The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-11

Just four years and eight months
ago was the first time that took 10
boxing. At 10 went to work at varl.
Gus occupations. For quite while
was employed by my rather driving
one OF his teams AS teamster0 !
figured that there was not much OF
future 10 tiny one ambition from
my boyhood days was TO improve my
position in other words, 10 make a
name for myself.
In 1909 | made up my mind 10 learn
a trade. so applied for job In an
automobile machine shop III San Fran
cisco. For three and one-half years
| stuck 10 IT, The last year ] acted
as demonstration and salesman, SO
when nv usefulness az a ring star is
on the wane, | will be in a position
TO turn my attention 10 a trade and
business that will come in handy TO
me. IL necessary TO choose as a
means OF livelihood
Since youth or my boyhood days, !
was athletically inclined. | was very
FOND OF boxing and every spare mo-
p,ent that had would fnd me in
gymnasium or. II | could spare the
price. would pay or work my way into
a club the night one OF the big boxing
contests were 10 take place. and be
.lieve me. | missed very few or them
Sometimes my admission was gained
bv acting as an usher. and more than
once. as the saying goes, Il beat II
Either case OF going over the fence
or through a window.
At that time Jimmy Britt was
great favorite In San Francisco |
used TO read OF him when In my short
pants. He used TO get the big write
ups. envied him. My own thought
and wish was that some day coSd
be the real fellow like Britt. The lat
ter was very clever and | used 10 go
10 the gymnasiums and practice hs
hest blows Whenever | would see
him on the streets | would follow
him and when he fought | was
somewhere inside or close 10 the
outer walls OF the building.
When Britt met defeat BY Nelson
Tor the first time. | was perched on
the cross post OF telegraph pole.
The arena was ont Of doors. tickets
here high priced, ushers were paying
premiums FOR their jobs, and being
only IA wears OF age then | was too
young to ask or secure employment
around an arena So. took 10 the
highways where the Fiew was unob-
structed and the price within reach
Of any good climber. From | o'clock
until 4:30 sat there waiting for that
great battle The contest itself lasted
one hour and a half. | certainly was
stif and sore from my cramped posi-
ton in mid-air Strange to say ! was
tph m
Nolan. who was Nelson's guiding
spirit on that occasion.
For three ard one-half years | en-
gagged in close to 30 contests in and
around San Francisco. In the begin
ring IL was a case OF taking very
small purses, with many good lick
,ing. The last year that was boxing
with so-called amateur clubs | was
so clever that I often had to give
away chunks of weight.
II was a case OF my meeting the
best short distance fighters OF the
country whom defeated with ease
in the four rounds as prescribed by
amateur ruling. Seldom received
less than $500 for one Of these bat
ties. Then II was that my attention
was turned 10 becoming a real pro-
fessional. just IS months ago.
After my showings with Welsh.
Young Erne, Joe Mandot and others
my one ambition was 10 meet VOL
CAST for the title | had met and
defeated him in San Francisco in four
rounds, received no more for il than
| did for fighting an amateur, nor did
| get the credit | should.
II began TO dawn upon me that