Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-19

twenty-one rounds at New Orleans on Sep
tember I. 1891 he won tS5OOO. Of which the
purse was $4,000 and the other $4,000
side bet They fought on the basis of
winner take all.
But II was not always thus Johnson
has fought for $ or $40 and been glad to
get the money. Jeffries did not have such
an humble beginning In the right as the
average fighter. He was star performer
almost from the first but when his ring
career beGan with knocking out Dan Long
In San Francisco in 1896 he was lucky To
get a few hundred dolars for his work.
The average professional begins as
preliminary" boxer. That Is he takes
part In the bouts preliminary to the clash
ing OF two stars-a sort Of appetizer for
the big pugilistlc feast to follow. For this
he may receive as much as IS all at once
II he wins, but more likely he will have to
divide S. or less with his opponent. Often
he Is lucky to get dollar for four rounds.
After making a reputation In ''pre.immar-
les" he may appear in a semi-windbp,
which Immediately precedes the main bout.
Here he may contend for from SIS to SiCO,
according to the importance of the occa-
sion and mis- own popularity.
Even star fighters have peculiar ex-
periences in the matter Of purses. and
more than one has INDUCED in a desper-
ate struggle for a small recompense. A
case in point was the action OF Tommy
Feltz, the former bantam champion
Shortly after he lost his title, but was SIN
able to demand high price for his serv-
ices, Feltz WAS scheduled to meet COM
paratively unknown boxer named Danny
Lewis In a barn just outside of Washing
ton, d. C.. II was a cold night, but n
surprisingly large number of fistic fans
had gathered for tho encounter, and the
receipts were most gratifying. Suddenly
a rural sheriff bObbed up and declared the
meeting adjourned sine die, as far as his
county was concerned. The spectators
got their money back at the, box office,
all except $3.50. which represented the
donation OF nervous citizens who had taken
to the surrounding bush when the limb Of
the law announced himself.
Confident that he had dispersed the
gathering, the sheriff went his way The
promoter was in a bad fix. He had ar
rarged several other passages at arms
that had been similarly raided, and was
getting "in bad" with the sporting element.
He besought Feltz to to take advantage of
the sherifrs premature departure to fight
anyhow. Lewis had already assented, as
he wanted the reputation OF going against
such a notable opponent. After thinking
for moment, Fsltz calmly agreed to fight
for the sum left in the cash box. He went
fifteen rounds to draw with Lewis, and
had to work himself out to the limit not to
be defeated, yet he accepted %14S with
great cheerfulness, promptly spending II
for VINE.
on the other hand, boxers in the early
days of the ring received more for their
endeavors than has generally been sup
posed and their methods were quite mod
ern Jim Fig, who died in 1874, is counted
the father of the ring, but he was really
a sword and slngle-stick expert who seldom
used his fists. George Taylor, who sue
ceeded to Figs amphltheater in London,
offered It as a battle-ground, on the terms
OF one-third to himself and two thirds to
the fighters. Frequently much as ESQ
or about $3.50, was taken at the gate for
these battles around the year 174O, which
with the value of money at that time, was
by no means a puny purse. Betting on the
side was always a feature OF the early
days and remained so until after the defeat
! of Sullivan by Corbett which bout also
l marked the general acceptatlon of the
) Marquis of Queensberry rules in this coun.
3 try. This feature of boxers backing theil
> opinion of their own prowess is still fal
! more prevalent in England than in this
) country. Innunerable challenges. will
3 offers of side bets, are published in the
! English sporting papers every year.
The first black eye received by profes
r sional pugilism was caused by side bet
Jack Broughton, champion of England ant
framer OF the first prize ring rules, Tough
: Jack Slack for the championship. Brough
ton. was so confident that he trained care
4 lessly, but Slack was right on the job
\ April 10, 1880 and cleanly whipped his an
5 tagonist. The duke of Cumberland had beer
/ Broughtcn's great friend and patron anC
, is said TO have bet 10000 on him. Th
I noble duke was not a cheerful loser HI
claimed Broughton had sold him out, anC
; made such disturbance that law agains
prize lighting was passed. Broughton'
amphitheater was closed, and professional
: boxing started on that furtive. precarou
existence It has led ever since.
, RY FnEDDRIC j. HAsKLN.
Tomorrow-woBLD's GREATEsT IN
a DEE.