Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-26
WOLGASf NEARLY GOES OUT
Short Bout with Willie Richie
Almost Ends Him.
WEAK FROM RECENT OPERATION
Parting. with His Appendix Pats the
Champion In bad Way and
May Leave Him Easy
Picking. for Some One.
ny w. W. NAUGHToN /.

SAN FRANCISCO, May S.-An thai
Willie Rltehie. the san Francisco light
weight possesses In the way OF prestige
Is due. directly or indirectly, 10 Champion
Ad Wolgast 1t was through Wolgasl
being taken down with appendicitis that
Richie was sent for in hurry to box
Freddie Welsh at Los Angeles. Prior to
that time Willie was q plain. ordinary
four-round specialist at the Friday night
shows in this city.
As wolgast's understudy he performed
SO well against Welsh that his star be-
gan to ascend He went east and COM
handed matches. He did so well that he
came to be looked upon as a good. service
able lightweight
There Is scarcely any need to recall how
Richie acquitted himself in his recent
short bout with wolgast He did SO ex-
tremely well that those who witnessed
the bout considered Wulgast q lucky bog
TO excape with his laursls intact.
When anything sensational like that oc-
ours people at a distance are disinclined
70 give fun weight to the glowing ac'
counts that emanate from the seat OF the
disturbance. Allowance Is made for
very common human error. namely,
tendency TO exaggerate the merits Of the
under dog. In fight crowd particularly,
the hope Of witnessing the unexpected
sways the emotions. and TO attach WRONG
values Is akin 20 travelling the lines OF
least resistance.
In this particular instance, however. the
fact remains that a champion Of the world
had q remarkably close call.
The thing 10 be avoided Is tho making
Of wrong analysis OF wolgasts show
ing. that is so far as 1t appears TO In
dlcate or suggest n permanent loss oil
fighting strength or talent Wolgast was
evidently distressed after a seemingly
hight humping match with Richie &C
much 20 that the chances are his WORK
during the remainder OF the bout was
Influenced. wolgast said that the wrench
revived an old injury TO his back, sus-
tanned In a contest some years ago.
great many when they heard this
murrnered that's all fiddie-sticks." The
opefation he underwent has left weak
Kpot and that is why he hurt himself
when he slid up on RltchIe's shoulders
4 year ago no would not have minded q
little bump like that His ruggcdness Il
impaired and his championship days ara
over"
IA stili insists. however. that Il wai
hls back that was twisted, and says there
was nothing at any stage OF the contest
TO remind him that he had ever Deer
knitted for appendicitis.
II may be as he says. and in any cas-
there is no harm In waiting for furthel
light on the subject II II was merely
twist OF the back that wolgast suffered
from. he would soon be in harness again
II II was some physical flaw traeeable e
the operation, we can expect TO hear Of
some OF his ring contracts being Cancelled
Whatever Il was. It must be said thai
woleast was ill-advised in getting bach
into harness so soon.
In the aftermath OF the Mtchie affah
great stress was laid upon wolgasts de-
flciencies In the boxing line. He GER
tainiy showed poor Judgment. both OF
distance and direction, but a good dea
might be said in extenuation- The most
pertinent argument In the connection 10
that woigast practically did not give and
take work In his practice sparrins be-
fore the bout.
The idea that possessed his manager
and himself was that the question o.
assimiiating was the main issue The
thing 10 be proved was whether the VOL
CAST midriff could stand rough usage AM
wolgast's sparrtng partners were unde'
orders TO slam away at poor Ad's stomach
region without stint
While they were doing 20 Woigast wa
An n measure a lay figure. He seemc'
satisfied with the knowledge that bod,
smashes ala not Tease him. In view o
the fact that he had not boxed any 10
ak months be should have fought bacl
more In his training camp instead OF be
ing content 10 pose as human punchinl
bag. Had he done 20 he might hay
found the range more easily while he wa
smbroilsd with Richie.
Ritchie. By the way. does not think tina
wolrast is a back number by any means
willie entertains a very lively recollec
zion Of the first knockdown he suffers
At wolgast's hAnds-or rather at VOL
casts left hand-and Is satisfied more
over that wolgast. In addition to beinI
. cruel hitter. Is bewiideringiy fast an
shifty.
An apparent shortage on woigasfs par
Ritchie attributes to insufficient lapse
time since the operation and insufficient
training. willie has no means OF know
ing what is passing In wolgasts min
in regard 20 future ring engagement
but Is satisfied that II wolsast meets 10
Rivers and Is properly trained for III
encounter. Rivers win be badly beate
lightweight when the contest Is over.