The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-19

never ran my weight down so low while
training for any othef fight. When I
came East 10 meet Armstrong I weighed
just 245 pounds stripped to fighting toys
IN the ring. Now. ready TO meet FTtz-
simmons, I scaled exactly POI pounds.
had run myself TO a shadow. Two days
before Jne nght / weighed Just 206
pounds stripped, and let everybody
around camp see me on the scales The
day before the fight 1 went " ~ a mum
Der Of reporters TO the baggage room at
the railroad station. There on the
baggage scales, IN jumpers and a light
sweater, ! weighed an even 20 hounds
never attempted to make such low
weight again. as l. know I'm stronger
ana rave more endurance when I carry
forty pounds more flesh on my bones
AFTER We returned the boys sat on the
porch telling their best stories and sing
ing songs They seemed TO think IT
was up 10 them TO keep my nerve IN
order But I didn't feel nervous al all
An fact, II anything. I felt glad that the
ndTu Work was over al last and the
night was only few hours away. I
was anxious 70 see what IL would feel
IKE TO hear the crowd roar as Fitz-
simmons was counted out Another
thing, nay people never thought much
OF the game I followed ] wanted 10
send telegram home saying that ]
YES champion Of the world There's
be some satisfaction in that Ny father
had said 10 me one day We'll, Jim.
so long as you VIII dght. be the best
leave IL with honor when your time
comes 10 leave il and look Tor something
better
So I Joinetd in the story telling and
at O'Clock said Good night" as usual,
and went TO my room. In two minutes
was between the sheets and sOt.ud
asleep- That Was a good test Of nerves.
Two days before the fight I did feel
nervous and high strung. but now. with
the action 50 near / was ready for
whatever might Gene Nerves act in a
curious way Some other good men T
know feel nervous until the time comes
TO fight, then turn as cool as ice Others.
and they're the uniUcky ones. are cool
until the~ enter the ring and then
although not al all afraid are so para
lyzed with nervousness that they can
not fight at all They are the fellows
We call gymnasium Champion
I slept Ike a log that last night, not
even turning over until O'Clock in the
morning Then 7 EOrs up and dressed
All tho other fellows were stIu in bed.
50 as The sun came ou- 7 went up on
the lawn under their windows and sang
a bunch OF coon. songs 70 wake them
up Coon songs had Just come in then
and were all the rage I always did
Ike coon songs BITTER than that grand
opera stun. In e. minutes there were
heacs out % the windows all over the
cottage Billy Delaney had a wide grin
/ Those coon songs were good music 20
cheerful
At last breakfs st was over. my fight
. Ing toys and the things for nv corner
were all packed. and everybody was
ready 10 travel We left the cottage
and went 20 The station in a BODY There
+ was mob waiting 20 cheer me and
wish me luck All the UCTrers and
rrainuen wanted 20 shake hands with
I me. I got through as soon IS ] could.
[ and taking Johnny with me. went into
9ae or ne coaches sat next The
( window and asked Johnny go sit beside
[ me and not let any one talk 20 me on
/ Jne way 10 New YORK Delaney and
/ the others went into the smoker.
] As soon as the train started leaned
M against the window and went sound
asleep or course, 7 don't reueu Der
anything about that. but John tells me
( That I slept Ike a rock all along the
line and that ar Red Bank and Perth
AmbOy and South amboy and Eliza beth
4 and Newark crowds were gathered a-
Z the stations and that people run ND and
I down the platforms looking for me, and
/ that when they saw me through the
/ cheering
It never broke my slumbe-s I only
! Know JHat ] woke I'D al Of sudden
/ rubbed my eyes.
Have We started2' Z asked where
''srarted.' exclaimed John why.
! We're Just going through Newark.
/ You've been asleep for an hour
~ Gee see. said / Have Rave ! been asleep
/ Go 10 sleep again. said John. I'm
1 writing my story
50 I dozed or until we pulled into
/ Jersey City We crossed on the Twenty
I third street ferry
/ In New York we all had lunch and
/ then went 10 PrOctOr's and saw a
( vaudeville show 7 never enjoyed q
snow more Il seemed as IF the Jokes
and the songs were the funniest I'd
! ever heard. and the girls were the
I pretLleSr I'd ever seen. and the crowd
Z was the best natured, for everybody
2 was rubherinE AT the man who was
going TO be rnassacred by Fitzsiurrous
/ and making a lot Of noise about t.
Title Of Next Chapter: Telling for
the First Time What Happened II. the
/ Dressing Room Before the Fight