The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-14
Ole
Sp0rtscope
GRAVEYARD INK.
BY BRUCE COPELAND,

Boxing history serves to vlndl- |
cate the superstition Of Jack Demp-
sey in refusing to visit the grave
Of his once famous namesske, The
Nonpareil, while in Portland, Ore,
some time ago.
The Jack Dempsey OF a bygone
era lies smouldering in q grave in
Mount Calvary cemetery, Portland.
1t has been the custom OF 2 sport
idol who visited Portland to pay
his respects to the grave of the
great battler, who fell before Bob
Fitzsimmons in 1891.
The present Jack Dempsey would
not, however. He admitted he was
supefstitious. And he has some
reason to be, it would seem, for,
looking down the line Of fallen
champions, one will find good food
for-conjectufe.
y TRAILED JOHN L.
John L. Sullivan, snoblest kO-
man Of them all" went to Portland
and viiitsa The NonpsreiFs last
resting place, boxing history re-
|yesls, And IN his next tight, Ten
tleman Jimn Cerbett, slim and de
CANT boxer. danced around tn
1 slower SJaWn," and cut him up with
lightniug bleWs, Exit Jeha l..
stanley Ketchel, enc Of the great
est OF mlddlewcight champions
barred his head ct the gfave Of Tn
NeapsFelL. Before he had . ehaAcl
Ito AEht again, IN assassin's bulle
I'D Els spectacular career.
N.@ferrible Terry" MoGovern va
: believed unbeatable in the feofhel
and lightweight division, HE Wis
tied the 15avs, and shnightway los
the ehampienshjp to Youlg Tor
beH
Jim Jefiries and Frank G0tch
touring the country together, stop
ped in Portland to pick up som
easy money. Together they yisite
the Dempsey grave. Many will re
4 call what happened: Jeffries wa
beaten by Jack Johnson in one @
1.-THE toughest battles in ring his
! tory. Getch suecumbed to illness
At last came Jess willard. HI
too, visited the grave and soR
: time later lay, q bruised and pit
full hulk, taking the. count at Te
: jledo, while the Tefefee lifted th
glove in token Of the victory OF th
present Jack Dempsey.
:. 30 nov you know why the chan
lRion, meaning 30 disrespect,, di
aot visit the grave OF that 9TH
Jack Dempsey, who vas knQWR
The NonpaFeil. :,
TL0ORED BY DEATH.
while absolutely fearless q gla'
!, listers OF the ring, NEST bexiI
chaMpiens, past and present, h4y
n tsFFifying 1read Of the Dresen'
Il Of death. At dAe time or aaethe
in the acted BeurAcrs 1t the blaIs
le former stars have broken dov
le completely.
I. TIE Dessipg Of George Dixo
3, little Chocolate" was. perhaI
:. lite most pathetic. Bfg.hearted g
,el kuhlln, who has since gone to
Or reward, il yepsrted to have fatpt
beside the cofil Of The enee gre
De little .eolared fighter.
"A Tho writer attended the fgleTl
se Of Jehn J.. Sullivan and Terry y
nf Govern. Jim GARRETT served
Il master Of ceremonies Yer hoth ]
i. former pals. His gria seemed
ed be infectious. SeeFss ef hghfe
= great and neaf.grest, c0na
or centred their emotions. Garrett Y
IA . Nervous wreck for some til
~ after SullivaR's funeral.
~ FINGER or FATE.
There il something sinister ahf
-, the. tjRg attributed to the grave
al The NonpaFeil.r He Was the nj
-. hapless ct all ring champions; 4
~ Heet pathetic.
" Dempsey the First fought larl
- ly for the glory Of the game, for
received only paltry pittanees
:. tall his great ring victories, WI
.. he finally aceeded to great DIRE
~ Ing pewef ha vas laid low W
pivot punch q George LaBlane
q the mariney
ee The stigma 81 the knockout
e but broke the great fighters hei
81 lIt remained for Bob Yitssimms
~ to finish the 3oA. ~ . reward
sDempseys unprecedented skill I
lda1 eaarsge, the lattsR checked
~ never crushed sntirsly, it no
lef appear that the hand Of fate I
Mt imposed al evil spell upon post
~ Iity.
ny Anyway, aayadays, II would
hard to induce any boyer, FAM
Q or Obscure, to visit the pe@p
Is- grave in PoytlaHd; that Is. Il y
" are still h1aing for fame and liv
hoed.