White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-26

BY J.. M. COLLINS

longer course thar he really need n,
In ordr that tie mosin pictures might
bring to linn greater returns?
Upon this question the public seems
10 be about equally divided, but il
Dempsey was attracted By the moving
picture feature he certainly missed a
golden opportunity in Ely at the out
: set of his career. and on that same
occasion Promotor Tom Chambers
might have made more money than an
ailwell will bring In IL he had had a
moving picture machine In Bio hall
carly in the yeai 1916 when the present
worlds champion met the Terrible
Swede in what was scheduled TO be A
fonr-round preliminary.
Dempsey eamc to Ely 10 assist Eddie
Johnson In his training work when
eddie was the pride of this district
and the star attraction in all main
events Dempsey was "a likely fellow.
but his science at that time was not
sufficiently Developed ID warrant Pro-
motor Chambers IN featuring him be-
fore "A large audience. but the writer
Of tbs article prevailed upon him TO
give the big fellow n chance in pre-
liminary because the SIS reward offered
the winner was at that time not at all
hard to take for the young pugilist
who WAS then struggling to reach the
top rnng OF the ladder that has since
brought fame and fortune.
Ii took considerable persuasion to
convince the promoter that a match
between Dempsey and some other man
his size would b. pleasing TO al audi
cnce of fight fans. but finally Tom
consented and the largest man that
could be found II Copper Flat was
selected as ait opponent for Dempsey
and tie match was made. on the night
of the big show, however. the man
from the mine who had signed articles
in which a deposit as evidence of good
faith was not required failed TO appear
Tho crowd Was eagsr 10 see a go be-
tween two big men before the soisn-
life ligbtwe,ghts came on. and once
rom Chambers starts something he is
going TO hrisl 1t. The s. d. s was
scrt cut Tor a real big man to meet
Dempsey.
No qualifications were required other
ihan size and the Terrible swedo ex-
dressed his Willingness 10 step inside
The squared circle and slay his worthy
opr onent for the sum offered. lie was
conducted to an undressing room and
a few minutes later appeared wear
suit of u. V D.'s and q broad smile.
As he erawled through the ropes his
measurements taken by tie eye were
5 light foot over all. with iye-foot
beam. The night was cold ard the fire
low. so the Swede's trainers Eept their
man al fever heat and In the pink OF
condition by passing to him at an in
terval of every three minutes pin.
flask, from which he imbibed quite
freely. Dempsey entered the ring
short time later and was not met with
the ontburst Of applause to which he
Is now accustomed.
Opening ceremonies were dispensed
with and the referee gave the time
keerer the signal TO 60. Dempsey
came 10 the ceater of the ring. bet the
Swede did not seem filled with any
consuming ambition 10 leave his corn
or. One OF his seconds put his foot
through tho ropes and knocked the
stool out from under him and the
Swede went down before blow had
been struck. Dempsey walked over to
his opponents corner as the latter
erswled up on the ropes and said. did
YOU come out here to fight?" Put the
swedc. not having been formally iu-
trcduced to the champion. stood on
his dignity and made no reply. Demp-
sey turred In disgust TO walk away
and as he did sent the pivot to the
Swede's Jaw and tie referee tea min
utes later said"nine" SO ended one
of the first battles In which the man
who was then destined to and has
since become the greatest pugilist in
the world
Dempsey Is a born pubilist and as
far back as January 80. 1915. when he
,irst came TO Ely. the writer o. this
article SO styled him In report pub
lished in the News at that time. The
present champion was then favorablS
compared TO tha. erstwhiie champion
whose name he hears and champion
ship honors were predi,ted for him In
the coiums of this paper.
Arril \, 1915 Dempsey was matched
against Joe I.onds and the fight. which
wis .en-round 20. was staged IN
bio hall by tho same promoter who
had brought the champion to this dis
trict. 1t was at the earnest solicita-
tior OF the writer that the big fellow
was given a chance to meet a man
who would bring out whether or net
he had the real metal In him. BONDS
arrived In the district tho articles oil
agreement were signed and the men
started to train. Bonds was Just
fresh from Australia. where he had
won an enviabie reputation by defeat-
ing some OF the best men in the heavy
weight division. In HIS training WORK
he showed considerable class ana the
general opinion seemed to prevail
among the followers of the game an
this district that Dempsey would prove
no match for him. Some said IL was
next to criminal to let him beat Den'r-
sey up. Others predicted that the out
come might prove fatal to the present
champion. When the two m.n me-
in the ring. however. there was dit'
ferent story to tell.
At the outset OF the battle BoLd'
~h.wered blows upon his sturdy opoh'
ont and landed often enough to have
put an army mule out OF commission
but Dempsey was never In any danger
because the blows had no more nhec
upon his. gigantic frame than the'
would have tad against the side o