Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-04
Bv W. W. Naughton.

q AN FRANCISCO, Feb. 4.-The
y pugilistic trials and tribulations
of one Jess willard, of Kansas,
form an interesting study. Once in
his callow days as a ringman, when
his, star of hope beamed brightly, he
got the better of Luther McCarty in
bout back East.
Now, If McCarty had been outboxed
by few others and had fizzled out,
as so many white hopes have done,
no one would have remembered that
Willard contributed in the humblins
Of friend Luther
Possibly Willard himself would
have forgotten about it and the world
would have forgotten Jess Willard.
But McCarty began to climb and
with every rung he gained on the
ladder his reverse at Wizards hands
looked bigger and bigger-for Will
lard. AS McCarty's reputation in
creased SO did Wizards. 1t was
clearly a case of the unearned mere
meut so far as Jess was concerned,
but what did that matter?
Whenever McCarty had a new pic
posed. too. And for every paper that
published McCarty's picture one was
found to publish Wizards. Jess was
surely a thorn in Luther's side.
That meeting between the pair
would surely be arranged some day
seemed inevitable, but something
happened at Calgary and McCarty's
name was no longer associated with
pugilistic happenings.
Willard came West and secured
matches, and, by the same token, for
feited all the good opinions that were
formed of him by the coast sports be-
fore they saw him.
AS fighter he went from bad to
worse, and was regarded as one of
the jokes of the white hope move
nent.
Fight Win Morris Worry Bad.
He figured in an unfortunate oc-
currence at Los Angeles and while
awaiting trial in connection with-the
death of Bull Young went East and
engaged in a bout with Carl Morris
What the New York papers said
about that affair will scarcely bear
repeating, and even though Jess
scored knockout little later. he
must have been heavy heated when
he came back to the coast to answer
the charge preferred against him at
Los Angeles
Then suddenly the world bright.
ened. The jury acquitted him and
before he was quite done receiving
the congratulations of his we'll wish
ers, Manager Tom Jones wired him
from San Francisco that there would
be Jess Willard Gunbat Smith
match for the white heavyweight
\ q M mic r,c.lNa
froth's DAILY City arena next Fourth
Of July.
He is right back where he was a
year ago when the ambition TO get a
crack at the title was strong in him,
He is better off. in fact. There was
no assurance that he would get a
match with Luther McCarty. whereas
the meeting with Gunboat Smith is
definitely arranged
Under the circumstances il is not
for Jess Willard to rail at fate. He
has been buffeted bit, but the storm
Of adverse circumstances has blown
by and has left him planted squarely
on his feet
The momentous question, however,
IS. will Jess Willard be able TO en-
brace the opportunity that is knock
ing at his door? In other words. will
the affair with Gunboat place him
on a pedestal or toss him back to
flounder again in the slogh Of de-
Spond.
Manager Says He's improved.
II you listen to Manager Tom Jones.
the bald pated gentleman who halls
from kankakee.. it's all over. barring
the signing of theatrical contracts for
grand tour of the world
Did you notice we are giving
Smith and Buckley all the money ,"
Jones asked. Well whether you did
or not ., we are doing it, But what's
over Jess won't need for money. He