Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-04
MADE A FORTUNE
IN SEVEN MONTHS
WILLARD DID NOT HAVE A CENT
UNTIL HE GOT CONTRACT
WITH WILD WEST SHOW.

Jess Willard. without money and IN
fact, in debt, before his match with
Jack Johnson which gave him the
heavyweight title Of the world, Is no"
worth a fortune, according TO story
appearing in Chicago paper written
by Ed Smith. The story follows:
When Jess Willard walked out OF
the ring at the race track In Havana
on the afternoon Of April 5, last, after
whipping Jack Johnson for the worlds
title, he didn't possess 80 cents that
he could call his own.
In fact, there was minus quantty
to the Willard possessions WHAT
he really had was bunch of debts that
made Jess sick at heart every time ne
thought Of them, which, perforce, was
pretty often before that important en-
gagement.
Just about seven months later, and
almost to the day. Willard had taken
up the last of the worrisome /. 0. us
and was looking with great complac-
ency at handbook that showed him
that he owned in round numbers the
comfortable fortune Of 100000, all IN
cash.
Made it All in Circus.
And he made every penny Of 1t out
of about an hours work day with
Wild West circus.
lHCTeOlUle, YOU say. NoluA eAASS -
the whole story reads like a section
of the Arabian Nights, and is even
greater achievement Of the modern
Aladdin's Lamp than some Of the Wal
lingford tales that are coming out OF
Wall street right now on the war
stocks.
Willard did more than this. He paid
something like $4,000 to be released
from the burdensome contract he had
with the men who financed the Johnson
fight.
It all goes to show the wonderful pos.
sibilities Of the boxing game and the
tremendous chances a big fellow VINO
can win a title has Of making himself
Independent in few short months.
Lucky to Get a Contract.
1t was great streak Of luck for
Willard to secure the contract he did
with the Miller Brothers of Oklahoma,
proprietors Of the 101 Ranch show. One
of the Millers conceived the idea that,
as Willard was once a cowboy, that he
would fit in wonderfully we'll In the
riding, and later boxing a little after
the whole show was over. The idea
proved a winner from the jump. Jess
got large guarantee every week and
a certain percentage Of the intake.
The contract said he would receive at
least S1,250 each week. That was sure.
1t looked big, inasmuch as the the
atrical business was bad at the time,
and nobody was anxious tofgive VIII
lard a long time contract for stage
work, especially with the summer COM
ing on.
Makes Fortune in Hurry.
Willard Joined the circus in Iowa and
worked eastward far up into Maine and
then back again to this section, thence
south. closing with the show far down
in Texas, where Willard said he was
too tired to continue, though the Mil
lers wanted to keep the show out the
remainder Of the winter, so well were
they doing.
When they got to Chicago. after be-
ing on the road five weeks, Mr.. Miller
remarked to me:
"The five weeks we have put in SO
far were better than the entire season
of 1914
The receipts were marvellous despite
the run of bad weather that the show
struck everywhere. These figures stand
out with such sharpness that they are
unbelievable.
During the entire season that Jess
put in with the show his lowest weeks
check was $4,000, and the biggest bit he
drew down called for $8,400.
And this was all Wizards too! 1t
was just what the percentage Of the
gate amounted to- And Tom Jones
was right there every minute Of the
time to watch things.
willard was real life saver for the
circus" remarked Owner Miller.
"The circus was real life saver for
Willard" grinned Jones in reply.
couldn't believe the figures myself.
but if so happened that was privileg-
ed to see some of the checks. And I
know they were not phoney.