The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-18
Jack Kearns Appears,

We went by train, and Jack Kearns,
Dempseys manager, met us at the sta
ton. kearns has for years been q we'll
known figure in sporting circles on the
west coast, He Is an astute handler Of
the genus pug. Before he got Demp-
sey, he managed dozens OF other fight
ers, good, bad and Indifferent. He was
supposed to be the manage of Les
Darcy when the Australian came to this
country, but Les ran out on him.
kearns is a slim, dspper, slick look-
ing Individual, with experienced eyes,
His hair is getting gray around the
edges. He had a nice new Chandler
automobile, painted a delicate blue,
waiting for us.
Belongs to Dempsey and me-" he
explained as we were breeZing off In
this nifty rig. We bought it together.
We do everything on a $3.50 basis.
We're just like brothers. He's GER
tainly a grand boy"
And when he gets to be champion,
and splits out with you, as all fighters
eventually do after they're made, what
them" l asked.
oh" Jack began.
oh" | interrupted. cynically, this
fellows different. from the rest, eh?'
Kearns grinnedY He has no Illusions
about his game. He has been around
a long time.
We'll, | honestly think he is different,
at that he said. He seems to be
very fond Of Dempsey, and by the same
token Dempsey seems to like Kearns.
We stopped in front OF a quiet house
IN q quiet street, quiet being the pre-
dominating feature of Long Branch, in
March. II is d celebrated old-time sum-
mer resort, but living there in winter
strikes one as a prospect about as al
Turing as a residence in a baseball yard
during the off season.
The house is a small two-story frame,
set in a row of similar frames. II Is
a small hotel conducted by a fine old
lady whom Kearns greeted as Mother
Hughes. We were ushered into a small
parlor, which seemed crowded with
men, but the crowd Immediately dis
solved into no more than two men. But
they were extra large men.
Look Out for This Boy.
One of them was Dempsey. I had
met him before, so we were merely re-
a ghost of Bob Fi~tzsimmons's youth
shoulders, legs, hands, freckles and
everything else. He is Martin Burke,
a ~20-year-ofd amateur, picked up by
Kearns to act al Dempsey's sparrinG
partner. One of these days you may
hear much of Martin Burke.
There was a big potbellied stove In
lAlO AAOilAOllSN Joe bNA ~
Grand it was aglow with heat. There
was a table with a reading lamp on 1t
there were comfortable chairs and
couches 1t was an inviting, honey
looking place, but about the last place
you would pick as a prize fighters re
treat. 1t was certainly rar from tht
lights Of old Broadway.
Dempsey likes it Town here sale
kearns, and Dempsey nodded acQuies'
'cence. as he paved through a pile Of
photograph records to let us hear his
latest. Dempsey's musical taste IL
~pronouncedly Al Jolson.
AS a rule Kearns says we" In speak
ing Of the firm, but the generous as
signment Of the liking to Dempsey
alone did not astonish me. Mr.. hearni
is incandescent reared.
"Oh. / like it here, too" he said has
tily, noting my expression. ITS quiet
"a statement of indubitable fact which
caused Ike Dorgan, inmate Of the Roar
ing Fortios Gazz region OF Manhattan
island to clear his throat as II he in
tended speaking. And restful," con.
tinued Kearns.
Beauties of Long Branch.
Eyes, it's a great place" Dempse!
cut in. 81 first got to coming dowr
here to see Joe Bannon, a friend o
mine who lives here in the summer
anu i SOl SluCh Ol tue pldICs l lldlllN'
here for the Fulton match. You see
/ can do my roadwork on the beaches
and Jimmy DeForrest has a good gym
nasium around the corner. OF course
right now I'm not doing n real train
ing, | walk and jog a few miles ever,
day, but I'm really just laying arounC
and resting,
You know" he continued, I've beef
out with burlesque shows lately-gir
outfits-and I tell you it's pretty nic'
to come back here and rest. | Certainl!
like Long Branch. It's so quiet"
: Mr.. Dorgan listened to the quiet ant
shuddered slightly. There was a grea
deal of 1t indeed.
"You ought to see me act" sait
Dempsey, I'm a better fighter, In
going out again with an athletic show
and then Tn going out to Colorado It
put in about a month in the noun
tains. l want to get the old altitude
Say, l hope they hold the fight some