Evening star., 1913-10-19

s<ea<rA II W itkdEu
As. 'Gunboat' Smith
as the class OF
all the white fellows. and his record
looked pretty good at that. Until last
week. anyhow, when the huge battle-
, ship Carl Morris was warped alongside
Smith didn't look quite so good as
we had him figured.
Ever since experts and newspaper
critics have been divided over what
happened in the fifth round of that
match-when the gigantic Morris was
disqualified by Referee Billy Joh for
fouling his lighter but harder hitting
opponent Some contend the '.Gunboat''
was beaten man at the time. and.
realizing that he was up against IL.
decided the easiest way to escaue "a
| beating was to claim a foul-which the
| referee allowed
Still others argue the ''Gunboat" had
the original white hope licked to a
FRAGILE and that Norris deliberately
touled to escape the ignominy of a
knock -out
Unfortunately, did not see the bout.
Being a base ball fan. was in Phila-
uelphia to watch the Giants and Ath-
letics play, and am therefore not in
position to speak except from hearsay.
1AO"SNSi, my WAS
the ground. and l consider him as good
! a Judge OF boxing match as any one
L know. From what he tells me the
Gunboat was struck A foul blow in
the fourth round. but that it was un-
intentional on Morris part, and, any
way. IL did no damage and did not
warrant punishment. In the fifth
round-when the claim went i'm and
was allowed-my representative states
the blow was not foul at all, and, fur
thermore, 1T looked as If il had been
blocked by the "Gunboats" arm.
Nevertheless, the latter Immediately
put in his claim and the referee al
lowed il. 1t looked to those who sat
I'm the neighborhood OF Carts corner.
| where the men were engaged at the
| time. as if Smith quit cold turkey"
| Now. | am not going to attempt to
Judge any fight l have not seen, al
| though l have talked with at least Z
dozen well posted men since the bout
| took place. and they have confirmed my
| representative story-that Carl was
| given the worst of 1t. and that IL looked
| like he had the "Gunbcat" going. None
OF these men is preJudiced one way OF
the other, either, and. even so, L believe
| he would tell me the truth.
Instead of helping clear up the heavy
| weight, situation. the fight just sort OF
| tangled things up more. There is only
| one way out of the difficulty that I
can see, and that is 10 have them hight
| 1T over again. Morris Is willing, / un-
| derstand, but Smith manager says the
'Gunboat" is booked for a trip abroad.
and that he will do no more lighting
until he returns.
| Meanwhile Carl is willing to take on
any heavyweight in the business
| Morris is no longer the big green boy
| of two years ago, when he came east
| to conquer the pugilistic world. At that
| time he knew absolutely nothing about
| the game of lighting. He was just
a big target for everything in The
| shape of Il punch that was aimed at him.
| He was the best wallop assimilator that
| had happened along In many a year.
| and when it ticked over the wires not
| so very. long ago that he had been
| knocked out by Luther McCarty the
fight public was greatly surprised. He
| had seemed bit more than human
| when 1t came to taking punishment
| and. knowing that McCarty was no demon
walloper, New York fans who had
| seen both in action could hardly believe
| the report. Later Carl said he had
| been "jobbed." and after looking the big
| fellow over again one is inclined to be-
| lieve that there is something in his
story.
| Morris will give any heavyweight a
battle from now on-white or black
! His enormous bulk and weight give him
great advantage over his rivals. with
| the possible exception of Jess Willard.
who has him tied. or. perhaps.
beaten in size. But Willard is
not the type of fighter Morris Is.
| or, at least, was not the last time
he showed in New York about a
year ago. Jess is too easy going in
| his methods to accomplish much. On
! the other hand, Morris Is all business
| in the ring and never loafs "A minute.
Naturally with his weight and size, he
| is on the aggressive from the tap Of the
| bell. Furthermore, he has learned con-
siderable about boxing, and for such
| a huge piece of humanity he moves
around fairly well.
1 &c Hag oh a fhxs
Oklahoman. He Is steady piodder,
but his style is effective just the
same. Give him another year and I
think he will whip any heavy now
at hitting and IT will take a tough
man to stand up before him any great
length of time. He has the strength.
and he has the wallop. too. but he
| doesn't know how to use either TO the
| best advantage as yet.
/ But for a man who was whipped TO
a standstill two years ago by roly- rory
Jim Flynn, fifty pounds lighter than
One thing to his credit Is that he cid
not permit the setback by Flynn to
discourage him in his ambition 10 De-
| come champion. In spite 'of All the uhS
| kind and thoughtless things said abouc
him. Morris kept steadily on the Joo
until today he would enter the ring
favorite over any other white heavy-
weight in the business; not excepting
| the "Gunboat." who has just peeu
| awarded a victory on a foul.
A word or two about the "Gunboat.
He nut up a wonderful battle while it
lasted. according to all accounts. He
NAV have been fouled, as he says. and
he may not as others say. He knows
better than any one else. But ne must
he given credit for putting up such q
grand contest against such great
nhysical odds. 1t must be remembered
| that he was outweighed about ntty
Mounds and IL he was really nit low
Nv Moytis he should not be accused or
.dogging" it. His record has been SO
sniendid and he has shown such deter
nlination and courage in All MS pre-
yious- starts that he should De gwen
the benefit of the doubt
| still. IL he does not grant motifs q
| return match ii will give his enemies
| the chance to say he is AFRAID OF sns
| outcome of a second engagement