The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
Notable Of Years Ago Back n
New York Again, Feeble
and Almost Forgotten.
TELLS OF PETER JACKSON

II
New York, Oct. Sl.-~whsre are All m,
| .friends-tlis men I used % know Every.
thing has changed 80. Here I have sll
i In my room All day and nobody has CONS
to greet me. Years ago I would be en-
, tertalning crowds Of weIi-knoWn peopie'
The eyes Of charlesrE (Parson) Da-
vies flled as he rslnted 10 his visitor oi
the better days when ths mere mention
Of the name Of Parson Davies would
have made people Tn the sporting world
sit up and take notice. The man who
was once a leader among promoters Of
sporting events Is now sixty-three years
old. a victim OF rheumatism and able 70
AID OF crutches.
But despite his years and feeble con-
dition he brightens up and his eyes
sparkle when you mention the days
when Peter Jackson was the greatest
prise fighter and he was his manager.
Seated In Z roomy chair In HIS, room
at an uptown hotel he looked Ike a
retired country gentleman. One quick
iy sees why this man was called the
Parson. He always was better looking
than the average man. and age hasn't
robbed him Of all his former good looks.
81 have just returned from Amberg.
Wis. It's a small town OF about go
inhabitants. My brother has a home
there. and spent about three months
with him. hoping that II would help my
sickness. But don't seem 70 be get
ting wen. And tsn't II q strange thing
that my brother should be suffering from
the same ailmentz' said the Parson.
II will be around here for about a
month looking after bit Of property
In New Orleans OF which am part own
4. 81
and / may 20 any day, 80 I want TO
get this matter settled I have a sister
In Belfast and some nieces. and want
to see that my estate is properly settled
before I am called away"
Parson Davies became famous as the
manager OF Peter jackson. but he also
was a big factor in the walking matches
SO popular up TO ABOUT twenty-five years
ago. He claims TO have introduced the
pedestrian match in this country. He
was the man that brought out Dan
O'Leary, who Is stili alive and walking,
as the Parson puts II.
-It was forty years ago" he said,
shaking his head. that I took up with
oLeary.. I matched him against John
Ennis. II was a walk OF 100 miles. for
$500 a side and held In Chicago. After
that also became connected with Guion
and DobbIer and took all three OF them
TO England. where they made a big hit
and a lot Of money"
The Parson chuckled as he related an
experience going across with the three,
walkers
"A terrific storm came up and we were
badly frIghtened.> Suddenly a tremend-
Gus wave washed over the side. I thought
II was All over with us. and IN my ex-
element grabbed $1,000 insurance
paper and showed Il into OLeary's
hands 4
Take this. Dan.' I shouted; half OF
Il ls yours. O'Leary.. who evidently was
not as badly frightened as L saw the
huInor Of my speech and said; If u
isn't any good to you. Of what use Is IL
to me7' After that the sea became a
bit calmer and ! told Dan that my offer
didn't hold good IL we landed safely.
which We did.
LET me tell you about Jackson said
Davies. He was not only the greatest
fighter In the world but he also was the
best hearted man ever had dealings
with. He came to me from San Fran
cisco with letter Of Introduction from
Nose Gunst. ! was here In New York
at the time, and to tell the truth didn't
give jackson much attention. at first. be-
cause never liked 70 have dealings with
a 'darl<y. But I didn't make a mis-
take.
I'VE came to an agreement and I
signed him. The next day looked around
for a man 20 try him out and picked
a big fellow named Brown. who was
practically unknown. Jackson baked at
fighting him. He wanted some one With
a reputation. settled this argument
In quick time. Iytold him he would do
as he was told or I wouldn't look after
his business. jackson fought this fell
low and stopped him the the first round.
After that We never had any trouble.