Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-28
HISTORY OF DARCY
is DRAMATIC
PUGILIST WHO RECENTLY DIED
CALLED "SLACk ER" By
GOVERNOR WHITMAN.
1Bv Associated Pressl

years ola, uleu pFdCticSilN SNot4S' -
Memphis, Tenn, a few days ago, 10,
900 miles away from his home. 4
few men here who had known the boy
and knew him as big-hearted and gen
erous, sent him 4 message of chee'
;.s he lay on his sick bed. They nope
I reached him.
James Leslie Darcy, known to the
sporting world as Les Darcy, said Il
rave been aomng the greatest fight
ers of his inches in the history o.
pugilism, and declared by surgeon
cf the United States medical corps
no examined him for enlistment in
/ the American aviation corps, rs the
finest specimen of physical manhood
be had ever seen, died from COM
7 !ication of diseases. Those who knew
krm best say that foremost among
these was a broken he2rt.
Six years ago Darcy fought his first
professional fight for SS. For the
past few months, promoters in all
PARTS of the country have been bid
ding for his services and as high rs
$4,000 has been offered him to step
INTO the ring. The spectre of tragedy
came with the CLINT of gold.
For six years Darcy WAS the idol
of the Australian ring. Born IN West
Maitland, New South Wales, October
IS, 1895, he began life in black
smiths shop and it was to this severe
form of manual labor that he as
cribed much of his superb strength
end physique.
During 1912 he entered the profes-
sional arena after having met and dis
posed of all amateur competition. lie
engaged during the following four
years in 81 prominent bouts. Of these
he lost only four. In twenty OF his 50
victories he won by knocking oat his
opponent. The news Of his prowess
spread to every part of the world.
American promoters besieged him
with offers to come 20 this country.
With the outbreak OF the great war,
end the young men of England and
her colonies answering the summons
tc the colors, it was inevitable that 4
qide curiosity should attach to the ac-
tions of the young Australian athlete
N the face of the crisis. 1t was the
Aeginning of the boys tragedy.
Not yet of age, with aged parents
and Younger sisters and brothers de-
cendent On him, with the easy pros
nect of making a lot of money IN the
ring on the one hand, and the exam
ple of other young men OF has age
cffering themselves to their country,
Darcy was torn between two conflict
inp emotions. His mother is said to
Rave opposed his enlisting, as he was
under age. Promoters, anxious foE
his services, threw the weight OF their
arguments in the same direction. But,
10 the men who were going to the
front, and to the women who were
giving of their men to the cause OF
he Allies, Darcy no longer was tho
rcpular favorite of yesterday. %
News that Darcy had secretly
shipped out of the country was CON
I;rmed with the arrivG! in New YORK
on December 90 last of the Standard
Oil tanker Cushing from Chilean
,crts. with Darcy on board under an
assumed name and in the guise OF q
rtoker. A delegation OF fighters, pro-
moters and newspaper men, who mao
Leen informed of his coming, met the
hip in tugs and he was received WITH
ull the pomp and ceremony accorded a
prima donna.
Darcy Immediately was over
vhelmed with attention. Promoters
scrambled for his services, wouid-o'
n anagers fought for the opportunity
&c look after his interests, theatrica
men urged him TO exhibit himself OF
the stage. Dazed and confused, with
cut any helpful hand to guide Inn
in a strange country, the boy becam'
the football of the men who sough
TO exploit him. He accepted the
atrical contract. 1t proved a failure
The public wanted to see him fight
not accept. Several prospective matche
which were arranged for him teiI
through. Finally he was matchet
against Jack Dillon TO meet IN Mad
non Square garden, New York o.
the night Of March 5.
Then it was that on March Coy
crnor Whitman OF New York first Oh
ficially designated Darcy as slack
or" when he directed the State Ath
letic Commission to prohibit the bout
H. outlining his position, the COVER
ror, in statement, said:
"Ies Darcy. so ] am informed -
. runaway from his own country. II