The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-02-03

i
that Monroe could not give me a con-
test and that the public would not get
a run for their money in such one
sided exhibition
In fact, the Monroe fight so disgust
ed me that l Immediately made up my
mind to retire. My friends talked me
out of this idea for a short time, on the
plea that some day, somewhere, there
would pop up likely candidate for the
title l held; that l would yet have
ample time to defend it. Shortly after
this 1 toured the country with my
show, "Davy Crockett" 1 met nearly
all the leading sport writer's and sport
ing celebrities throughout the country
and discussed my intention to retire
many times.
To make the long story short, at the
end of the season, at a little dinner
given me at the College inn, Chicago,
at which were present Lou Houseman,
Ocean, and George Siler, fight critic
of the Chicago Tribune, 1 announced
by positive retirement Next day the
news was flashed all over the country,
believed by some and doubted by 9TH
ers. l might even add that it was dou-
BILE and triple doubted by a lot of them
But in my own mind there was no
doubt
In Retirement Over Five Years
Shortly after 1 retired Kid Eagan, an
old friend, came to me and made me an
offer which would have meant thou
southern country. He proposed to car
ry large tent, such as circuses use.
. and was we'll backed financially. He
refused to believe me when l turned
down his offer on the ground of having
retired.
A few weeks later l again heard
from Eagan. This time from Reno, New.
His message informed me that inas-
much as l had retired from the ring
game, the championship belonged to
no one in particular. He asked M II
l should object to have him stage
battle between two good heavy
weights and bill it for the champion
ship. l wired him to go ahead with
7 no nc
service to him outside of fighting NJ
self, to command me.
A few days later l again heard from
! Eagan and he called upon me to act as
the third man III the ring between
! he had chosen for the heavyweight
championship. l wired him to bill me
for referee and l served as the third
! man in the ring as L had promised
Didn't Give Away Title.
That's where all the original 1alk
| comes from about me making Hart a
present of the title / did nothing Of
| the kind, nor had l any right to make
presents of that kind. But / refereed
the bout and after Hart disposed OF
| Root in the twelfth round l declared
Hart the heavyweight champion.
Since that time 1 have refused over
| 5000, 900 in purse offers and theatrlcal
ENGAGEMENTS. | had made up my mind
absolutely to stay retired and no money
would swerve me- l also at different
times was offered money to say that
| I might fight so-and-so, with a view
of boosting some fight, and declined
these offers along with the rest. AT dit
ferent times sport writer's would print
stuff about me, giving reasons OF my
retirement and some of them would
write a story with a view of toucklng
my pride, and have me come out ana
say that it was not so and to prove IL
make match. However, would not
fall for that kind of stuff, and while L
will ALWAYS remember them for what
they did to me- 1 sometimes enjoyed
the humor of the situation.
Tells Why He Comes Back.
Only once did 1 give any promoter
the least encouragement and that was
to Jim Coffroth at the time he had a
fight billed between Bill Squires and
Tommy Burns. had previously refused
an offer of $4,000 for my share to
fight Squires, when one day Coffroth
came to my home and after some pre-