El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-02
nHERE are numerous ~ "a b

III HERE are numerous cases on
record where some husky lad
- has mauIed his way to tho top
Of the fistlc ladder in mis- own home
town, been lauded by some newspa-
pers and led into a match with some
boy in B class Of the second raters
and received his discharge from fIs-
tiana through a severe drubbIng.
This is largely the result OF falling
to recognize that there are fnnumera-
bic tricks OF the game to learn and
that even after a boxer has knowledge
Of all that it takes to make good, to
be successful he must practice
No boxer ever won n champion
ship because he had n blow that
other fighters did not possess.
Yet most championships have
been won because some eOnscien-
ffOuE worker had learned TO use
some blow so quickly md effee-
lively that no opponent could
Withstand it.
Origin of McCOy's "COrksereu.s
In connection with the latter state
ment there is an interesting episode
heretofore unpublished concerning the
development Of the ''corkscrew" punch
which made Kid Mccoy famous. At
the time McCoy-then known only by
his real name. Charles Norman Selby
was studying under J. Courtney
Rush, now OF Detroit, Mich. then re-
siding in Indiana some 80 miles from
the birthplace Of Mccoy in Rush coun-
ty- As a trainer and instructor IN the
manly art, Rush has had few equals.
Rush was an engineer at the pump
ing station at Columbus. Because of
his ability in the fistic line the place
was a Mecca for boxers. who were
accustomed TO come for miles TO learn
from him, although at that time he
was barely 20 years of age Many OF
those who came for instruction trav-
permitted by the city council to sleep
in the coal bin or near the boilers in
case they did not wish to stop at the
leading hotels. Many knights of the
crosstie and brakebeam fraternities
who had no interest whatever in box
ing enjoyed the same privilege
The Tramp.
On summer afternoon in 1894 Nc
Coy reported at the pumping station
for a workout There WE'RE present
Yates McElroy. cannon ball juggler
for sells Brothers; Pug" Gill. the
best welter Indiana had at that time.
Kid Mccoy and Rush. There was one
spectator. tramp, a poor old fellow
with beard covered face and rag tag
McElroy and the Kid first donned
the mitts. It looked like a pity for
mass of bone, muscle and strength
as the cannon ball juggler presented
when stripped to the waist. But the
Kid was 1.-THE and evasive and while
he knew but little about the game at
that time. he soon outWinded the giant
man and took on Pug" Gill
Gill gave the Kid a magnificent lac
ing, which Mccoy took as cody as IL
he had been pronounced q winner. |
Then Rush spent nearly an hour |
with the two. insisting on
practice to the limit. He admOnished I
each of them-both being ambitious 1
10 make mark in ring history-that 4
the world is full Of husky lads and /
that only the ones who get close to I
perfection in defence and attack ever
win crown. The trio left Rush late /
IN the afternoon.
The Tramp Wants to Box.
About the same thing occurred for
four days straight The boxers no
Iced that always the old tramp kept /
Up interest in the fray from start to /
1 good joke. Boys" said he. Hive I
yer bloomin' fights till hits
yorkin' up in my blood again Today
Him not well, but tomorrow after
aoon. if yer all ere, Hill put 'em on
while"
The boxers managed to keep straight
aces and Rush assured the old wreck
hat they would be only too glad to
earn more of the game. Out of the
ooor fellows sight they all laughed
until it panied them.
What do you suppose has got
through the old guy? Do we look that
.asy?" inquired Gill.
Hes losin' out" said Mccoy. tap
ling his head.
A Poor Old Wreck.
HE probably had on the gloves
ome time in his youth" said Rush.
and now the old fellow is becoming
hildish again. We must treat him :
light and if he puts on the gloves to-
morrow with you fellows, the man
Who hits him hard has me to whip.
We're all young and don't know how l
: is to have things remain in our ]
minds that our limbs can't execute
ny more. but that does happen. you