The Washington herald., 1916-02-13
Romances of the Ring
BY
From Pit Boy to Nations Idol

Carpenter was matched to fight Jim
Sullivan. the middle-weight champion of
England, for the championship of Eu-
rope. British sportsmen sCoffed at
the idea, and hastened to put their
money down on Sullivan. For CEN
turtles the France of fisticuffs had held
Its bloody nose and grImaced at the
pain inflicted by solid English fists.
But change was coming. Vive la re-
publique!
1t was at Monte Carlo. on a Febru-
ary day, before cosmopolitan as
semblage of men-and women-of all
nations. that Carpenter triumphed
over Sullivan, knocking him out in
the second round. And Sullivan was
26, veteran, and Carpenter a lad of
1S. The tricolor waved in glory that
day. while the Union Jack dropped
in the slough of despond
A few months later the young
Frenchman defeated Willie Lewis, the
American veteran. and George Gunther,
but lost on foul to Frank Klaus. and
was defeated by Billy Papke, the I'LL
nois Thunderbolt Both Papke and
Klaus knew they had been in a rookus,
however, and one of Franks eyes was
tightly closed
Carpenter began the 1913 campaign
by knocking out his countryman, Mar
Scl eau anu serving out the same
dose to Bandsman Rice, the English
man. In June he was matched to fight
Bombardier Wells, the English heavy
weight champion, in Client, Belgium.
The Frenchman won by knockout in
the first round, and again England's
pride was humbled in the dust
Georges then defeated JEFF Smith. the
American middle weight, in Paris, and
put Jack Lancaster to sleep in Ge-
neva, Switzerland.
All this time English sportsmen were
firmly of the opinion that Carpenter S
victory over Wells was a fluke. Carpen-
tier replied to this by boldly invading the
enemy's country to fight Wells before
the National Sporting Club in London.
In the very first round Bombardier took
the count, and Carpenter became the ac-
knowledsed heavy weight champion Of
Europe.
In 1914 Carpenter fought Joe jeanette
in Paris, and, although the American
negro was given the decision, Carpen-
tiers glory was undiminished. Jeanette
was knocked down repeatedly in the early
rounds, and, although he landed many
heavy blows on Carpenter, he didn't
once floor the Frenchman.
Carpenter then went to London to
fight Gunboat Smith. The American
loomed gigantic as compared with the
tOTIn the frenCnman,
but the latter fought with uncanny skill
and completely baffed the Gunboat In
the sixth round Carpenter aimed blow
which Smith lodged. and the Frenchman
went down on hands and knees Before
he could arise Smith hit him on the back
of the head, and the victory was awarded
to Carpenter on a foul by the referee,
Eugene Corri.
That was Carpenters last important
ring battle. few weeks later war was
declared, and Carpenter went to the de-
Tense Of ia patrie' During the early
months of the conflict he drove a motor
car for French officers and acted as a
motorcycle messenger. Then he took up
the study of aviation, and at last reports
he was regular air pilot of the French
army.
In his days of prosperity Carpenter
amassed fortune of more than 10000
most OF which he invested in real estate
in the north of France, now the theater
OF bloody carnage. If he comes through
the war unscathed he will be more than
ever the idol of Frenchmen--and of the
Frenchwomen, who used to fairly mob
him. fighting for the chance to cover his
handsome face with kissa.. after every
big ring victory.