The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-07
A Tale of TWO Fists
THE LIFE STORY OF JACK DEMPSEY

| western sporting trail, was running a
boxing club there at the time and Jack
sought his place. He arrived on anna
teur night when Hardy was staging a
bunch of bouts between novices. He
had two brothers booked for one bout,
and It seems that w%hisperings came to
him that the lads were going to "be
nice" Which means that there was 60
ing to be no violent musings up In
that family. The boys had arranged 1t
between them:
Hardy wanted no bouts of that sort
in his club, even on an amateur night.
While he was debating what to do there
appeared at his portals demanding en-
trance as one of the profesh, j. Demp-
sey, no less.
"Can you fight?' inquired Mt
from Adams off OK, but who noted that
Jack seemed strong and healthy and
able to be about.
81 cans said Dempsey.
"Come in said Mr., Downey.
He rubbed his chin reflectively as he
eyed Jacks various proportions and
then put him. on his bill, matching him
against one of the brothers.
I've got MY own trunks" said
Dempsey, to 'dispel any lingering doubt
in Mr.. Downey's mind as to his legiti-
mateness.
He went on with the first brother, let
go about half a dozen punches. which
he pulled from away back around Mont
rose, and the contest was over.
Brother was down and out. The audi
ence, which had been inclined to ''raz'
Jack a little when he first appeared,
as is the custom at all amateur nights,
sat up n observed.
Hardy DowneS trotted u the other
brother. He did not like the family
anyway, Jack unlocked a few loose
punches and down went brother as cold
, Downey beamed as Dempsey finished
up with this chap. Then he rushed
forward and proffered Jack a neat but
not gaudy medal in token Of his
prowess. Jack only shook his head at
this and held out his paw. He wanted
Downey promised him IS, Well, Jack
says he bad, which proves nothing
much except that amateur nights IN
Salt Lake City draw the same kind OF
amateurs as everywhere else.
Anyway, Hardy finally gave him
$3.50. according to Jack, on the ground
that he had knocked the brethren kick
ing so quickly that 1t was really only
a half-price show. A loud and raucous
squawk from Jack received little or ne
attention, and ]. Dempsey decided that
two-fifty In hand vas worth a finnif In
the bush, so he took his money and
departed.
But he had established himself with
! Hardy Downey, and Mr.. Downey coult
see a fellow with two good fists as far
as the next man. He invited Dempse,
to return to his club again at his con-
~venience, and spoke ~alluringly Of such
fabulous sum as $40 and even SIS for
battles.
This was in 1914, as neal as I can fix
the date with Jack, OF four years ago.
Few other h~eavyweights In the history
of the ring have come on as rapidly as
Dempsey. 1t is stepping right along te
advance In four years from a $3.50
fighter to a point where he Is meeting
the heavyweight champion Of the world
andNgetting $27. 500 for doing 1t.
There was quite a colony OF pugiltsts
around Salt Lake in those days. which
turned out to be a good thing fol
Dempsey. Most of them hung around
Downey's club. None Of them were OF
any great fame, but they were good
enough TO afford work for Dempsey ant
bring out his latent ability. It was
during this period that he really com
menced to move
Copyright. 1918. by Damon Hunyon.)