Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-11
BEN BRUINS TELLS
ALL ABOUT RITCHIE

Ben Bruins, better known through
out the Islands rs brother Benja-
min" Is back in his home town, Gin
elnnati, and is there being given the
glad hand as the discoVerer and de-
Eeloper of Champion Willie Richie
Bruins was always a staunch booster
for Richie, and long before the Cali
fornian was mentioned generally as
a champion possibility Honolulu fans
had heard Ben tout him as the next
lightweight king.
Accompanying pictures of Ritchle
and Bruins, the Cincinnati Enquirer of
January 2S says:
The man who discovered Willie
Richie has been discovered. He is a
Cincinnatian, who went to the Pacific
Coast years ago. Ben Bruins. a West
End boy. formerly a member of the
famous Exeter Ministries and a life
member Of the Cincinnati Lodge of
Elks, is the man in question. Mr..
Bruins Is home on visit TO his folks,
and the other evening in company
with Peter Schaaf, another Cincin-
haitian. called on the sporting editor
of the Enquirer. Bruins is an inter-
esting character. He has been in all
PARTS OF the world, and was the first
man to introduce vaudeville in Homo
lulu. Bruins is now q millionaire and
takes life easy, but he is very inter
-ested in Ritehie's welfare.
BILLY Richie got his name from
me-" said Mr.. Bruins. "In 1903 he
was driving q 'sandhek' or sand dump
cart, in Frisco, and used to punch the
bag in my warehouse. At the time
was In the patent medicine business
and an ardent boxing fan. One night
a boy named Richie was to appear
in an amateur bout, and Billy took
his place and adopted his name at
the same time when called upon as
a substitute. His real name is Ger
hardt Aloysius Steffen, and he Is q
.devout church member, and was
brought up In the Catholic faith. His
parents came from Germany. but he
was born In Frisco and Is % years OF
age. He was born on February 13,
1891. There are 10 children in the
family. His father still lives in San
Francisco, but his mother died shortly
after the earthquake. As near as ]
can recall he has six brothers and
four sisters. Louis Steffen, another
brother, was quite o clever boxer and
taught Bully the manly art"
What kind of disposition has the
new champion" Mr.. Bruins was
asked.
Ben Boosts Protese.
BILLY" said he, has as fine o
character as you would find anywhere.
He is a careful thinker, good liver,
faithful trainer, and has complete
knowledge Of the art of boxing"
when did you first take up the boy
as q boxer, Mr.. Bruns?"
az first saw him after the earth
quake in 1906. He was then driving
q sand cart. My place Of business
was at 446 Clementina street, south
Of Market. While digging in the ruins
the men came into my building to
rest Near by was an eating house.
A young man named Walter Schwartz
conducted the place. He was good
boxer and taught Billy the rudiments
Of the game. At. that time Billy weigh
ID only 105 pounds, Say, Ben, asked
Billy, can't You fix up some sort Of /
! gymnasium to train in?' Being q |
crank on boxing myself complied
with the request 1t was in this Inn
proVised gymnasium that the cham /
pion was developed His brother.
frank. who was an accomplished |
boxer. looked after the boys train
ng." =
did Billy show any of the proverb-
al ear marks of fighter, Mr..
Bruns?"
"Just about as much sign as / show |