Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-05
STRANGE SMILE ON JESS
RUNYON SAYS SILLY GRIN
EVER WORN BY EX-CHAMP
Willard Seemed Dnzed After First
Smash, but Showed Self Game
In Some Respects.
ny DAMON RUNYoN.

/
TOLEDO. OHIO. July 4.-Squatted on
the stool in his corner, n bleeding.
trembling, helpless hulk, Jess Willard.
linquished his title of heavyweight
champion of the world just as the belt
was about to toss him into the fourth
round of mangling ut the paws of
Jack Dempsey, the young mountain
lion in human form from the Sangre
del Christie Hills of Colorado.
He was a sad sight rs he sat there
this ponderous fellow who four short
years ago was acclaimed mightiest of
men when he beat down old black
Jack johnson.
The right side of his face was a pulp
boy from the Centennial state had
been, landing for nine minutes with
fearful force. The right eye OF the
champion was completely hidden be-
hind that bloody smear. His left eye
p Ise.ed over ,., a lump of flesh in
The great dough-like body OF the
giant was splo;chcd with red patches.
They were the aftermath OF Dempsey's
gloves humping there and giving back
n hollow sound as they thumped.
Fleckcd with Blood.
AT the feet of the Gargantuan puCl-
widening on the brown canvas as it
was rcplenished by the drip drip. drip
OF blood from the mans wounds. lie
was fecked with red from head to
shook like cusIard.
He was like a man who had jus,
been pulled from under the wreck OF
an automobile or railroad train, or
who had met with some other grave
accident. lie blinked the one eve
through which he could still see day
over the heads of the crowd that had
gathered to see something like this.
IN In inc corner opposite him. Juggling at
.ne ring ropes like a pet terrier tug
a nd trJ, 4. 81
iect OIL the rcsincd canvas with SIMS
ter impotence. was the saddle-col-
o or d, demon no. Who had ripped and pound
into this distressing state.
Ok Cannot heat Tiger.
1t seemed Incredible. and yet IL was
so. Another round was coming on
another round of mauling and MAJ
peat the tiger. The bruised lips of the
champion moved. He was mumb1inE
some words. An instant later and he
was no longer champion of the world.
walter Monaghan. a sersean, IN the
un!ted states Army, and Wizards chief
second. pert his head close ;o the
nicea'hE mouth to hear wha. No had
I" say. Then Monaghan turned ami
Tossed TM towel INTO the rug.
n5c n,a '1 :rSe was slightly spotted with
the ring ropes, and fell Imply. but
II represented the formal transfer OF
me neavyweight championship crown.
L was Wizards order Another In
slant passed until the crowd realized
what had occurred, and then 10000
persons went raving crazy for the
| moment
Wore Strange Smile.
The towel had no sooner hit the
rinS moor than Willard was on his
l le,i Walking over to meet the already
hare outstretchcd One side Of lis
tacc-the side which was not swollen
l-Sarried a strange smile.
He had worn that same smile
throughout the short fight. Ii was on
the unmashed side OF his face as he
thoughts n ms o sHrnS but thJ eas Tnn5
knows. IT was the strangcst smile
have ever seen. II was a smile shall
and yet It was smile ! find hard to
describe. Ii was a silly sort of a smile
as OF simple fellow who cannot ey-
him.
1t first appeared when that brown
man-a little man as compared to this
pref osterousiy big fellow-nrst lcapnd
upon him in the opening round. claw
ing like some animal. 1t was there
when The huge man sat in neutral
corner in tho late stages OF that roand,
his legs out straight before him and
MS enormous hairy torso upright.
Ridiculous Spectacle.
AS he sat in that position smiling
that silly smile he was a most ridicul-
GUS spectacle. lie was plainly
pletely daZed by the punches which
had been pumped into his face and
frame. and he reminded one OF a
drunken man sitting in an alley play
ing with his hands. or OF a sim pleton
picking at covcrlid.
Willard was almost knocked out IN
mat hrst furious rush OF the Colorado
boy. In fact everybody thought he
was out and that the fight was over
The faulty bell had tinkled, but few
had heard it. Men rushed into the
ring and confronted Dempsey. TIE
new champion was leaving the ring
when Ollie Record. the Toledo referee,
who had kept his head we'll during
the clamor, made his handlers under
stand that only the round was over.
Then Jack kearns, Dempsey's man
aEer. drew him back TO mis- corner
The ring was cleared. The crowd
settled back and the bell tapped again.
Out came willard, smiling that simple
smile. his flabby legs shaking under
every step that lifted his bulk for
mt INN