Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

W. "
III Edwin Forrest. the greatest actor
this country ever knew. had followed the
prize ring instead OF the stage he would
probably have been champion OF the world.
Forrest had a wonderful physique. he was
a natural athlete. n finished boxer, fencer
and wrestler and always pridnd himself on
his condition. why, there's not a man in
the ring today who could show the mus
culsr development that Forrest had. I
remember that when he appeared in Eng
land before the footlights the newspapers
accused him Of padding his limbs. This 50
enraged Forrest that he walked TO the
front OF the stage one night and delibsr-
ately pricked his leg with a sharp pointed
sword until the blood ticklcd down into
his shoe. This was rather a painful proof
Of real flesh and blood, hut 1t caught the
London gallery gods, who always hailed
Forrest thereafter as an American hero.
Forrest WaIIops Thieves.
zone night. after a long, tiresome per-
Torrance Forrest started out to take the
air alone. He roamed away from the high
ways into the byways Of old London when
suddenly three ~fottpads jumped out Of a
dark alley and grabbed the actor in a
desperate manner. There was a short
SIfuKBte IN WHICH FOTTeNN HuoON NhN thtNNSS
off like so many rats, and with his heavy
cane and ready fists he s0on had them
wsllowing in the gutter. Then he used his
cam freely as they tried to regain their
feet and also astonished the London bobby,
who finally came to the rescue.
Take them away, officer! I'll make
no charge.' Numbered Forrest, as he
walked off in his most dignified manner.
800 - ..zs,- aHl a%aNnlsr
carriage Forrest was often thought to be
unapproachable, but q more kline hearted
man never lived.
Another great athletic actor, a genera
ton ago, was John Mccullough, who came
TO this country in 1853. He began reading
SHAKESPEARE while making chairs in Phil
adelphia. Mccullough and Forrest became
fast friends and Travelled as partners for
many years.
Maurice Barrymore, another noted
actor, who died a few years ago, was an
accomplished boxer and many a cabman or
rowdy bore evidence of HE prowess. The
late James Richmond Gienroy, the man
with the green gloves as he was known
on the vaudeville stage, was. another noted
expert with his fists. Nat Goodwin and
Bob Hilliard have also proved that they
possess fistic skill on numerous occasions.
Gould ana MorOsini Educated,
George Gould in his younger days was
quite a boxer. SO was his friend, Giovanni
p. Morosini, the banker, who died about a
year ago. Both received boxing lessons
from Billy Madden years ago and also took
many a good punching in private TO prove
themselves game and willing. Prof. Mike
Donovan, the boxing Instructor of the New
York Athletic club, has taught hundreds
of rich men-many OF them miliionalres-
! the art of self-defense. The late Hermann
Oelrichs was one Of the cleverest men with
| his hands / ever saw. He boxed privately
with many professionals and always held
his own.
over in England among the nobility there
are many clever fellows with OF without
gloves. The marquis of Queensberry, who
was the author of the boxing rules under
which modern prize fights are held, could
go some himself and during HIS erratic ca
reer he had many encounters in public
places that demonstrated his boxing skill.
This remarkable little man at one time Of
fered to fight his second son anywhere in
the world for $4,000 a side.
Another millionaire Engiishman who
created a sensation both here and abroad
was George A. Baird, better known as
Squire Abingdon He was a noted amateur
boxer win liked TO indulge In impromptu
scraps so that he could show how he could
fight. Under the influence. OF LIQUOR the
squire INDUCED in wild orgies and often
took part in desperate mixups. One night
he and Charley Mitchell. the retired box
ing champion of England, were walking
down one of London's foggy streets, when
they ran into an old man. The squire,
without a word of warning, hit out and
landed the strange on the pavement. A
| 49, 49,
in court the prize fighter, in order to save
the squire, pleaded guilty to the assault.
Mitchell was sent to jail for a year, but
because of this act of friendship Arlington
gave him 100000 In cold cash. In 1ses
Mitchell and Arlington came to this coun-
try to attend the fight between Jim Hall
and Bob Fitzsimmons at New Orleans. The
squire had a pot of money bet on Hall and
insisted on being his chief second. Abing.
ton contracted a cold just then and died
OF pneumonia after being i'll three days.
King Edward Used to Box.
THE king of England himself was handy
with the gloves in his younger days and
even now takes much interest in prIz.
fighting. So anxious was he to see Johr
l.. Sullivan perform that he had the cham.
pion give a private exhibition with hi,
sparring partner, Jack Ashton, before 3
FH - AtA0 AOlo I4OuSQdit, ~
one time the president of the Nationa
Sporting club of London. Is a skilled boxe,
and has taken an active part in the fightins
game on the other side of the Atlantic. II,
spent $4,000 to test the law regarding box
ing In Great Britain. He carried the cas-.
TO the highest courts ana won cut after :
long legal battle.
President Roosevelt is a rugged. clever
boxer even now. He has always takei
J deep interest in pusilistic affairs and whe,
police commissioner In this city he enthuse,
over the Maher-Choyinski fight at the OF,
Broadway Athletic club. As the latter wa
knocked out Mr.. Roosevelt said.
That's nothing. / was knocked on
worse than that at Harvard"
II believe boxing should be taught in tn,
public schools all over America. 1t is Erea
exercise and makes healthy boys develo,
into powerful, courageous men. Give me
| Fellow that can protect himself ana ais,
hand out a wallop every time. He's IN,
one that gets up in the world, because n
, isn't cbicken-hearted."
Rein Visits Chicago Auto show.
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