The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-04

Bostonian, that a return match was arranged This was fn 1906-only ike weeks after their first bout. And Melody again won. At that time boxing critics were divided as to who was the welter- weight champion. Most of them, however chose waicott. So if was not surprising that Melody should have claimed the championship after beating walcott for the second time. ( And. by the way, the record book shows that walcott met every man in his class.
 D UT MEIhODY was not the only D pug of note 10 cross the Great Divide last week. A rather tardy dezpatch has brought word that San dy Ferguson, a heavyweight sue tunnbed also sto penumonia at the asfloto Island Hospital in Providence.
 And, by the way. Ferguson also de- feated Joe WaIcott- There were few who really trimmed Joe but Fergu- son and Melody actually did. san dy was extremely popular in Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island, although he was known throughout the land. However, Fergie was one of those foolish batt1ers. Though a remark
 
 the squared arena in condition He was lazy and seldom trained for bout.
 Not so long ago-aoout four years . ago-Ferguson broke into the sport ing column. At the time Jess Will lard, who only a few months previous had won the championship from Jack Johnson, was being featured by Wild West show. Jess act included a challenge to any one in the crowd. The show was playing a western Massachusetts town. The Boston pa pers had revived Ferguson's name and mentioned him as a possible op- ponent for Willard. Sandy was fool ish enough to take himself serious, So when the show came to town Fer guson was sought out by Jack Curley and Tom Jones.
 Ferguson was asked if he would consent to help Jess act that night. Not being overburdened with money and a handsome purse having been offered him, Sandy sought further explanation. He was told that an he would have to do was to sit in the audier,ce and, when Jess issued his challenge, to come forward and ac- cept. He was also to take a flop in the second round. And for this he was to be given s25.
 TT TWENTY FIVE dollars that night looked like a mint to Sandy. Per- haps neither Curley nor Jones would have dared approach Sandy with such an unsportsmanIIke proposition were they not in possession of the fact that Ferguson was broke. However. Fer guson accepted, but demanded pay 1nent in advance. This was done.
 That evening the papers for miles around advertised the fact that Fer guson would attend the show for the purpose of showing up Willard Thousands damned into the big tent Jess came on, went through his act with Trainer Monohan and then is- sued his challenge. Fergie accepted and from the crowd he emerged-a hero.
 The two, when stripped down tc their fighting togs, presented a won derfuI picture. Both were physica 1narvels Jack Curley jumped into the ring and in his inirnttable way he told that the acceptance of the chal lenge by such a distinguished boxer was indeed a surprise nd that Willard was prepared to go through and de fend his title" More bunk on tn, part of Curley and the two were a it.
 The first round was tame. I'm second round came on. But Fergu son refused to lay down-as he haC agreed to do. Instead, he Tough back at the champion. The latter now realizing that Ferguson was ou to double cross him, went after hi foe determinedly and with the fur, of a mad man. The second roun' closed. But the third saw Jess Will lard, the champion, fighting as champion should fight.
 Poor Fergusoni He was treatet rnmercifulIy. He was barely abl to stand when the third round end ed. He was bleeding from mouth ear and nose.
 It was the only time that F'ergusO tried to doublecross anyone in tn ring. And the attempt cost him man friends for it was matter of com mon knowledge among the sport present that Sandy had accepted s2 to lay down.
 C IJNDAY BASEBALL will be place O on trial in Albany tomorrow Some of the country's best know players and fans will be on deck : advocate passage by the New Tor