The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-22
THE PARSON.
that clergyman %

Who's that clergyman? /?
 The speaker was the elder William H. Vanderbilt. and as he asked the question he pointed to a man clad in frock coat and silk hat, with all the fixings, who was walking about with Dan O'Leary.
 He isn't a clergyman" scoffing1y replied Vanderbilt's friend. He's the manager of a stable of walkers and his name is Charlie Davies,'
 Anyway said the man of money. ''he looks like a parson."
 The conversation occurred shortly before the opening of one of those celebrated pedestrian contests which aroused so much enthusiasm in the '70s and sos. Vanderbilt was very fond of the walking game, and pro- noted several matches between the famous pedestrians of that era. Davies was a well known figure in the sport ing world, and had broke into the limelight by backing John Ennis against Dan O'Leary in 8 hundred mile walk for $500 a side. Later he was interested in many of the other big walking matches in Madison Square Garden and in Chicago.
 ! The innocent statement of Wander biIt's that Davies Hooked like a par son. was overheard by a newspaper reporter, and the next day he made quite a story of the trifling incident.
 
 'Parson,'' and he finally had to ac- cept the sobriquet and make the best of it. :.
 The spectacular and romantic career of Davies could be woven into a mighty entertaining tale that would fill volume. The Parson was in- terested in sports of all sorts. While he made his debut as a promoter of walking matches, his greatest fame was gained as a manage of pugilists. Some of the greatest stars of the ring were at one time or another under the Parsons wing. He was well known figure at the race track and at other sporting events, and was at times en- gagged in the theatrical business. He made and lost fortunes in his palny, days, but saved out of the wreck enough to keep the wolf from the door in his declining years.
 The Parson was at various times the
 manager of the pugilistic destinfes of such stars as Peter Jackson, Joe Choynski, Tommy Ryan, Charlie Mitchell, Jake Kilrain, Jim Hall and Jack Burke, 'tthe Irish Lad"
 It was the Parson who first intro duced John L. Sullivan to the stage. He managed the Boston Strong Boy when he played the leading role in Honest Hearts and Willing Hands, The Parson could write a book about that experience alone. Sullivan was
 
 those days. and the Parson andS Dun can Harrison, John LIS dramatic trainer, had their hands full. The big hit of the melodrana came when John pressed his hands to his forehead and registered deep emotion, saying, Let me think! Let pie think!" This wasn't intended as humor by the au- thor of the drama, but the audiences always screamed. The ,Parson also staged Peter Jackson in Uncle Toms s Cabin,'' and the Australian black made a big hit.
 Peter Jackson was the greatest heavyweight ever, according to the Parson.s The Parson managed Peter for five years, and, despite the diff ference in the color of their skins, the Irishman and the African were fast friends. Peter was under the Parsons wing when he fought Jim Corbett in San Francisco about a quarter of a century ago. They went sixty-one rounds to a draw. Accord | ing to the Parson, Jackson would have won if he hadn't been injured by being thrown from a, buggy a few weeks before the battle. Davies tried to get a postponement, but couldn't, and Jackson went through with it and l got a draw.
 The Parsons was born in County Antrim, Ireland, not far from Belfast, l but came to America at an early age. From the beginning of his sporting career as 9 manager of professional l pedestrians he was a great favorite, and wherever he went he always had a host of friends.
 The Parson managed Joe Choyn- ski in the early sos, when the big blonde Jew looked like a coming champion. The Parson took Choyn- ski to New Orleans at the time of the ] Corbett-Sullivan fight, and got a, job for Joe to act as Jack SkeIly's second in .'Gentleman Jacks fight with 1 George Dixon for the featherweight title, this being one of the battles of the big Crescent City tournament. Choynski's insulting language to Dix l on on that occasion aroused the ire l of Tom O'Rourke, Dixon's manager, and Tom told the Parson that he would never rest until Choynski had been licked, and by black man at | that O'Rourke was as true as his word, for Joe was afterwards whipped by Joe Walcott, the squat black well | terweight. # 1 AS a manager of turbulent ana un- l ruly fighting men the Parson has had
 mighty few equals. The biggest and | boldest of his charges were afraid of | Davies and what he told them to do l