The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-04-03
Carpenters
Lies Story
BY JACK vEIock.

CHAPTER III.
DeScafnps began to have visions OF his
wildest dreams for the boy being real
ICED. He had been the first to see In
making of fistic champion. He had
discovered the gold in young Carpen-
tiers fists. To Descamps goes the glo-
ry of having discovered Carpenter, and
to Georges the credit for never fliDchtng,
even in defeat, from the moment he set
out to conquer unknown fields,
Carnentier made his debut In the ring
as amAmateur, rather than as a ppe-
fessional, as some writers have record.
ed In 1907 he was entered In the anna
teur championship in France and lost
in the final bout on points to a boxer
weight in this tournament and prior to
being outpointed by Major he defeated
Bourgeois and Wetinck. In face OF the
fact that Major became one of the
best amateur champions Of FrqAce, Car
pentiers initial setback at his hands
this time he was SCARCELY more than IL
years old. VI d
From his tournament Carpenter went
back to Lens with RDescamps,. and a
year later entered professional ranks.
tp n the h peseamPs ala
every ounce of boxing talent possessed
sfons Georges took part in hnpromptu
scraps. One of these occurred when
travelling circus, boastin8 troupe Of
man eating" professional boxers, came
to Lens. In this troupe was a rough
and-ready American scrapper. The Of
fetal ballyhoo orator df the circus loud
~ proclaimed the merits Of this boxer.
In the crowd were Descamps and car
pentier. e@tAmerican" boxer, 1t was
explained, challenged any man to stand nd
young fists and nudged Descamps. The
professor nodded assent.
stood up to announce that he would
meet the terrible slugger the bally-
hoo man protested that it would be I'M
thinkable. Surely Carpenter must be
joking. But. the crowd howed down the
speaker and followed Carpenter into
the tent to witness the contest, uneven
though II appeared. 1t was there that
Carpenter scored his first knockout.
In the second round the burly "Ameri-
can" went down, oblivious to what was
going on around him. When he came
to his senses he refused to believe THAI
Carpenter had knocked him out. He
was sure someone must have dropped
a brick house on him.
This victory determined Carpenter
to start out professionally. 1t created
a real sensation in Lens, and before
so very long Carpentier's reputation as
fighter began to spread. In company
with Descamps he often visited adjacent
towns, where travelling circuses were
holding forth for the purpose of show.
ing up the mediocre bruisers who were
posing as champion boxers Even in
this Carpenter picked up points Of the
game that were unknown to him-un-
known also to Oescamps, who at that
time knew but little of the real English
and American styles of boxing.
Carpenters real debut as profes,
sional was made against boxer named
Moinereau, whom he Knocked out in
three rounds. His first long bout in
the professional ring, however, was his
battle with the sturdy Kid Salmon.
Salmon, in his day, was one of the
best French fighters of his weight who
had ever drawn on a glove. He had
trainer, "Snowy" Lawrence, as he game
into prominence in series OF bouts
with another boxer named Pepper, The
two were deadly rivals for the affections
Of ballet girl at the Folies Bergpre
where they were engaged to spar. 10th
points of the English method of boxing
and Lawrence claims that they were the
real pioneers In opening the eyes OF
Paris to the fact that scientific boxing
is worthy sport.
Under the tutelage of Lawrence Sal
mon became a fistic idol. He repeated
ly challenged anyone of his weight in
France to meet him. He easily de-
feated all Corners. After a time oppo-
nents for Salmon could not be found
None. could stand against him. And
then, at a time when Salmon was
mourning the fact that the French ma.
ton had failed to produce more good
boxers he received a challenge from
Carpenter, then a 14-year- old, for q
20-round bout with four-ounce. gloves
The challenge was backed up by ar
offer of side bet. all of which Gre
ated considerable merriment in Maisons-
Lafitte. Salmon's home town. But ar
ticles were duly signed forfeits posted
and Maisons- Lafitte awaited the com.
ing of this presuming youngster from
the north of France who dared to face
the invincible Salmon.
ITO Be Continued.)