South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-25
"Knockouts"
BY Ed. W. Smith.
BY I'd. W. smith.


One night about IL years ago,
couple of clean cut looking young fell
lows were thrown together ON street
car. They got into conversation and
one of them asked the other il ne
happened 10 be going TO the boxing
show al the ROsemOnt Athletic clue.
That's just where I'm headed,
the other said. II got a friend who's
on in one of the prelims."
That SOP" the other remarked.
I'm on in the main event Ny names
Jack Ryan"
Glad to meet you. Jack" the
stranger said, pleasantly. My names
Hart and ! like TO box myself though
I'm not much of a hand at it,
Ryan went on to tell Hart OF his
aims and ambitions and waxing elo-
quent and not a little bit egOtisticaI
in his estimate Of his own prOwess.
You see he explained, all these
boxers around these little clubs are
suckers and 1 can lick 'em in a round
or two. They don't belong at all when
I'm around"
1t SO happened that Ryan's op-
pOnent that night didn't show up or
was incapacitated or something else
and the club manager was compelled
TO get up and make an excuse. He
said Mr.. Ryan stood ready to meet
any lightweight in the house that
cared 10 earn a 90 case note.
That's me shouted one in the
crowd, and Dick Hart started for the
stage.
his.
Needed No Help.
Nope, not 10 lick that cOnceited
pup but you might come on and give
me a lift between rounds
They went at il and II was muir
derous battle. Ryan was inclined 10
laugh at his street car acquaintance
when he faced him in the ring, but
inside of a round or so he was mighty
respectful and cautious. IL went into
the sixth round with Hart gradually
getting the upper hand.
Then came a short right swing to
Ryan's jaw and he fell on his back
and took the full count, completely
whipped.
Il wouldn't have taken a chance"
Hart said afterward, If he hadn't
swelled himself up SO. i made up my
mind right then l could beat him, and
just wanted a chance 10 prove it,
We heard a funny little bit of rep
artee after Jimmy Powers had knock
ed out Jack McHale in a suburban
club one night not so very long ago.
1t illustrated we'll what some men con-
slider being on the level and what
quaint lines this elastic tendency
sometimes takes.
The names of the fighters as given
here are purely fictitious but are near
enough TO fit the case
\ big fellow who dabbles in the
game but mostly on the fringe of 1t,
was keeping time that night and the
argument started after Powers had
been declared the winner in the sixth
round, the referee counting McHale
out
Powers manager ran into the ume-
keeper and said 10 him:
bill. I don't want TO make holler,
because we won anyway. but II seem
ed to me that the fifth round was cut
short just when my man was win
ming"
The timekeeper turned purple with
Indignation.
"Say. what do YOU think I am, a
crook - ne yelled. IF ] hadn't cut
the second round short 10y minute
your man would have been licked
right there"
Ring repartee takes peculiar turns,
especially between men who are doing
their darndest Us knock each others
blocks off.
one night Henry Fagin and stock
ings" Kelly were putting up a desper-
ate mill on tho west side. There were
frequent knockdowns and first one
and then the other was on the verge
Of being counted out.
Kelly scored the first clean knock
down and as Fagin was Just getting
10 his feet ne looked up at Kelly with
honest admiration in his eyes and re-
marked.
Gee. Stockings that sure was a
peach OF a punch"
Not TO he outdone 10y his opponent
i'm more or less diplomatic polite news,
when Kelly was Knocked down and
was taking the count for little rest
he said To Fagin:
THAT wasn't half a bad one. me
boy. not half had,'