The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-03-31
Cans Fooled BY Foxy
Billy Nolan s Strategy
Astute Manager, HOpeUer, Almost Caused His OUn
Boy to Lose Forfeit for Ouerweight.
BY w. w. Naughton.

fighting CLINT came into his eyes.
I'VE can manage our business. and
we'd get along a lot better. perhaps.
II you fellows just chased yourselves
away from here and attended to
yours
Then he went back into the room
and slammed the door behin1 him..
Nolan won out and the meeting
dispersed, the news being given out
that Cans would have to do 1873 in
fighting rig even IL 1t became ncces-
sary for him to have a leg or an arm
amputated. And the worst of it was
that the articles called for three
weighings at intervals on the day OF
the fight,
This was also NoIan's stipulation.
He held that, II each man showed
once or twice beforehand he could
make the weight. there would be no
disappointment when the crowd gath
cred around the ring,
Cans set TO work to devise ring
costume that would be OF gossamer
lightness- His trunks were of some
form OF cobwehby SILK and weighed
barely a half pound. II was said T,
that he fashioned pair of ring shoes
from brown paper and stuck them
together with glue. Maybe that was
an exaggeration.
Here's where the real story begins.
1t seems that Nelson had almost an
equally hard time OF 1t with Cans
in making the weight. The Battler
had to dry out as he never dried be-
fore. and the thirst, which he dared
not assuage. was prodlgious. Nolan's
consolation to him was; "Well, you
may be a bit feverish. but Cans will
be twenty times worse"
THE prospect didn't appease Nell
SON altogether. Through absti-
nence from cooling fluids. mis-
tongue became as dry as parrots.
IL he dozed of on the eve of the fight.
he dreamed OF cascades of icewater
just as men do who are dying of thirst
on the desert.
He was all right for the first weigh
ing next day, and so was Cans. The
second time at the scale, toe, went
off without a hitch.
But when Nelson returned TO camp
to await final weighing. he fell from
grace. Temptation placed In his way
a cupful of apple sauceS thing OF
which the Durable one was lnordi-
nately fond lie threw discretion to
the, winds. AZ the cooling stun slid
across his parchcd palate. he forgot
Nolan. Cans and everyone else. He
was desperate and he took a chance.
And il there's anything in the
world that viii put on weight in
hurry. it's apple sauce remarked No.
Ian when telling the story.
Then came the rlngsids Weighing.
and naturally enough Cans MAS the
one who was watched. Suspicion was
directed towards him. for he was sup
posed 10 be the one who had the hard
time getting there.
NELSON llrst." said the man at the
machine. and Nelson stepped on. The
lever clicked and Nolan pulled the
Dane away quickly.
Here. come back here. Wa did not
see that" urged some one OF The
Cans bunch, but Nelson had weighed
In. go ruled the master OF the scales
The chances are that no one outside
Of Nolan knew whether the bar trem-
pied or Iesped.
~ Then Cans stood on the platform
while everybody crowded and craned
and a mighty cheer went up when
Joe passed the ordeal safely and the
fact was announced
And Battling Nelson was the one
who wes overweight.
WAS he much over" Nolan asked.
I'm, not nuch.'
AS a matter of fact. Nolan did net
know