Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-21
DEMPSEY TAKES
THINGS EASY;
is CONFIDENT
Challenger of Champion Says
SSThere Is No One He Can't
Beat in World
REFEREE NOT YET NAMED
Matt HinkeI of Cleveland Is Count
ed Out of Running-MOtOrS and
Also Goes Rowing.

Toledo, Ohio, May 81 = When
Jack Dempsey, who will try tc
drop Jess Willard and cop the
heavyweight championship in bat
tie at Bayview park July 4, retired
in his newly acquired training
camp on Maumee bay last night
he was housed on peninsula
When he arose and peeked out OF
the window this morning he was
on an island.
That was the accomplishment of
a terrific rain storm which late
last night hit this section of the
country. It was a regular cloud
burst, which surrounded Dempsey's
clubhouse with four feet of water.
Late this afternoon when the wa
ter had run into the bay, the roads
between the city and camp were
strewn with driftwood which made
motor trips to Dempsey's quarters
almost impossible. A force of
longshoremen were kept busy
clearing away the debris.
Adds Rowing To Curriculum.
The flood provided Dempsey
with a bit of additional training
this morning. In order to reach
the high spots where he could do
his road work, it was necessary to
use a rowboat He rowed from the
kitchen door to unsoaked terra
firma
In spite of this downpour and
the condition left, Dempsey is
sweet on his choice of a camp, and
he has reason to be, for rain in
such volume as last night would
not fall in years.
When the land had dried out a
bit late in the afternoon, a flock
OF visitors made their initial call
on Dempsey. This flock was made
up of 40 school kids, the fair sex
predominating They came unin-
vited and lined up outside the win
dows to peek at the challenger for
Wizards crown. When Dempsey
saw them he sped to the door to
invite them in, but they scamp
cred away like scared rabbits.
They grew holder a little later and
returned, coming into the house
and watching a barber trim the Ii
laos of Jacks chin.
Canine Champ Among Retainers.
By the way, the Dempsey retinue
was increased today by the barber,
who from now until the battle will
stick on the job. There is quite a
family at the camp now, including
the cooking staff and the rubber.
The official mascot of the Demp-
sey camp is bulldog. Believe US,
he is some dog. He was presented
to Jack by an admirer in F'indlay,
Ohio, and Jack made the trip of
so miles in a motor car to get him.
The dog has a record that COM
pares favorably with Dempsey's,
but of course Jacks isn't savage.
The dog is a blooded one and a
fighter and killed every one of his
opponents. He is aptly named
King, but there isn't any chance of
this King meeting the fate of some
of the monarchs of Europe. He
already rules the camp.
Forests Fall for Arena.
After the rain it became cold in
Toledo, and as a result there was
a letup in the work on the arena.
About the only thing accomplished
was the delivery of additional lum-
Der. 1t has been decided that the
row of seats farthest from the
ring will be 300 feet from the
ropes. These seats will sell for
SO.
Discussion of a referee for the
fight is still hitting on all six CYL
indeFs around here, but nothing
definite in the way of a selection
will be made until after Willard
lands in Toledo next week.
One of the candidates for this
job, Honest John" Fitzgerald of
New Haven, Conn, is expected
here tomorrow. Fitz is consid-
ably will be given consideration.
Dempsey and his manager, Jack
Kearns, aren't saying anything
about whom they want for third
man in the ring, but it is a cinch
that Matt Hinkle of Cleveland
won't draw the assignment, for
Dempsey will not consent to the
Forest City man.
Talk of Big Fight Taboo.
There's one subject that never is
discussed in the camp of Jack
Dempsey. That is the affair that
is going to happen on July 4. 1t
isn't that Jack doesn't care to talk
of what he hopes to do to Jess Will
lard, but he'd rather think it than
come right out cold turkey with
: the verbal noise.
But if ever there was a man
who was confident, a man who be-
lieves in himself, that fellow is
Dempsey. He doesn't say so for
willing ears, but to me this after
noon he unburdened himself of a
little interesting talk not deliv-
cred in a boastful way.
SNO One 1 Can't Beat"
"Tll tell you one thing. but don't
put it in the paper" said Jack 81
don't believe there is a man in the
world / can't beat"
That's a bundle of confidence,
but Jack really believes it.
Pocket billiard playing is one of
the diversions popular with Demp-
sey. He is a pretty good player,
too. and cracks of ten to twelve
balls.
Jack is favoring his right arm.
He rolled up his sleeves in motor
ing here, and the sun burned his
right arm above the elbow 1t is
some burn But it should be en-
tirely healed by the end of the
Teeks