The Washington herald., 1913-07-19
CHANCE STARTED
CAREER in ring
Peerless Leader Was Once
Numbered Among Knights
Of Squared Circle.
WAS SKILLFUL FIGHTER
Feetban and Tennis Also Among he
Sports b Which Frank
Has Starred.
WAS SKILLFUL FIGHTER

Frank p. L. Chance may not land .
front rank team In the much battered
Highlanders this season. but its's a safe
bet that his string will keep climbing
with his pugnacious spirit to boost them
along. says E. ". Weller.
Way back in the nineties the peer
less leader thought his calling in this
world was to be under the Jurisdiction
Of the old Marquis de oueensberry
rather than In field under the eye Of
Ban johnson. and he didn't make such
a bad showing either. He succeeded
In presenting his case so strongly that
nobody in Fresno had any desire to
stand up opposite him in the squared
circle
Frank weighed about $50 pounds then.
was as active as a kitten, and Possessed
plenty Of skill In handling the mitts. In
fact. he still feels uncomfortable unless
he has at least one mitt on. but that's
another story. He used to add suits Of
clothes and athletic goods. as well as an
occasional purse. to his collection. by
taking on all Corners to Fresno Han.
One day there came to Fresno Hall a
young giant from the Middle West who
tipped the scales at 20 pounds and who
was heralded as one of the coming
heavies- On the strength OF the records
he brought to town he was duly installed
as constable
The new constable had not become
well accustomed to his star before
Franks friends got busy with a chal-
lenge. which was promptly accepted. A
purse was hung up, an evenings bout
arranged. and tickets for the exhibition
were at premium at a dollar a throw.
Licked Constable.
The two went after II hammer and
tongs for four rounds without either
one having much Of an advantage In
the fifth round the big fellow swung q
vicious haymaker that went wild,> and
Frank swung one that took the con-
stable on the point of the jaw. No
body counted. Somebody yelled for Q
doctor. and seconds ana referee work
ed over him for two hours before they
could bring him around. while Frank
sat ever in his corner frightened into
believing he had laid out his man for
keeps.
That's about the last time that p. L
ever handled a pair of mitts. Ones
enough for him now. and he doesn
even use that on the ump.
The game of straights and fushes,
jack pots. and bobtails. is one always
dear to ball players heart. and Frank
finance was no exception. FRANK, how
ever. was always dressed with such an
amount Of luck that opponents were
scarce. Now, 1t happened that Fresno
at this time. although town of no large
dimensions. nevertheless possessed a
Chinatown. Here often. with a crony
OF two. did Frank try his skill. but the
ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain" succeeded in taking nearly every
pot.
A Little "FixinE."
One evening Franks companion scent
ed a little fixing in the air and prompt
| ly smashed one OF the Orientals in the
eye. 1t was a long way homef but
Chance never made a better run around
the sacks than the way he stepped out
in front Of that mob OF bowling Chinese.
| All-around athletes are not only e
be found in the ranks of the rah-rahs.
Ball players furnish more all-arounc
| men to the athletic world than any other
class. Frank Chance, IL he did not have
| to give up all his time to the national
pastime. might be handling a tennis
racket in the Davis cup matches. He
was one OF the leading players in Cali
fornia during his early Fresno career,
| and during the fall season put in his
time as half back on the Fresno eleven
As a football hero Chance made a great
record, but he was on the injured list
most of the time, as he took little care
| Of himself in the scrimmages base
ball knockout Is not much worse than
a gridiron Quietus anyhow, and Chance
| seems to be used to both.