Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-09
BY ROBERT EDGREN.

BY ROBERT EDGREN.
We've had cowpuncheTs, miners,
boilermakers, horseshoers, rolling mill
men, cab drivers and bank clerks
among the champions and near-cham-
pions.
But this is going to be a story of a
young man who rose to the heights of
fame through being a dishwasher.
BACK in the early '90s there was a
ycungster beating his way around the
country by the various brake-beam
routes, occasionally dropping off at
some tank town to look for boxing
match. He was tall. slender. hand
some. with curly hair and innocent.
wide-open eyes that never limited at
the curious thoughts that filtered
through the mind behind them.
When this interesting person had
been circulating through the outlying
districts for a couple of years, taking
on fight whenever he could find any
one willing to hand him a couple OF
dollars for mingling with anything
from a feather to a heavyweight, he
found that at 10 he was already de-
veloping a good pair Of shoulders and
a rather surprising knack of hitting.
Also he was able to think for him.
self His mode OF living had sharp
ened his wits. Just about the time
the "rube section" life was beginning
to pail upon him he happened to meet
Bob Fitzsimmons. In an instant he
recognized the fact that here was a
real fighter--a man who could do the
things the way he had instinctively
been trying to do them himself Per
haps there was something occult
about the way In which the wander
| ing youngster was attracted to the
great Fitzsimmons. Their fighting In
stints were curiously alike.
At that time Fitzsimmons was al.
ready famous. for he had knocked out
Jack Dempsey for the worlds middle
weight championship, had beaten Nc
Carly and Maher and many others OF
almost equal reputation. Now he was
matched to fight Jim Hall, Of Aus
tralia, in New Orleans.
When freekled Bob's training camp
/ had been established tall, slender.
handsome youngster with dark eyes
and curly hair came up, one day and
asked for a job. ~1lstts
What's your manner" asked Fitz-
simmons. ......s q.
MY name? Oh. Kid McCoy,' re-
piled the boy His name was Norman
Selby, but he was Just at the age when
youngsters with wanderlust inciina-
II ff,1V,s. lrSH - -
rates. The original Mccoy was a
burglar of some note in those days.
The kid picked his own name.
"Huh!p grunted Fitzsimmons. What
can you dor
Well" replied Mccoy, ct can wash
dishes-and I can cook
Can you box?" ask Fitz, whose
stable of sparring partners wasn't
overcrowded. -.
Il might try. I've boxed little with
the boys" said Mccoy, with his most
innocent look.
Fitzsimmons decided that a dish
washer and cooks helper might be
worth small salary, and he put Nc
Coy to work. That afternoon Mccoy
rushed through with the dishes so hur-
! riedly that he broke three plates and
then slipped out to the gymnasium to
watch the master boxer. Fitzsimmons
gave him trunks and shoes and had
him spar, and Mccoy concealed all
he knew about the game, but showed
such natural speed and strength and
willingness that Bob Fitzsimmons, who
took great delight in discovering and
developing real talent, coached and
encouraged him and promised to let
him box every day.
From that time on Kid Mccoy was
the busiest youngster in half dozen