The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-05

Some of the happiest experiences
in my life were lived in Philadelphia.
And some of the most peculiar and
most humorous came to me there,
During the days when / was in my
pugilistic prime it happened that
frequently was booked In the Quaker
city for theatrical engagements and,
naturally, spent much thee in that
city,
Philadelphia doesn't rank iii the re
cord books as much of boxing center,
yet twenty and twenty five years ago
IL stood out as one of the best known
pugilistic centers In America. II pro
duced some very good professional
boxers including Dave Campbell. Billy
Needham, Johnny Clark and Arthur
Chambers, who made splendid recor Is
in the ring. 1t also was famous for
Its clever amateurs who often worked
out with me in the Schuykill Boat
club, then one of the est-known
amateur athletic organizations IN
America. Bill Recap, Walter Schlich-
ter and Horace Leeds were among the
cleverest OF the amateurs In those days
and If they had entered the profess
sional ring feel certain they could
have written their names indeHbly in
pugilistic history.
/ met most of the Philadelphia pro
fessionals in boxing bouts on the stage
at various theaters where l appeared.
During that era / offered 800 to any
man that couldn't stop within four
rounds. That was lot OF money for
any ordinary fighter to achieve in
those days and, of course, never
wanted for opponents.
II was along in 1893 or 1894 that
played a three weeks engagement in
the Quaker city. appearing first at
the Old Central theater (now known
as the Auditoriuml, the Lyceum and
the kensington. / fought different
man everv night and got lot of prac-
tIce stopping the rough ones.
Along toward the end OF my en-
gagement at the kenslngton, | hurt
my hand on the head of one of the
huskies who had ambitions to earn tie
$lo0 prize. In the next battle / dam
aged the member still further ana on
hand was such that ] was unable TO
meet Joe Godfrey, who had applied
for the job of battling with me
/ disiiked very much to diSappoint
any prospective foes and rather than
turn back Godfrey without contest
arranged with Jim Daily, who was
my sparring partner. to go on with
Godfrey. The offer was made to God
frey that he would get the 500 if
DAILY failed to stop him in four rounds
Godfrey was not gifted with much
cleverness but he had a powerful ply
sique. bnll-llke strength and was ng-
gressive. But he wasn't far beyond
the dub class and figured he would
be easy for DAILY. Soon after the first
round opened, DAILY tented Godfrey
into an unguarded position and then
let him have q few wallops on the
jaw, This anraSed Godfrey so much
that instead OF resorting to boxing tao
tics, he made rush at DAILY, grabbed
him around the waist and threw him
heavily to the floor. Not content with
this Godfrey began 10 kick the pros
trate DAILY In the ribs and from my
position in tho wings off-stage I real
ICED that DAILY might be crippled by
such an attack.
! forgot all about my wounded hand.
which was IN bandages and in about
four Jumps landed III front of God
frey. Then he took a final kick at
Daily and attempted to back out of
my range. / let drive a right han dod
punch to the point OF his chin. tod
frey went backwards and toppled to
the floor
But that blow hurt me more than
It did Godfrey. The contact of my
battered hand against Godfrey's Jaw
bone sent agonizing pains from tho
tips of my fingers to my shouldNr
blades and In the foolish effort TO
lessen the pain began jumping