The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-13
BOXERS READY
FOR SERVICE: r
2
Fighters and Mat Men Of Chicago
Await Call to Arms, Says
Barney Lichen-
stein.
RAP is TAKEN AT DARCY
Americans Will Never Desert Their
Country In the Hour Of Need,
Says Promoter Of
Affair.

and wrestlers OF Chicago and its en-
vtncns are rounding up for military
service in case this country finally
comes out Of It's corner and mixes
in the European free for all. Prac-
tical patriotism has seized the gene>l
run of glovesters and masters. who
declare that If call to arms and
fists is sounded by the referee at
Washington they will be among the
first of the civilian horde to scramble
through the ropes.
Patriot Barney Ltchtenstein, a
familiar figure in local sporting cir
cles, has taken upon his own should
ers the preliminary work OF recruit
ing the fisticuffers and scissor ex-
perts. Recently he assured Captain
Franklin Kennedy and Lieutenant L.
NJ. Stevens. in charge OF the army
and navy recruiting in this city. re-
spectively, that a whole battalion OF
boxers and wrestlers could be lined
up in this city. None OF the athletes,
said Patriot Barney, is going to give
any one chance to intimate that he
Is Stacker"
Ready for Military Service.
There is no disposition on the
part OF the boxers and wrestlers to
dodge military SERVICE" said Lich-
tenstein. There will not be a Slack
err In the whole bunch Of them. What
happened to Les Darcy at the hands
OF Governor Whitman in New York
will never occur to the scrappers In
this neck of the woods.
III there is a declaration Of war
the gladiators hereabouts will be the
first to grab up the rifles or stretch
ers or whatever they may be fitted to
handle The enthusiasm among the
boys is sky high. And don't forget
that the ring artists would be first
class fighting men, too. Most Of
them are in fine physical condition
and they wouldn't mind the hardshi2s
Of the service"
Patriot Lichtenstein told the mill
tary officials that Charlie Metric,
George Adams. Jimmy Walsh, "Ra0-
bit" Hedlin and Spike" Kelly of his
stable stood yeady to put on the
harness of war and gallop into action
whenever the word was given.
kid" Howard, manager and train
er OF boxers, says that all the men
doing workout stunts at the Arcade
line for military service il the coun-
| try needs them.
Boxers Awaiting a Call.
There can be no doubt as to how
| the hearts of the boxers beat" said
Howard today. Every one OF the
men-bantam, feather. lightweight,
welter or heavy-stands ready to be
among the first in the lineup when
the government issues call for vol
| unteers. The fine condition of the
men would make them available for
hard work right at the start and
believe every one of them would
make the country proud of him."
The boxers argue that since they
are fighting men they should be ex-
pected to be among the first to offer
services to the government promot-
ers.
| WED be fine bunch OF skates
said young west side bantamweight.
| 1T we didn't line up for the gaff at
the front. My old man used to carry
a bod, so / see no reason why /
+; sibouidn.t be qualified to carry a gun.
Last summer at Riverview / plinked
| the target nine out O. ten times in
| the shootin' gallery, which doesn't
speak well for the future plans OF our
enemies. I can right face as well
as / can right uppercut,' and if 1t
ever comes to the goose step l can
show 'em the niftiest little duck
waddle y ever SEEN"
Doc" Krone, who will be 400
pounds heavy IL he doesn't give up
the marshmallow habit, says he will
do the patriotic thing, even II he has
! to serve as breastworks