Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-13

OF course. many men In the past have
had only themselves to blame for finding
themselves at a ripe old age absolutely
without means. Many a poor chap In
other walks Of life has lived the life or
not been careful about investments: be-
sides which, overlooking generosity has
frequently characterized good sportsmen
who have lived to want what they had
given away.
There are still many old timers who
must find 1t difficult to make living. AS
a rule the fighting man of today. what
ever his weight, can make good money
so long as he is in the front rank Con-
ditions are different and the life Is not
days
1t might be useful in this and other
countries to keep a register of those
DESTROYS of getting an occasional job
in some legitimate occupation where
ciated. At the same time. I am afraid
that modern conditions and that terrible
use OF the gun on guardians OF property
would not make them so valued as they
were generation or two ago.
old-time fighters have made a living.
and good one, looking after people
on race course-b0okmakers and
others who have carried lot of ready
money ana IOuuQ II uscIul OH great
occasions where business was big to
have q "minder" or two with them. a
big layer of odds told me once that
he would never have escaped with his
money from certain race track had
he. not been escorted by three well
known ex-bruisers. 1t was an occasion
when special cheap trains had brought
down to D well known track scores Of
roughs who never had been seen be-
fore
Another man. foreseeing what would
happen, put some gold and few
bank notes Of small value in the inner
pocket OF his vest. place which is
usually thought to be safe. He an
ticipated that once in the crowd they
would pin his arms and make straight
away for this alleged secret" pocket.
They got him and didn't bother about
any other pocket but the one with a
button inside his vest. He made a
show OF resisting. and they made off.
Once on the train for London and safe
he unburdened himself. He had put
his big bank bills, amounting to over
5000, into his underpants. which he
had made specially with strap round
the ankles, and buttoning securely in
front. He had no escort!
In the late sixties there was O well
known public house out Of Regent street,
London, where for consideration any
number of old bruisers could be found and
hired for special service. An amusing
story Is told by Mr.. Reginald Herbert. for
many years we'll known master Of
hounds and amateur rider.
The sheriTs officer wished to levy a dis
tress warrant on Sir Charles Nugent. then
a young man. at the stables at Epson.
Herbert and Nugent requisitioned the
services Of twenty Of these fearnothings.
For $50 a day and their food they were
taken down to Epson and held the fort
against the sheriffs men who wished to
seize the thoroughbreds. By stratagem
two Of the horses were got out by a back
gate and boxed up on the railroad for
race meeting in the north. Nugent was
with them and pulled off a double event,
winning enough In ready money to come
back four days afterward and raise the
siege.
1t was the fashion for a great many
generations for young men Of fortune to
have an ex-pugilist as a follower or re-
tainer, but this also seems to have died
out, and the trouble is now how some
of the genuine middle aged and old timers
can get on. I suppose there are many
who would have little or no sympa .hy
with them. but after all In the majority
there must have been indomitabIe pluck
and unusual endurance. They couldn't
all be champions and get big purses.
/ should be more than interested il
some one would be the go-between in re-
gard to veteran pugilists of good char
acter who really want work and those
willing to give them job.