The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-25
LES DARCY DIES IN
MEMPHIS HOSPITAL
Pathetic Endin gOf An Ath.
Ietic Career That Prom
Used Great Things.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, May Isles
Darcy, middle-weight and light.heavy-
weight champion of Australia, lost his
final fight here yesterday.
A white-robed physician held the
watch while the puglist took the count,
and at 1:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon
the hardest-fought battle Of Darcy's
career ended. Death had scored a
knockout.
Typical of the ring battles which
had made Darcy the biggest drawing
card in Australia was his fight against
malady that would have killed a
less determined athlete many weeks
ago.
Beginning with Sigh illness caused
by infected teeth, the fighters
strength was gradually Slapped until
streptococous poisoning set in, This
malady, physicians declare, kills SO
per cent. of those afflicted by 1t.
Darcy would have recovered from the
disease, his doctors said, had not dou-
BILE pneumonia attacked his already
weakened body.
In spite of the series of blows Of
battering fists that had landed upon
his head and body in gruelling ring
battles, and despite the heart-breaking
treatment he received after coming
to the United States, Darcy displayed
marvellous resistance in his fight for
life.
Extremely sensitive at being the sub
Iect nj attack nv state officials who
refused to permit him to fight in many
American arenas on the ground that
he had fled his native country to avoid
military service, Darcy although III at
the time, presented himself to the ma
val authorities in Memphis and Volun.
teered to join the aviation reserve. He
succeeded in passing the physical ex'
animation, his otherwise perfect physl'
que hiding the sickness that was
sweeping him near death.
The pugilist was prevented from
serving the United States by the Ill
ness which sent him to cot in Ram
saw hospital. After lingering between
life and death for more than week,
he was believed to have passed the
crisis. This afternoon the deadly pois'
on that was working its way through
his body reached his heart.
Darcy had short and vivid career
as an idol after he landed on United
States soil. !.
Arriving in New York on the oil
tanker Gushing, December % last, OAR
cy was accorded the greatest recep'
ton ever given foreign boxer. AS
middle and light-heavyweight cham
pion of Australia, he was received with
open arms. Promoters flocked to him
with fancy offers for his services, but
he held back and finally Governor
whitman refused to permit him to box
in the Empire State, The governors
of Wisconsin, Ohio, Louisiana and
tennessee then took similar action
and within the short period Of a lit
tie more than four months time Darcy
suffered remarkably rapid decline
from the pugilistic spotlight.
When illness came upon him In
Memphis, the boxing public expressed
genuine regret at the misfortunes SUI
fered by the smiling boy from Matt.
| land VINO came LuOuSduuS VI AAASo w
box in America only to be blocked at
Manager Freddie Gilmore and Dial
Hawkins, Darcy's trainer, were at the
great fighters bedside when the end
came. Gilmore Immediately sent a
cablegram to the dead mans mother In
Australia. The body will be held here
pending instructions from her.
At the time of Darcy's enlistment
in the aviation corps here, Captain
Christie, officer In charge, pronounc.
ed him the most perfect specimen OF
manhood that had applied for enlist.
ment in the CORPS.
Darcy never appeared In q real ring
battle in this country. The only op.
portunity he had to show his skill
was during brief theatrical tour on
| which he gave boxing exhibitions and
demonstrated his training methods.
aUL.A " 5000 81. Y,Saa o.