The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
BOXERS FIGHT THEIR
.a BEST FOR HEROES
Loyalty League Members Tire
less IN Efforts to Entertain
Wounded Soldiers.
600 PUGILISTs ENROLLED
Dan Morgan and Tom Cassidy
c Founders Of Organization
Billy Grupp Referee.
By CROSS COUNTER.

will be denied that tho man who UNI
selhshly gives his time and talents In
. an effort to comfort and entertain the
boys who risl1ed life and limb in the
recent war Is deserving Of 100 per cent
rating.
For this reason the Boxers Loyalty
League, which includes in Its member
ship nearly every boxer in America
many of them prominent but more UNI
known to fame. yet faithful to their
cause, has earned the heartfelt graft
tude OF every wounded hero now recu-
perRting on his native soils and Is en-
titled to the sincere thanks of the pub
lie.
From a modest, inconspicuous begin
ming the league has developed into a
large. powerful organization with a won
derful capacity for entertaining conva-
descent soldiers with spirited boxing
bouts that have been thrilling in action
and vigor. While the limit of rounds
has been three, the boxers have crowded
more real fighting into that space OF
time than Is to be seen in many long
distance contests between champions
Arrange Bouts on short Notice.
These bouts are staged In the base hos
pitfalls where the soldiers are conva-
quently on such short notice that the
ring has been formed by the crippled
soldiers and the ring floor has not been
padded. Yet all these drawbacks have
speedily been forgotten when the boxers
got into action, and the enthusiasm OF
the onlookers has been so contagious
that the fighters have redoubled their
efforts to please.
There is not a base hospital within
striking distance OF New York that has
been overlooked by the members OF the
league, and when II is considered that
the members and officials have paid all
their own expenses their action is all
the more pTaiseworthy. Thaboxers have
sacrifced profitable enga gements in or
der to give their services In the worthy
cause, and It is question: BILE If any or
ganization has done more since the close
of the war to make life bearable to the
boys who bore the brunt Of battle In
France.
In view OF the fact that boxers are
very well compensated for their efforts
In the ring the sacrifices Of the members
OF the league can be appreciated.
Dan Morgan Origiantor.
The idea of the Boxers 10y atty League
originated in the fertile brain Of Dan
NoSyan, one of the best known managers
Of boxers in America, and Tom Cassidy.
n New Jersey sportsman. Morgan Is
president Of the league and has worked
unremittlngly day and night for months
past to make the association n success.
in these efforts he has been backed up by
hard. conscientious work on the part OF
Cassidy.
Morgan manages a large number OF
boxers, and while there is naturally much
Jealousy among the rival boxers and
managers Morgan Is on such excellent
general demand that he take the presi-
cency.
The league has no high salaried off,
Gals and the president does not even
receive dollar a year
Any man who helps the boxers to get
to and from the hospitals where the
touts are to be fought automatically be-
comes vice-president.
Morgan was named as president eight
months ago, and since that time the
members of the league have fought an
average of thirty-five rounds n night ex-
ceptng Sundays
IT the same quality of boxing was put
on in an ordinary boxing club the cost
to the promoter would not be less than
$1,000 on each occasion.
900 Boxers Entertain.
An interesting fact Of the organiza-
ton is that fully 500 boxers have given
their best services to the cause and that
30 per cent. of the entertainers have
worn the uniform of the United States
navy or army. 1t should not be imag-
iEed that the boxers w1no have gone night
after night to the hospitals and fought
Tor the entertainment of the wounded
Sn1HiDr ha IL, Il
emerged unscathed. President Morgan
and Vice President Cassidy have I'M
pressed It on the entertainers that
punches were not 10 be held back, and
the result has been some of the hardest
fighting ever seen in n ring.
knockouts have been frequent. In
many instances boxers on leaving the
hospital were 30 marked with black eyes
and bruised faces as to give the impress
sion tina. they needed hospital treatment
themselves
Smoke Kelly. a huge negro, has becn
one Of the busiest boxers of the league
lie has had some trying experiences, but
always keeps wide smile on his face
No matter how badly he is maltreated
Kelly at the close assures the soldiers
he would be pleased to lose a leg in so
good Il cause.
Young Lippe n Busy Boxer.
HoTSs Lippe, aged IL, tife'se6ungest
member Of the league, who has boxed
six nights week for months has been
stopped once or twice, received many
hnockdowns and been bruised, but he
smiles and answers the call every time
his services are asked for.
Jack Britton, former weller cham
pion. who Is nearing his thirty-seventh
year has been the most industrious OF
all the league members. He Is always
received with shouts OF welcome when
he appears for bout
Billy Grupp's Gymnasium, 252 West
1lsth street, is the headquarters Of the
league and Billy IS the official referee
of tha organization. Grupp would box
for the cause only that he is recovering
from a severe illness. Therefore he in
flsts on being the third man in the
ring at all the entertainments.
Peter Prunty Is the official an
nouHcer.t He has attended nearly every
series of bouts Joe Humphreys also
has lent his voice to the cause.
Entertained at OtisviIIe,
Without doubt the most remarkable
fcat OF the league was in giving an
entertainment at Base Hospital No. s.
otlsville, y. Y. II had been arranged
that the boxing would take place in
the main reception room, but on arriV-
ing there the league officials were In
1ormed that 500 bed ridden wounded
heroes would be unable to get 60 the
reception room and President Morgan
then rearranged his plans so as To give
an entertainment in each of the seven- 4
teen wards OF the hospital, covering