Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
Oscar Stuckey, the "Florida
Hercules" Denies Quitting,
and Will Try to Be-
come a Star
OKLAHOMA WONDER IS
IN VERY GOOD HANDS
Morris Going Slow and Has the
Public With Him-His Next
Fight to Be a Hard One.
Gotham Echoes.
By James ]. Corbett.
Special Correspondents Of The Star.


NEW YORK. April Is, 1911
The announcement that Oscar StuckeH
tho so.called Florida Hercules" had de-
cided to quit the professional boxing
game before he had really begun Is
ssrenuously denied by the young man,
who informs me he will carry out his
original plan of trying to fight his way
through the bunch of mitt artists who
stand between him and the championship.
He adds that he is not a gutter. and will
have to be shown" before entertaining
q suggestion to drop training and for
get his ambition to become the heavy
weight champion of the world.
Stuckey is giant of about six feet six
inches, Weighing 80 pounds and is but
nineteen years of age. He comes hon
estly by his size, as his father is big
man. Until recently he was employed on
the latter's turpentine ranch or planta-
ton, or whatever it is called, and the
work consisted of carrying barrels of the
pine juice. While in Jacksonville in jan
uary / expected a visit from the young
ster, but he was delayed by a tardy train.
However, a friend of mine looked him
over in company with Charles Leonhardt,
the veteran wrestler, who conducts
gymnasium in the southern city. The
boy was put through few PAGES to show
his speed and physical development more
than anything else. The gloves and he
were strangers at the time and SO no
line could be obtained in that direction.
Shortly afterward Stuckey was taken I'M
der the wing of man who had secured
the signature of the father on the prom
Use to place the lad under the direction
of competent instructors. This mans
knowledge OF the game was confined to
an eager desire to get something for
nothing and he had signed the yOungster
with the sole idea of landing a quick
mOney-making proposition.
The scheme was to exploit Stuckey as
one Of the white hope brigade and to
match him against some second-rater
where there would be a substantial
according to Stuckey, who has commu-
nicated with me through a mutual friend,
wanted to take the boy to Philadelphia
to box heavyweight there. and over
this rock the two split. The kid" knew
he was not in shape to fight. He had
been given one or two boxing lessons.
such as they were, and 1t would have
been little short Of crime to pit such
a green boxer against a veteran at this
stage Of the game,
friend the young man is unusually level
headed for one Of his age and expe-
rie1ce. He had the good sense to appre-
cia&e the fact that he was to be used
as the medium of money-making
scheme and sat down hard on the prop
ositSon. The youngster wisely decided to
let the manager" shift for himself, and
until he has had sufficient training and
teaching win not attempt to enter the
ranks as professional. congratulate
the husky Eloridan on the courage and
determination displayed in refusing to be
made the tool Of an INSCRIPTIONS adven-
turer, whose sole idea was to get hold Of
. few thousand by any manner or meth
Cd and was willing to sacrifice the young
ster to satisfy his greed for a little
money. The Hercules Is now taking
a systematic course Of training under
Leonhardt's direction. and report says
he is coming along nicely. Provided he
shows promise OF form satisfying to his
present instructor. Stuokey's intention is
to come north shortly with the hope that
with proper training and instruction his
wonderful physique may help linn to real
lie his ambition to become a champion.
The lad has expressed desire to meet
me and to ask my advice. and I will be
pleased TO give him the benefit Of my
knowledge Of an experience in the pro-
fession. For one thing 1t may be of as
sistance in helping him dodge the sharks
in the game whose interests in the sport
are to tear off, little soft money. But
the boy has already had one lesson in
this direction and should profit by 1t with
out advice.
Good Teachers for Morris.
While on the subject Of hopes a few
words concerning Carl Morris may not
he out of place. Morris recently added
another scalp to his collection, and Mike
Schreck's top piece now adorns the Okla
homans belt. But this victory should not
delude his followers and admirers into
the belief that he Is at present good
enough for men like Kaufman and Lang
ford. 1t will hardly so influence his
trainers. at any rate. as Con Riley has
handled a great many boxers in his
time, IS chock full OF experience and
will be sure to go ahead with his charge.
Jim Barry is trying to force the big fell
low into a match. He wants to bet
side OF fifteen rounds. but the offer has
been turned down on the plea that Carl
needs a rest The latter has been in
and IS likely stale. L believe Barry would
engineer. While falling far short Of the
second-raters and would give Morris a
much sitter argument than Hart and
schreck. Morris has the public with him
everywhere are roofing hard for him to
10 see him stack up with a man who
has class. Mike and Marvin were fairly
good men In their days. but have been
down and out for several years. and the
matches We're tolerated merely because
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