Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-22
GOSSIP FOR The FIGHTERS
Special Interest Attaches to the Fights
Of Carl Morris.
STORY OF HIS YOUNG LIFE
spends Most Of His Youth on n Farm
and Has HAD a Few Battles, but
Not. with High Class
Fighters.


NEW YORK. Jan. n.-The fact that the
Tulsa Athletic club, in Tulsa, OIL. has
announced through its matchmaker. II. c.
Pouder. that the club management will
hang up q $4,000 purse for a fight between
Carl Morris and Jim Flynn. Tony Ross,
AL Kubiak. Jim Perry or Al Kaufman
makes the followers Of the fistic art
throughout this section wonder whether a
future championship possibly win really
come out Of the west in the person Of the
young giant from sapulpa. The Tulsa pro-
moters state that in the event OF such a
battle being held, they are prepared 70
build an amphithester capable OF seating
$4,000 spectators. They believe contest
Of this character would net $4,000 in re-
ceipts and thus repay the necessary outlay.
A meeting with any OF the men men
toned would give the general public bet
ter line on the ability Of Morris than IS
obtainable at the present time. His fight
with Martin Hart was no criterion. as
that fighter had long passed his top form
and Hart was never in a class with men
like Jeffries. Corbett, Fitzsimmons or
sharlxey.
From what can be learned OF the per
sonal history of Morris he was born In
Kentucky on August 3, 1856. and spent most
OF his past life on the farm OF his father,
He worked on the farm until 1904. when
he came TO Sapulpa and applied for po-
sition as helper in the roundhouse His
work attracted the attention OF his en-
plOyers and It was only a short time until
he got position as a fireman in the yard.
He soon became fireman on the road and
was promoted to the position of engineer.
Reaenta Insult.
He served In that capacity faithfully
until a little occurrence one day at Ok
mulgee, when negro, who had some
trouble with a brakeman on Morris train,
attempted to strike him. Morris stepped
down from the engine and interfered, with
the result that for a time it looked as II
the brunette gentleman was going to need
glass carriage with black plumes. oc-
currences of this kind caused people who
knew him to spread his reputation as a
rough and tumble fighter, and those who
were not acquainted with him seldom
pushed a dispute to extremes more than
once.
Carl began to think of taking up pugil-
ism as a profession, and as soon as he
learned that Jeffries had been defeated by
johnson he asked for and received a years
leave OF absence WITHOUT losing his stand
ing in the line OF promotion by the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, of which
he is a member. When he began training
every railroad man working out OF Sa'
pulpa became Morris booster, so that tbs
giant was soon heard of throughout tho
state.
| 1t is probable that Morris has physica
advantages over every other heavyweight
in the world. He is feet inches tall
has reach OF S01S inches and he hal
trained down to 2S5 pounds. He weighed
| 800 last June. He has never INDUCED II
liquor or tobacco in any form and is ;
sticller for health rules. He is marrieS
and owns a home in sapulpa. Ever sine,
he disposed OF Hart with two broken ribs
a fractured nose and other injuries Morri
has been discussed all over the Unite,
States.
Fast and Active.
In spite of his size and weight Morris 4
said to be extremely fast and active. 1
lis rather interesting to compare such o
his measurements as are known with thos
Of Jack Johnson. The two shape UP as fol
lows.
Johnson, age, 80 years weight, 2O5 pounds
height, 6 feet 1 inch; chest. 40 inches
reach. 70 inches.
bs MGTrS S ~ weg chest P9 0aSs
reach, s01h inches.
This gives Morris the advantage OF thirt
pounds In weight. three inches In heigt
and nine inches in reach over the cham
pion. His normal chest measure is min
inches greater than Johnson's and With
two inches OF what Jeffries chest measure
expanded
Morris has beeE in six battles. the Ions
est four rounds.
The following are the names OF the bi
fighters he has faced and finished:
Tim Hurley. knockout; third round. Il
! Anderson. Knockout third round. Battlin
{ Britt, knockout; 1 minute, 10 seconds
, Jim Harper, knockout: third round. Ma
win, Hart won, fourth round. Spike KeI
nedy knockout; second round.
The fights with Harper and Anderso
were held in Tulsa, so the promoters thel
have had a chance to size up the ma
1 from sapulpa. and the fact that they al
willing to offer a big purse for his al
' pearance with some good heavyweigl
shows that they believe that Morris hs
I ability. After his argument with the figh
i ing engineer Hart is reported to have sal,
Morris is the best man I ever me
3 and he will certainly whip many a goo
r man inside Of the next year"
& Needs a Manager.
8 II the Oklahoma giant is a man wi
! real fighting ability, what he needs mo
a Is an experienced manager and handle
4 Such man would not only be able
} show Carl the finer points OF fighting Al
conditioning himself. but his iudgme
would be Invaluable in deciding just wi
l Morris should meet In the ring. Many
G promising fighter has been ruined
d matching him with some clever. hard hi
IT ting veteran before his knowledge OF ii
game had been sufficiently developed
+, Morris has former railroad telegrapht
y W. F. stone. as manager. and Stones e
=, perience in ring affairs is limited 10 D
i II mildly. In the hands OF the right m,
I Morris might advance rapidly, but his ov
n greenness added to his managers do
not promise brilliant future II he su
e ceeds II will be despite handicaps. Sa
: Langfords manager. Joseph Woodna
r and Wolgast's manager, Tom Jones. a
e trying to sign Morris to long term co
+ tracts, but the giant says he win not
Il back on stone, who threw up his Job as
train dispatcher to handle Morris affair
WOOumaU Ia IN