The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-03
PRESIDENT GREAT
IN A SCRAP
FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAM
PION DECLARES ROOSEVELT A
TRUE LOVER OF PUGILISTIC
ART AND A GLUTTON FOR Pun
ISHMENT.

New York, March 3.-Profesor
Mike Donovan, ex-champion middle
weight of America, has just issued a
book entitled 1.-THE Roosevelt That I
Know" In his book Professor Dono-
van tells of his experiences with the
president of the United States dur
ing ten years of boxing with the
president. He describes Roosevelt
as a lover of fistic encounter, man
of Drawn and muscle, with the genu-
inc fighting spirit and glutton for
punishment.
"It is no exaggeration when I say
that in some mix-ups with him"
writes Professor Donovan, II have
been compelled to resort to all arts
and devices that have come to me
from years of serious fighting, often
to slug right and left to save my
self.
81 have a vivid recollection of my
first fistic encounter with President
Roosevelt. The governor left me in
the old 'billiardroom of the execu-
tive mansion at Albany, which he had
fitted up as gymnasium TO ribs boys
in order that they might begin their
physical education under his eyes. He
then went downstairs to don his box
ing clothes. In a few minutes he re-
turned.
cit was the Governor of the State
of New York who had left me. 1t
was the fighting man who had enter
ed the room. He wore a sleeveless
flannel shirt, his khaki rough rider
uniform trousers and light canvas
shoes without heels.
"After we shook hands I studied
him carefully. Then l led a left
jab, following it up with a faint
hearted right that landed like love
tap high up on his cheek. He drop
ped his hands and stopped.
"Look here, Mike" he said in
dignantly, this is not fair
81 was afraid I had done some
thing wrong.
What's the matter, Governor"
II asked.
"'You are not hitting me- he said.
shaking his head. I'D like you to
hit out
"'All right, Governor I said
thinking to myself, this man has
pretty good opinion of himself.
eve started in again and I sent in
a hard right to the body as he rush
ed in, and then tried swinging left
20 the jaw. He stepped inside and
drove his right to my ear. 1t Jared
me down to the heels.
81 realized from that moment that
the governor was no ordinary anna
teur. If I took chances with him
was endangering my reputation.
From that day I have taken no
chances with Theodore Roosevelt with
the gloves. I've hit him many times
as hard as ever I hit fighter in the
ring. and thousands know how hard
I can hit.
"Many time l have passed
through throng of politicians OF
high rank, often enough summoned
by the sudden bobbing around the
door of the presidents head with
a. Hello, Mike; come right in
In describing his first fistic en-
counter with the president at the
White House Prof. Donovan says
that he found the same simple and
democratic fighting man he had box
ed with four years earlier at Albany.
why don't you stay for the re-
ception tonight, Mike?' said he one
afternoon after a ten-round bout.
"'Why, Mr.. President l replied,
4 haven't got the proper clothes for
anything like that
"'Oh, you mean dress suit. Say,
Mike, I'll lend you one of mine
"T'Il tell you what I'll do, Mr..
President I said when I recovered.
I'll hire a dress suit
$50 1 did, and a disappointing fit
it was. He must have noticed my
discontinue, for leaning over, he
whispered, IS all right, Mike; you