The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-10
BY GSIDER.

Joe Cans, the "Old Master" is no
more.
He has been gathered to the
Master of all Masters, has heard
the count from which there is no
awakening.
Death, against which he fought
with all the courage that marked
his marvellous ring career, from
which there is no sidestepping,
which neither backing. feintng nor
countering can stay, the final ref
cree of all things has placed the
last mark against his record, pugi-
listic and material.
But he went down for the last
time fighting, grimly. determinedly,
not for a purse or the glory that
would come of victory over a
fellow glOveman, but for something
greater and grander and sweeter-
to see his old mother and his chill
dren for the last time and to bid
them goodbye.
PERHAPS THE GREATEST.
With the passing of old Joe the
a ring has lost one of its grandest,
most lovable figures. the greatest
lightweight boxer of his time. if
not for all time. Once admired,
then eXecrated for permitting him
self to be drawn into crooked con-
tests. then, after his atonement, be-
loved, despite his color, to a degree
exceeding the regard in which
very few boxers have been held,
Cans career is without Il parallel
in the annals of the ring.
Consumption. that dread malady
which has laid its blighting hand
on other great colored fighters,
notably Peter Jackson and Geo.
Dixon tore down the once sturdy
frame which pulled the black boy
through many storm.
Four years ago, lacking one
month Cans was one of the most
perfect pieces of fighting machin-
cry that ever stepped into a ring.
One month later, or, to be more
specific, on September 8, 1906. his
physical downfall began. Forced to
tear needed flesh off his bones In
order to meet the onerous condi-
tons imposed by Billy Nolan, then
manager of Battling Nelson, for the
memorable contest for the light
weight championship with the Dur
able Dane, his magnificent consti-
tuition was undermined and he was
never again the great Cans who
had successfully defended his title
against scores of fighters from the
time he won it from Frank Erne in
1902 until his second encounter
with Nelson on July 4, 1908.
GANS-NELSON BATTLE.
It was my doubtful pleasure to
be among those present before and
on the day of the first Gans-Nelson
battle and in common with others
Of the craft assigned to cover" the
fight, | cried out against the out.
that Nolan held ont for and en-.
forced TWO days before the fight
Cans, try as he might in his stuffy
gymnasium could not tear off the
pound of flesh that Nolan said
must come off. Become desperate
the negro took to the hot alkali
.Xmd under the blazing sun, repeat
ing the performance the next day,
Nolan had insisted that Cans
weigh in with full fighting togs
and gloves on scaling not the frac'
ton Of an ounce over 13S pounds
ringside. Cans needed the money
ana would have cut off leg II
necessary to save the fight, For
three days he ate little more than
n bit of toast three times dav,
shaking his thirst with q tiny cnp
of tea
When he awoke on the day OF
the battle aud STEPPED upon the
scales he found that he vas the re.
CURED notch stripped, but he had
TO get below that to allow for the
trunks, protector, shoes aud gloves
Out on the road he went without a
bite to eat, At 10 o'clock he had
to step on the scales fer the pre-
liminary wcigh-in. another harsh