The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-08-07

usually wise Chance made an awful
bluuder here The Chicago leader is
fast slowing up and next season he
will probably be forced to station
a Younger man than himself on first
base. I.uderus is likely to look like
a million dollars to Mr.. Frank Chance
about year from now.
Billy Roche.
During my experience as the third
man il he ring | have Witnessed
many peculiar incidents. some or
them ludicrous. others rather ser
ious. Boys who should have come
out with flying cOlors in bout have
been forced to accept the losers end
through lack OF judgment. Many
times il has been the fault of the
ienorarf seconds that crowd up a
corner On the other occasions ii has
been me error of the fighter him
self
One fight that really went TO the
wrong man was the victory OF Fight
ing Dick Hyland over Leach Cross.
How Cross allowed Hyland to wear
him down and obtain the decision by
an alleged knockout shall always re-
main mystery Not that Hyland
did no. fairly earn the verdict, Dn'
simply that Cross should have won.
This is one case that can be charged
up to lack of judgment. both by the
fighter and his handlers. For the
first Ten rounds of that battle cross
gave Hvland a lacing that he re-
membered for many days During the
period was looking for Hyland TO
succolnb to the strain, but he was
determined and he stuck II ont. Al
ter the finish of the tenth was
confident that Hyland could only pos
sibly last Two more rounds.
To my surprise, in the next SEES
sion Cross changed his tactics and
backed away from Hyland. This gave
the latter added courage, and ne
started to fight like a bulldog. This
is where Cross made his fatal mis-
take. Instead of taking advantage
Cf his great lead and with his OPP
p1nent on the verge OF caFlhs Ill.,
the Guthamite fought on the deleh-
sive. could not figure il out. Ana.
believe me. the handlers OF Hylahd
saw the grievous error in the enemy S
camp and took full advantage OF 1t.
Wen. Fighting Dick" lived up 10
his ring title and swung right INTO
his rivals midrbs and TO ms heau
with unceasing energy. That Leach
did not appreciate the attack was am
NV demonstrated by his habit OF
dropping at various periods. Not that
he was hurt Far from that. But IL
was simply on account OF the lacl
that he was going farther than ever
in his ring career and was totally at
sea Instead OF counting over cross
| wCuld simply tell him to get up
and continue.
This tumblng kept up until the
4lst round when Hyland sent over
one TO Leach's jaw. Leach went
down. put his hand to his head and
refused to get up; so he was counted
out, The blow did not put him out,
but Leach was tired out and wanted
to nit. Cross could have risen and
continued the battle for the remain
ing four rounds without dinlculty.
But he did not do so and Hyland
was credited with a knockout.
The point of the story is that II
Cross had real good handlers in his
corner he would have won in IL
rounds or less. They would have sent
him in after Hyland when the TAT
ter was weak ening. But this belhs
I.each's first long battle they were
unable 10 give him any assistance
whatsoever.
The greatest fight handler in the
| country is Spider Kelly or Frisco.
None knows how many battles he has
won for his charges. Kelly knew
every angle of the game from
fighters standpoint as we'll as
seconds. Every time he squatted
| in corner his rivals handlers were
wary. for they never knew what
stuff Snider was going to pull on.
Kelly's greatest piece of acting
happened at Woodward's pavilion in
Frisco when Referee Homan gave
Eddie Hanlon the verdict over
Young Corbett after 20 rounds and
nearly started a riot. This was Ho-
mans first experience as referee;
also his last.
For the twenty rounds Corbett had
the shade on his rival. Kelly was
yelling out loud. Don't kill him, Ed
die" and other bull phrases, and fig
ured that this would have some ef-
feet on the referee. When the final
bell was sounded everybody waited
to see Holman hold up Corbett's right
hand, indicating that he was the
winner They fairly keeled over when
they saw Hanlon's glove extended in
the air and heard Corbett's seconds
raising a tumult in the ring. But the
official decision was rendered and
there was no recourse.
The decision was really given by
Kelly. He knew that poor Holman
was up in the air when the fight was
over And he took desperate
chance. Two seconds before the bell
rang he crept upon the platform
grabbed Hanlon and showed him
right into Homan with HanlOn's right
glove extending cut. The bewildered
referee did exactly what Kelly fig
ured. He grabbed the first glove he
loft he