The Alaska citizen., 1913-08-18
latest Outside Sporting Dope

.oI-Jtn smith contest. Thus anOth.
"r object was gained.
| determ ned to fit Smith cut in
'ull evening dress and hustle was
made 10 get him suitable wear. A
suit was hired from a clothing estab-
ishment on the Seven Dials" and
BILLY was instructed to primp him
self and look his prettiest. as he
Vas to he introduced to the Ma
iioRal club members from the r.ng
Previous 10 the feature contest the
Amer can fistiC marvel was invited
by manager Fleming I step forward.
As he stepped through the ropes.
holding his silk hat in hand. he GER
tainly looked the part. though many
filters were heard. and
| soon discovered that Billy had the
bottom of h trousers turned up He
accepted the laughing and cheering
as adulation.
The foil wing day asked Billy
the reason of his turn ne up his
trousers and he said: Il wanted to
make a hit with those Englishmen
and appear like one of themselves.
| thought il was the style in Eng
land to wear your trousers turned
up. and if it had not been the Gus
tom before | have introduced new
fashi II for them
A week after his arrival Smith
was induced to box Nat onal club
faSorite. named Bill Husbands. a
and the way it was
brought about was very funny and
iiscloses some of the down East"
business nature which Smith often
showed
Manager Fleming was very stra-
teeic individual and very strong with
his conversation and patronizing
when it suited his purpose. He had
l way of getting the crack" ght-
ers who visited the club to box
exhibition with some of
the club favorites. but which really
meant fight instead of an exhibit
ton of boxing. There was no com
pensati for tn s exhibition (0.
and Fleming got many big tryouts
by this work.
Billy had been clipped off" and
The prescript on didn't work with
him He had come over for Coin"
"ot social distinction" When Flem-
ing handed Billy the request to box
Husbands he was there with a
Yes Husbands or any che else,
but YOU will have to come through
with some dough + I box any man
nut my sparring partner didn't
walk or swim here. but came as a
passenger, and want to
20 back that way. It's SIMPLY bust
ness with me-"
Fleming was not "boob." but
was diplomatic. and came back with,
If you will accept $3.50 as a small
present from the club toward defray-
ng your expenses, We will be pleas
ed to have you box Mr.. Husbands"
That will be about right, and will
be just about what it cost me to
come over. That stuff about being
afraid TO offer me money is a new
one on me. Don't feel embarrassed if
YOU have any other proposition with
money in it, while | am in England"
said SIN tn. Bill had no trouble
with the English fighter
Two weeks later Smith filled an
engagement in Glasgow Scotland,
all corners. for $500 for the
week. The Sc tch champion, I.ach-
lie Thompson made a lot OF talk
about his willingness to box Smith,
but he compromised by accepting
$40 for boxing at one performance,
though he made Smith rehearse
two days to make sure there would
be no knockout"
Returning to London | arranged
for a big boxing show. in which
Smith was the main attraction, and
il gave the public chance to see
the much-talked-of American cham
pion box. 1t took place in a large
hall in Store street, off Tottenham
court road
Some of the sporting writer's over
there were under the influence Of
Fleming. who was unable to induce
or force Smith to fight at the Ma
tional club for small purse and
refrained from any great mention
of Smiths show. These press men,
as they call them over there, had
heard of Smith holding up Fleming
for the $3.50. at was deuced bad
form, don't you know" as they said
that Smith was the clubs guest. and
Should have boxed for nothing.
To c'rcumvent the reporters and
their prejudice, l inserted a big ad-
vertisement in the daily papers and
worked up a great interest by SEN
sational notices. | announced that
Mysterious" Billy Smith the 40
pound champion of the world, would
undertake performance never be-
fore attempted by any man in his
class in any country. He would box
three men, three rounds each, one
after the other and the offer Was