to be the case, for
open air exercise and cold baths generally
suffice.
This was the way Fitzslmmons and
Tommy Ryan doctored themselves, and
they kept themselves in excellent condition
for many years. F1tz never INDUCED in a
night Of merriment that he didn't hop out
Of bed early the next morning and take a
hard run to open the pores. But the other
star fighters. like John l.. Sullivan and
Jack McAuliffe. didn't go to such trouble
and were soon too fat to accomplish any
thing in the ring. II they caught a cold
they went to a Turkish bath, where they
could rest In solid comfort.
John l.. Lived High.
Sullivan was one Of the most luxurious
champions that ever appeared inside the
ropes. He lived like a prince and never
allowed theatrical engagements or fights
TO disturb his repose. He drank, ate and
slumbered when he felt like It, What was
the result? From a raw-boned, muscular
young giant he became a ponderous ele-
plant, prematurely old, weighing more
than 1886 pounds. His kidneys and liver
went back on him and his physician or
dered him to cut out liquor entirely or die.
So John swore off and hasn't touched a
drop since.
I'm high life Sullivan was a wonder.
I've seen him in the old days get away
with a great deal OF whisky at a sitting.
But he never neglected his appetite for
rich food. and in that way he counteracted
the effect OF strong drink Sullivan got
money so easily that he did not know the
value Of 1t. He couldn't spend 1t fast
enough and he probably ran through more
than a million before he settled down and
began to save.
"a modern ring champion can spend
money, too. It comes easy and goes the
| kAnG WAY no GAAE AAAA has q NaA -
attendants that costs a heap. First comes
his business manager, a person who can
talk glibly, issue challenges, be on the
alert In making matches and knows how
TO get space In the newspapers. Then
there Is the press agent, who must invent
fairy tales concerning the alleged adven-
lures of the pug. Then there must be an
advance. agent and a sparrlng partner who
can take a walloping with good nature.
TN addition to this retinue some cham
mons have a staff Of handlers, rubbers,
cooks and admirers who try to act the
mart. OF entertainers. It's no easy matter
to keep a fighter in good humor when he's
in training. and those who can succeed IN
this respect are usually worth something.
Pleasure and luxury.
'The daily life OF the average champion
when out OF training Is one OF pleasure
and luxury. He seldom arises before noon.
Then after a bath and rundown the barber
gets him fit to sit down to breakfast. II
he knows anything at all he orders an
elaborate meal and gets special rates al
the hotel, where he is regarded as an at
traction.
"Jeffries. Johnson, Ketchel and Nelson,
,ybo ike 10 have the best, own automo'
} Niles and use them necessarily. They know
how 10 live we'll and when out OF training
thew do not keep down expenses. None OF
them at times will draw the line on late
suppers and outings with sporty friends
, johnson In particular is fond OF blowing
in his coin like a nabob and he spends 8
Z as fast as he gets It. Ketehel has goi
5 away with practically all OF his rinE, earn
= ings. but Nelson and Jeff have saved
a something for a rainy day.
'Is Il any wonder that some OF IN
p pugilistic stars and their associates fall os
the wayside while at the pinnacle OF fame
5 The many temptations to which they arr
? continually subjected soon weaken thei
a vitality and they finally go down befor'
4 a knockout blow administered by som'
s younger asplrant for fame and fortune.
What would some OF the old-time fight
ers say II they could come 10 life and sei
. the way these modern p~ugilists carry on.
I What would they think OF S50OO purse
. with big glovesg Tho old fellows had
very hard and simple life compared will
that OF the new omers. In former year
e they were glad TO be able to eat the plain
4 est food wear the cheapest kind Of clothe
4 and NV in the humhlest places. They ha'
4 no automobiles. no ~retinuss. no money 4
5 squander, no theatrical engagements, NJ
. big purses. and their dissipation was linn
tied. A fighter with big money il oftel
q MH--M