New Britain herald., 1915-01-18
0p0Tt0grAphy
BY "GRAVY."

The ranks of the professional box CTS are recruited from all sorts and conditions of men, following all sorts of trades, but it is remarkable how few of the sons of soil have ever 1 sought fame and money in the ring. Butchers, sailors. newsboys, black smiths n1echanicsof all sorts, bank 1 clerks, and even boys educated for the pulpit and the practice of medi- cine, have been numerous in the an- l nals of the fistic sport. The farm boy, however, although he has won 1 laurels in every other profession, bus mess and trade. has very seldom man. ifested a desire to shine in the select company of pugilistic stars.
 As for gardeners, the only one to forsake his cabbages. peas, beans. radishes and other garden sass to win immortality by punching the faces of his fellowmen was Tom Oliv- CT, who flourished nearly a century ago. Although never champion, the worthy Tom was long one of the leading lights of the British ring, and a man whose name will be remem- bered long after many a champion has been forgotten.
 It was just 104 years ago today, on Jan. IS, 1S11, that Tom had his in- troduction to pugilism. From his boyhood he had been a gardener, and in the society of vegeta hles, fruits and flowers his innate pugnacity remained latent He was as peaceful and quiet a lad as could be found in England until that day, when having nothing to do, he decided to attend a prize fight which was to be pulled off in
 oo yo Dougherty and George Silverth orne were the combatants. The curious and innocent gardener watched them bat ter each other for hours, until ne1ther man could do more than stand on his feet. Silverthorne had just a little more stamina than his opponent, and was finally declared the victor.
 This was one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles ever fought, even in those days of bare knuckles and s1auehterhouse rules, and one would suppose that Tom Oliver would have been shocked and mortified by the display. Not he, When told that silverthorne had received $500 for his hard-won victory Tom decided then and there that pugilism was an easier way to make money than gar dening. He turned to a friend and said:
 "So that's what ye call proize- fghtin' is it? Why, dang me, as don't think as low I could do bit in that loin meself.
 The simple gardeners ambition to become a fighter aroused a great deal of ridicule and a giant who had some ring experience led In chaff1ng Tom. This made Tom hot under the col lar. and he challenged his tormentor to do battle They fought the next morning. for two dollars a side, and in half an hour Tom had stretched his opponent on the turf. uncon- scious.
 Toms master. the market gardener, thought he would discourage Tom Tn his fighting aspirations by matching him with a professional of his acqualn- tance. but Tom showed such. natural ability that the professional was reused to admiration of his proWess. Thereafter he became one of the most prominent of English pugilists, and after his retirement as a fighter he was usually chosen to pitch the ring and make the arrangements for nearly all the great fights in the coun- try For more than half a century af- ter his debut as a bruiser Tom Oliver was always among those present at an important battle, and to the last he held a reputation for honesty and straight dealing not surpassed by any other character in pugilistic history.