The evening world., 1917-08-23
Joe WelIing First Of Near BoSng
Champions 10 Enlist.
-. M, p. h .. = :. -. Q.

- hhfNh " 80 " etlAN
"a yesterday hs waiksd into the
offios u hA manager. Jimmy
Johnston. ana remarked IN an off.
hand manner
~Wsn. I've enlisted
When Johnston had recovered he
breAth wellins explained that biz DO.
sire 20 fight fof his country had over
come his ambition 90 stick IN the
game until given chance 90 fight
Benny Leonard f0r the liFhtweight
uue. He Sent 20 a recruiting station,
without looking Tor any advantage
pfcause % his position a. prominent
lightweight contender. and wrote his
name down on an enlistment blank
After signing he was examined at
once, ana he passed tho physical OK.
animation with the splendid mark of
100 per cent. perfect. Welling's clean
hfe a. a boxer has made him first
olasa man for the fighting lines
Hundreds OF boxers have volun-
teered for army service. But Welhng
is the first one OF the near champions
70 put his name down.
He will take up his work at once
aboard a training ship.
DEoPIB who have seen Jess Will
ard box lately report the big
champion In first class condi-
tion.
Jess isn't carrying any siperfuous
weight II seems that Jess Acci-
dentaliy got himself into condition.
When no bought the circus with
which he has been travelling around
he took unto himself lot OF wor-
riea- II was all very fine when Jess
didn't own the circus, and the circus
was paying Jess whopplng big
ealary every week. That was soft.
Consequently Willard. In spite OF the
daily boxing and training stunts put
on for show purposes. grew fat. Life
was all ease for him. All he had 10
DO was TO lie on his back and let the
sugar plums drop into his mouth.
But when Jess owned the circus
everything changed. He had to get
up before daylight instead OF being
oalled at the last possible moment
He had to go everywhere and make
q lot of men hustle. He had TO be
the Boss. And he had TO pitch in
and work himself. Besides all the
hard work attached to the job OF
owning circus there was the
worry II Jess wanted that big
salary to 90 right on he had to get
out and earn H. Some days there
wasn't enough TO pay railroad ex-
penses and buy peanuts for the ele-
phant. Other days there wasn't
enough TO buy peanuts for the ele-
phant, without the X. X. fares. Other
days still there was neat cleanup
that helped balance the account.
About two-thirds OF the time Jess
had visions OF that fat investment
OF his doing a disappearing act. And
Jess hates a hundred thousand dol
lars the way he hated TO knock out
Jack Johnson down In Havana.
No wonder the fat has been wor-
ried right off Jess. No wonder he Is
down TO fighting weight. No wonder
all trace OF the easy going good
nature that characterized him when
he boxed ten rounds with Moran has
disappeared. No wonder Jess is up
on his toes and apparently tit TO
fight at the drop OF the hat
such hard work. perhaps he will 20
back to the ring again, in spite OF
his longing for retirement TO a thou
sand acre ranch stocked with black
cattle. II wouldn't surprise me bit
II Jess changed his mind about lot
of things, took on a couple OF the
biggest heavyweiRhts available, and
fought again in championship form.
He ought 70 do 1t. lie made one
great hght wonderful fight -
against Jack johnson In Hayana. lie
really Is great champion, But
nine-tenths OF the United States
thinks OF him as merely a huge bulk
OF a man who can win n night by
sheer weight and strength.
The soldiers say that Jess gave a
fine exhibition OF boxing at Platts-
burg. He boxed two rounds with
Soldier Kearns. Jess had TO round
up his circus after the bout and hop
out OF town on scheduled time. That's
why ne made Il only two rounds. But
that two was sufficient. He handled
the husky Soldier with ease, LET
Kearns whale away as hard as he
wanted 10, Jabbed and tossed him
around and showed the PlattSburG
rockies what he could do II he want
cd to.
Wait until the circus season is
over. the tents are put In cold storage
and the elephant Is in his box stall
for the winter, Then there may be
something doing In the line OF d
heavyweight championship bout,
TACK CURIIEY, formerly Willard'f
manager. is busy with Carl Nor
y ris and a troupe Of trained
wrestlers. He takes frequent trips
Doctor ToUc Ho,D