The Washington times., 1910-03-24

a welterweigbt fighter named Billy
Gallagher at the works. He was
fighter. Billy was always after me. He
said had the making Of a gre2t
heavyweight, and tnat 7 could get
pile OF easy money for hghtinE instead
hard work Billy was enthusiastic over
Il, but for me- couldn't see where
fighting IN a ring could touch hunting
deer or mountain hon as sporting
proposition, and / didn't seem 20 care
much for getting money by punching
other people on the nose. I guess I was
too good-natured, and for that matter
l never have gone into a fight with
much spite toward the other man. some
Of my best friends today are the men
who have fought me In the ring and
been knocked out
Never Dodged a Fight.
In spite Of this good nature I had
the old Jeffries family trait I never
lodged a fight when Il came 20 me.
one night heavyweight fighter who
lived in Los Angeles. a big. lauky negro
named Hank Griffin. wandered into a
saloon where some OF The boys spent
their evenings when the days work
was over. He Lee led on. the bar and
began 10 talk a'CuJ fighting. as ali
these fellows do. Griffin was a very
good man in those days, and bad fought
and beaten a lot % b;E fellows all
through the West. Our fellows knew
his reputation, bCt when he began 20
boast they didn't Iik. it. and when he
The bar and said he'd back himself 20
knock out any man IN The town, they
got together IN "a corner and talked g.
over. They decided tl1r young JeI-les
was about the only man within reac-
4 equal 20 the negro IN Size and strength
Ir Few minutes they sent a man run
ming 20 my house 10 call me out 10
fight
i didn't take long TO explain things.
In about a minute I was tearing back
with them. AS Z ran IN through the
door I began pulling my coat of. ready
10 night him there on the spot But he
eNpla lined that there was "a slight mis-
Uu Outstanding lie didn't want 20 hErt
offhsDd like that He meant that he
could whip any man In town in a ring
with gloves on his hands, and with q
referee. This was what ha meant He'd
like 20 fGEt me- that way. and WE might
as well both make q little money out of
That was a new notion 10 me. but i-
sounded good The boys offered 10 back
ire With 81 bot which suited Griffin well
enough. judging from the way be grin
ned. EaiIaChrr wanted me % fEh-. too.
I'm short. we fixed uu "a match on the
spot, and ] went nome and slept Ike a
log until the alarm clock rang Il the
morning. There wasn't anything 60 w0r-
~ over about the idea OF Fighting a
professional RE didn-t lock 80 terrible.
and besides that I ueser did credit ne
-roes with much lighting ability and
EfUeness.
Refused to Tram.
Billy Gallagher wanted ne 20 20 into
training for the fight. which was 20 be
held ia q hau in town But 7 wouldn't
90 80. I went right along with my work
ard let Grfria 20 into training.
On the uiEhr OF the fight went
straight home from work. a little early.
and ate a good dinner. Then I walked
down % the hall The boys were there
already with "a i0- Of other people that
I never saw before All the lights were
lIt and -D the middle OF the EaH a rrEu-
alton boxing ring had been put Up on
an elevated platform
. We hotn Eot stripped far action with
our much delay Fe[U-e 7 went ouL 70
the ring they pulled the gloves over my
hands and tied them co. 7 can remerl-
her just how funny boxing gloves felt %
me. I never had a pair on before ln my
life. Ny hands left SO big and clumsy
that ] didn't know what 70 90 with
them.
At last we got into the ring
GrifDE was a tail fellow, and SiCeWy
muscles from head 10 heels lie wore