Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-20
BY JAMES J. CoRBETT


ulcd time for my meeting with Jake
in the New Orleans arena. L was met
there by one of the officials OF the
club. Excitedly he exclaimed:
Hurry UP, hurry up. Ki!rain is in
the ring already and the crowd is
waiting for YOU"
Everyone can wait until the referee
matter is settled to my satisfaction"
was my answer. The audacity OF my
reply startled him. Perhaps never he
fore had youthful and practically OBJ
scure fighter aiming Tor reputation
man question But l had dete rmined
in this all important fight of mine
that no hand picked, referee was go
named 'af f rsh th e0 club has of Gssn
insissfS fGp w Fft square psrS Ssn
wont" was m answer But iii tell
you now that the fight doesn't go on
is satisfactory to me. You fellows
picked him out without consulting me.
No man will referee any contest in
Big wranEic Over Referee.
A hurry call was sent for the other
tShs f 81 ! Ions WranEie snsuea
the wh hH JAKE sat- in bs nd ia
waiting for nc. and that part of the
crowd crowd which predicted that wasn't
utterins Il told you So" 'S"' OS'"
What's all this trouble about?"
asked one Of the new conner officials.
You fellows picked a referee without
and now that there will be no Kilrain-
might. If the referee that goes into the
ring isn't one that is as satisfactory
. to ns nave hs is the s YS sa and Sa 1o
round; B W. yon are mistaken.
fighting. Kilrain-and whipping him
One OF the club directors pushed for
ward Ard, man who was in the group.
o. H." said the official.
Directors OF Club Puzzled.
looked the fellow square in the
eye, and said:
one Of the principals objected TO TO- YOU"
"vSe eT:y % weH ne r anTwSr ~ o,icc,
The directors OF, the Southern Ath-
Ietic Giuo' where the fight was waged.
OF way. and they realized that they
were whipped on the referee question.
referee who vas satisfactory 10 all
concerned or fail to stage the fight
While they were debating among them
selves young fellow stepped for
ward from the group, and said:
IF there is no objection. I'll referee
the contest
He was Ned Violet, who then was
amateur boxing champion, and was ip
the cotton business. He appealed 10
me at once. inquired him clean. hon
blufed and who certainly would give
a fair decision.
Violctt Is Finally Chosen.
- tflt = i
der a decision as he sees the fight and
without listening to what any one tells
you and without being bull!ed l think
YOU are that k r>-i OF ;aman."
You can --deseIr! upon me TO do
that answered Violet.
About five minutes later I walked
INTO the arena, much TO the surprise
OF the crowd. The start OF the fGh,
hn9 been delayed nearly an hour. and
! dare say that not one out of every
fifty persons in the audience ever
figured that J would show up. The
news had been given TO the crowd
that the delay was due to a dispute
over The referee question. The audi
and simply had figured that l was
choosing that as an excuse TO back
out OF tho fight.
Eut It eXperienced shock when
when II saw me walk into the center
Of the ring and stand alongside of the
por erful and hrawny Kilrain. Jake
figured that just, about one OF his
famous ht-handers would send me
hurtling through tho ropes into OBJ
livon.
Blu. the crowd very quickly was
- tn Inr