The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-12-10
Saginaw Demon, Broke
Now, Will Be 46
This Week

George Lavigne, the Saginaw
Kid" who was the lightweight cham
pion OF the world and the boxing
idol OF two continents only a score
of years ago. will pass his 10th mile
stone this week. Time vas when
George celebrated his birthdays with
great eclat AID regardless OF ex-
pense, but no more.
The poor old Kid, although he
made a goodly pile of coin in the
ring. long ago gave a gcodby kiss TO
The last gold piece Ga his tistic earn
ings. Since then he has tried his
hand at many occupations, but I'M
like the boxers Of today. he was new
er a good business man, and he has
prohted little from his ventures.
Only year d two ago the once fam
Gus and admired fighter sent out an
appeal for job-any kind 81 a
iob--and announced that he Would
be tickled 10 death with PROPOSE
, ton that would enable him to pull
down % bones-no, not week-but
a month, And this is the lad who
used 10 consider such a sum as only
fair sized outlay for a little dinner
for two. Only the other day the
Kid addressed a pathetic appeal TO
New York sporting scribe, asking
| him 10 pull on a benefit for him in
the Big Town. 81 would like TO get
90 " o
as | need 1t pretty bad" wrote the
Kid. in Q pencil scrawl. And doubt
| less he does need the uoney, with
long, hard winter coming on, and
the memory of past glories but a
poor substitute for food and shelter,
And SO, on Dec Il, the fans of
New York will stage a benefit for
the KID Enough will he raised. 1t Is
believed 10 carry him through an
other year without hardship.
/ In Kid Lavisne's day. however
fighting was different sort OF prop
osition than * is today. The Kid
was BORN in Bay City. Mich. Deem
her 6. 1869. OF French-Canadian par
ents. and his first job was loading
salt on q boat at Saginaw. II was
/ In that city he fought his first ring
battle. That contest wasn't a four
round affair with a roviCe like him
self Lavigne tackled George Sid
dons. enc of the toughest men who
ever put up MS lists, AMI celebrated
as the Iron Man" And the Kid
fought him II rounds to draw
Layigne was then only 10 years old
and stood only FIVE feet three and
half inches. 4 few weeks after MS
first bout with Siddons the Kid wen
10 Grand RAPIDS and fought hin
again. this time for So rounds viii
the same result. II any other boxei
in the history OF the game ever mac
so severe an initiation, the writer
doesn't know OF him.
/ From 1889. when he entered the
ring. until 1899. when he lost th'
: lightweight title to Frank Erne II
this city. and was defeated by Mys
terious Billy Smith IN San Francisco
ard knocked out by George Elbows
NcFadden in New York. the Saginaw
Kid was unbeaten and unbeatable
He went over to London and knock
ed on; Dick Burge in fight for the
worlds title. although Burge-who
bv the way, is now a soldier-wa'
four inches he taller ana had a bis
advantage in weight ard reach. Dur
ing his ring career OF IS years tn.
nd foug /. his way fro'a coast tf
,osst A.. also Daftled in Englird
and france. He maze a 10. of money
but he spent il as he went along, and
now. in the winter OF his discon
TEN !" ne ands Aimsclf almost PENN
! less yes. and almost forgotten.