Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-13
Exempt, He Casts Wealth
Behind and Enlists With
the Canadians.
WAS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP
Lost Title to Jack johnson +;
Burns a Credit to the
Ring Game.


MlLWAUk Wis May l.. -
ture. in wnI torn Frame h'Y brought
Tommy Burns, forHer hclvywcighi
champion Of the world back into
the spotlight of fame once more.
Sacrificing the comforts that his
great wealth would bring ana ig-
noring tha fact that nc IL well past
the age limit for military service,
Burns has voluntarily enlisted with
n Canadian contingent now being
assembled for early departure over
there
The example that Burns has set
is one thai reflects credit to him.
lie is now verging on his 37th year
and he Is Just al the time In life
when he can hest enjoy the fruits
ithat his years Of hard fighting have
made possible Instead OF taking
advantage of his age exemption.
however. Burns has put the qucs-
ton Of self behind him and he goes
chcerfully forth to do his bit for
the mother country
Worth Half Million Dollars.
Tommy Burns Is giving up more
than most men would willingly do.
Financially he is considered one OF
lhe richest boxers that the game has
ever produced II is estimated that
he is worth close 10 100000. lie did
not make It all IN fighting rings
either, although the foundation OF
his fortune was Inid there. The bulH
OF his money was made by success
full speculation In Canadian farm
lands
The career Of Tommy Burns has
been replv'e with notable incidents
Now that IS has volunteered for the
Frcatcst service of all. veteran fol
lowers Of the boxing game who
knew Burns when he was an active
participant In the sport. say this
action is characteristic OF tho for
mer champion He is impulsivc, to
n fault. when deeply stirred, There
fore he cannot 81. idly by when the |
great adventure Is beckoning.
Fistic patrons will be Interested !
In a brief review Of the life and ac-
mplIshments Of this former not. |
able figure In the prize ring. His |
real name as Noah Brusso and he Is /.
A native Of Hanover. ont, lie was |
born on June II, 1881 His parents |
were of German and Swiss Canadian |
stock His boyhood days In Han
over gave no indication OF the fame
that Later was TO come To him.
Tommy wis forced to go to work at
an early age and he was success
sively clerk In dry goods store,
later N n grocery and finally he took
up the trade of furniture polisher.
Fond Of lacrosse.
During these days Burns found
time TO indulge in athletics He was
particularly fond OF lacrosse. then
the favorite sport OF Canadians. and
from 1898 to 1909 he was profess
slonal player at the princely stipend
OF S25 q week.
In time his ambitions led him to
broader fields, lie loft the old home
town to accept Job as a baggage
man on n lake steamer and when the
summer season was over ne landed
in Detroit, where he continued to
work as painter. II was about
this time that Burns first became
identified with the boxing game. lie
Joined an athletic club there anG
took a course Of lessons In the manly
ART.
lis entry into the sport as a pro,
fessiona tighter was more or less
accidental. Burns. with party OF
friends, had gone to a small village
OF Dolrav. AMich., where "A contest
was scheduled between a negro aud
white man. The latter failed to
show up. however to tho disappoint-
ment of the big crowd that had
gathered Burns then iokinely re-
marked to his pas that he thought
he could beat the colorod scrapper.
and this finally resulted in tllurns
volunteering to box He went on,
and in the firth round he Knocked
the negro out For his services he
received tt2a Burns, himself is
authority toT this
Changed Name to Burns.
That experience started Burns as
n sure-enouEh pugilist. lie figured
he could make more money a. pro-
fessiOnal boxer than as a painter.
Al the outset he changed his name
TO Burns at the request of his par
cnts.
lis first measure Of fame came
as result of his match with Mike
SchreCk at Milwaukee ~ 1900. Al
that time, Schrecl, was looked upon
ms one OF the toughest middle%rfg hts
In the game. However. II was not
until 1906 that Burns became
world wide celebrity on February
2 3 OF that year Burns defeated Mar
win Hart. who was then labeled the
champion heavyweight OF the world.
through the courtesy Of Jim jeff
ries. retirou. lust previous to this
match. Burns lost a 2O-round doCi-
sion TO Jack CTwin) sullivan. hence
his claini TO the worlds champion
ship, as Z result OF his victory over
Hart was regarded ns n Joke
philadelphia Jack O'Brien was a
stepping-stoue 10 the further great
ness OF Burns Ring patrons VIII
these matches particularly
we'll The first went 20 rounds tn
4 draw Then came the bic scandal
n Los Angc,cs, when the pair were
Burns afjerWard de
Jared he was forced to agree to a
lake fight in order to get O'Bricn
nto the riue. hul that when tho he'll /.
fot the contest. he de.lb- (
EsSSs -rs'"'-----''--SSswc3TA