El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-07
SMOKES" FURNISH COMEDY IN RING
Weights Methods of
Army Service Prevents Pete Herman From Meeting Johnny Er

THILE in the south recently
M Billy Hack, the Memphis
referee and promoter. was
relating some Of his experiences with
colored boxers. Said Bill: Il had a
battle royal booked one night. but
only four colored boys showed up
who were anything near the same
weight. about $50 pounds each. There
happened to be at the club a big COL
ored fellow called Moon Eye weigh
ing about $50 pounds. When he saw
I was short Of men ne came to me
and whispered: Mr.. Hack. just
throw me in with them little niggers
and I will show you how to clean
them up So decided to put him on.
When the bell rang the four little
colored boys all started for Moon
Eye TO get him out of the way. Two
we're in front and two behind him
They must have hit Moon Eye 80
times before he hit the floor. When
l was paying Moon Eye off after the
show he gave me a good laugh BY
telling me he would have whipped
those four boys if 1 had not let all
those other niggers in the ring
Poor Moon Eye was hit so many
times he thought the entire crowd Of
colored fans in the building were on
him.
"A funny thing happened one day
at the club. We had a little negro
"a featherweight) who always in
sisted that any negro he fought must
make weight One day negro blew
in town and asked for a fight I
asked him what he weighed and he
said 129 pounds. So I brought our
featherweight in and asked him II he
would box this boy at catch weights.
He said yes He was training with
II -
why he wanted to reduce so much Tor.
His reply almost knocked me down
when he said: I am making catch
weights for dat Niger
Il used to have a lot of trouble
every time Young Sam Langford
fought claimed that Langford bit
them. but as they were nearly all
black I could not see the teeth prints
or marks, until one night Sam fought
a yellow boy and 1 caught him He
would only bite them in the clinches.
When they were locked he would
throw his head on their shoulders
and bite them on the shoulder. So 1
finally caught him and disqualified
him. It cured Sam OF biting"
American Method Better.
It is the rule at practically all the
boxing clubs in England and France
to have the referee work outside Of
the ring, instead OF inside as is the
case in the States: but an effort has
been made recently TO have the old
have It the same as in America
There has been quite a discussion
over the matter as a result, and there
is some doubt about the new rule be-
ing adopted. A well known authority
on the London Sporting Life says OF
the proposition:
The authority vested in a referee
should be all sufficient, and If his
point Of view be unimpeded as to
what is going on he should be able
to manage things right enough out
side the ring. inside he is a source
Of provocation to the boxers. an irri-
tant to the spectators, and for him
self he loses that calm detachment
and dispassionate mood so necessary
for the proper. accurate Judgment of
points and skill. Mixed up in the
turmoil Of combat. he is both handi-
looker-on who sees most Of the game.
not he who is in it. remember.
1T is the crafty tyne of boxer who
causes the trouble He Is ever ready
to skate on the outside edge of the
law, as IL were. But referees have
the remedy for this to hand in them
selves. I admired the spirit OF the
appeal recently made by a referee at
some military boxing. when he had
been advised to get inside the ring.
~ Ftu WANT 70 AAEuL Aoul- ne dShtu
the combatants, and. receiving a re-
ply in the negative. pointed out that
there was no need for his intrusion
inside the squared circle
Put such an appeal to some boxers
we know would ne futile For them
nothing but the most Draconian atti-
tude suffices and. generally speak
ing. 7 am all for the strictest inter
nretation of the rules. See that
they are rigidlv enforced even II Won
have. rs a certain Welsh referee did
some time ago. to stop a fight be-