Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-06
BY DAMON RUNYON.
Universal Service Staff Correspon
dent.


Toledo, July 5.-Squatted on the
stool in his corner, a bleeding
trembling, hapless hulk, Jess Viii
lard, the Kansas giant. yesterday
afternoon relfnquished his. title OF
heavyweight champion of the world
just as the bell was about to- toss
him into the fourth round of a
mangling at the paws of Jack Demp-
sey, the young mountain lion in
human form from the Sangre Del
Christie hills of Colorado.
He wa sa sad sight as he sat there,
this ponderous fellow who four years
ago was acclaimed mightiest of meu
when he beat down old black Jack
Johnson.
The right side of his face was a
pulp where the fists of the Indian
brown boy from the centennial state
had been landing for nine minutes
with fearful force. The right eye of
the champion was completely hidden
behind that bloody smear. His left
eye peered over lump of flesh in
grotesque fashion.
The great, doughlike body of the
giant was splotched with red patches.
They were the aftermath of Demp-
sey's gloves humping there and
giving back hollow sound as they
thumped.
At the feet of the Gargantuan
pugilist was dark spot which was
slowly widening on the brown cam
vas as it was replenished by the
drip drip-drip of blood from the
mans wounds. He was flecked with
red from head to foot The flesh
on his enormous limbs shook like
custard.
Look Like Wreck>Victim.
He was like a man who had just
been pulled from under the wreck
of an automobile or railroad train.
or who had met with some other
grave accident He blinked the 'oye
eye through which he could still see
daylight at the glaring sun. looking
out over the heads of the crowd that
had catered to see something like
this.
In a corner opposite him. Juggling
at the ring ropes like a pet TERROR
Juggling at the, leash and scratching
his feet on the resined canvas with
sinister impotence, was the saddle
colored demon who had ripped and
pounded and slashed this trench
dous fellow into this distressing
state.
1t seemed incredible, and yet it
was so. Another round was COM
ing On. Another round of hauling
and nlaltreatment for the giant. The
OK cannot beat the tiger. The
bruised li1s of the champion moved.
He was mumbling some words. An
instant later and he was no longer
champion of the world.
Walter Monaghan, sergeant in
the United States army and Will
lard's chief second, bent his head
closer to the bleeding mouth to hear
what he had to say. Then .Monag-
han turned and tossed towel into
the ring.
This towel was slightly spotted
with blood. The rag nose no high
er than the ring ropes and fell
Imply, but it represented the for
NAL transfer Of the heavyweight
championship crown It, was sur
render.
\ Crowd Goes Raving Crazy.
1t was Wizards order. Another
instant passed until the crowd real
lied what had occurred. and then
10000 persons went raving crazy for
the moment.
The towel had no sooner hit the
ring floor than Willard was on his
feet walking over tofneet the al
ready advancing Dempsey, with his
g1oved hand outstretched. One side
of his face-the side which was net
swollen-carried a strange smile.
He fad<worn that same smile
throughout the short fight. 1t was
on the unnashed side Of his face as
he sat in his corner thinking what
thoughts no one but Jess Willard
knows. 1t was the strangest srpiie
! have ever seen. 1t was . smile