The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-13

past, putting on boxing SHOWS TOT the
soldiers, refereed the fight. II was
brought the first news OF Dempsey
Fast, and predicted a big future for
Jack. That, Of course, was before the
Flynn fight,
It is said Dempsey got $500 for his
end Of the affair. know a man who
claims TO have held the money con-
tingent upon the result which oyentu-
ated, and paid the none over TO Demn-
sey. II must be said for Jack that he
delivered quickly, II it is true, as al
legged. that he was delivering.
Flynn hat him on the chin In the first
round. Down went Jack like the pro-
verbal log. and Billy Roche, with q
singular expression on his Countenanee,
counted ten. The populace murmured:
We'll, well! Who'd a,thunk itY' any
gentlemen who CHANGED TO have a bet
on James collected, and everybody went
their various ways.
A fellow was telling me that caggy
old ]. Flynn was a little bit skepticAl
about anybody letting him hit 'em on
the chinsky even after they got In the
ring. James had been hit In that place
so often himself that a reversal Of the
usual order seemed too good TO be true.
This fellow was telling me that as
he burrowed his bean behind his Shout
der In that old characteristic attitude
OF his, and sguinted an eye along hts
extended left. like a man aiming a fowl
ing piece, James asked a question.
rs II all right, Jack he whispered,
huskily-so my man tells Inc; Us 1t all
And Jack indicated, apparently. that
= va "all right the first time jim
SO much for that one. l see no rea-
son for e~Xculpating Dempsey II the
thing WAS "screwey," but | must say
| am always heartily In favor of Jim
Flynn winning fights, no matter how he
does It. For Jim is my tellow-townie;
and my friend. and he has accepted
enough thumpings In his time to be
absolved forevermOre.
Quite a while after the Murray meet
ing, Dempsey caught him over in Fort
Sheridan, and chuCked him under the
chin in the opening round, but | don't
esteem that 80 much to brag about.
Jim had then receded some even from
his Murray form. He was a good old
wagon, but they can't go on always.
There was no particular "holler" over
the Murray matter at the time, or for
some time afterwards, and Dempsey
went to Oakland, Cal, with Fred Win
sor, a promoter and manager, now To-
Gated In Denver, His first match on the
Pacific coast was with Al Norton. That
was at the four-round game now prev
alent in those parts, n the first bout
was a draw.
They were rematched, and fought
another draw. Dempsey was then
| hooked up with Willie Meehan, and lost
Il decision. oddly enough, Meehan
holds two decisions over Jack, and 1t
In the Coloradan's failure to stop Willie
that has caused some people to doubt
hls ability to lick Willard.
Meehan may be a better fighter than
most flBtic experts are willing to ad-
nit, which may be the eason Demp-
sey has been unable to stop him, but
his style Is certainly bizarre, His
fighting at first impresses one as more
Glowing than anything eise, 1t Is that
very style that makes him hard to beat.
He runs, falls. gets behind a nan
slaps and generally cavorts about In
a most astonishing manner, but all the
time he seems to be scoring points.
Around the East they do not credit
Willie with any class, none the less a
couple of Western referees have award.
ed him verdicts over Dempsey,
His showing against Meohan dis.
Eusted Dempsey, and also disguised a
lot OF folks who saw II. They allowed
that he couldn't fight, and never would
the conclusion they were about right,
Meantime he had run into Jack
Kearns. Jack had been doing a bit
Of dabbling In the wrestling game prior
to that time, and was Interested In a
big match which took place In San
Francisco, His associates In the affair
careleRsly walked out on Jack with
most OF the dough, leaving him holding
a large sack, 80 no was thoughtfully
turning his attention to boxing, his real
forte, again,
Jack had a little fellow named Red
Watson In training, and he noticed a
big, burly bird around the gym where
his best to box, but making no head
way. This was Dempsey, kearns rath-
err liked his makeup, but his aesthetic
soul revolted at Denpsey's style.
"Step around. why don't your he
remarked, and Dempsey got to step.
ping, That advice marked his first
real Improvement as a boxer. Incident
lily, It marked the beginning OF his asso.
citation with Kenrns.
After the Meehan affair, which seems
20 have temporarily "dutched" Demp-
sey AS an attraction, our hero told
boxing, and Kearns wagged his head AZ
firmatively,
Yea, you'd better quit awhile" he
advised, "Go away somewhere, and rest
up, and then wen see what an be
done"
Job In a shipyard. He worked there
steadily for three months, lahoring hard
and living quietly, and finally Kearns
sent for him to return TO Oakland to
meet Meehan again.
Il think l beat him good that time, u
says Jack, II had him hanging on the
ropes at the finish"
kearns mods hih head, solemnly,
Then Dempsey knocked AL Norton
kicking In the first minute OF the frs
round, Next he beat Bob McAllister, 8
fast-moving fellow, who was licked by
Mike Gibbons In New York. A knock.
out OF Charley Miller In a round fol,
lowed,
:. Dempsey was coming on.
Copyright, 1919, by Damon Runyon.'
George Cutahaw, thu Pirate seconf