Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-20

4
was strength and my ability to stand
punishment"
While running the elevator, a boxer |
who had had one or two bouts used |
To come into the building where Matty |
worked Hearing that he could box a |
little, Baldwin used to look at the fell |
\ low with pride for he had seen his
name in the paper, and concluded il
he was good enough to have his name
In print, he must be q wonder. The
two would-be pugilists became friend
ly, and used to spar little, One day,
the blows were harder than usual, and
finally Matty grew angry, pushed down
the lever, and sent the elevator TO the
top floor. There the preliminary exer-
else was finished in strenuous fash
ion. There were repeated rings on the
bell, from people on the ground floor
who wanted to go up in the elevator,
but Matty was far too busy to mind
little things like that. The rings kept
coming faster and faster, however, so
he decided he must finish the scrap.
which he did with final hard blow
that sent his opponent to the floor.
Then he rode down in the elevator,
feeling, as he expressed it, Like a
champion"
After that Baldwin was local fav-
orite and succeeded by making fire.
Quent excursions to the top floor in
proving his supremacy over every of
fee hoy, or other member of the Office
force who cared to contest that point.
Mattys first real bout occurred
shortly after this event 1t was staged
il a cellar, was a ten-round bout, and
; was held under the auspices Of To-
cal boys club. The purse was 81. 90,
divided in the ratio of 40 per cent to
the manager, and 60 per cent to the
boxers. The managers share accord
: ing to. the agreement was to go for
rundown and tape for the hands. The
admission was fixed at the nominal
I price of 10 cents. The referee through.
cut the contest smoked T D pipe.
Unlike other fighters, according to the
stories, Matty did not give his purse
to his mother, but used it to buy ice
cream instead.
Matty was 16 years old when he
made his first important match. This
was a contest with a colored boy
named JAWS. JAWS was managed by
the now famous Sam Langford. Matty
states that Langford came to him be
fore the contest with advice, which he
offered him accompanied with his best
wishes. The advice was that Matty
for the two days prior to the fght
should drink all the water he possibly
could. Drink buckets and buckets,
Langford said
Matty took the advice, not knowing
that Langford was managing JAWS, ant
gave him the advice hoping to injurt
him. Nevertheless, in spite of thi!
water cure, which Baldwin followed
strictly to the letter, he won the fight
and knocked out his opponent. Those
at the ring said then that If he would
be good and go home, they would have
his name in the papers the following
day.
Since then, Matty has increased won
derfully in efficiency as fighter. H,
has fought with such sterling ring ar
Moran and Ad Wolgast. b.
{ He has never yet been knocked out
] He has always been noted for hi
strength and gameness, the latter es
pecially. A striking instance of thi
Characteristic was shown on the oc
casion when Baldwin fought severa
Z rounds with a broken arm agains
: Battling Hurley of Boston. Matty ha
always been a support to his family
and although he is married himsel