The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-21
SAYS HE HAS
IRSH.SCOTCH-INDIAN
BLOOD IN HIS VEINS

New York, June 2l.-William Har-
rison Dempsey, the name by which
the worlds heavyweight champion was
christened was horn &c years ago in
Manassa, Solo The prefix Jack"
was assumed by the big fellow when
he had grown to mans estate. and
had chosen the fistic ring for a live
lihood. AS a fighter he had the idea
and a good one, that by assuming
the Christian name Of Jack" some
of the glamor if not the wonderful
boxing science which the original
Jack Dempsey. Brookiyn's famous
"Nonpariel," possessed as the middle
weight title holder might revert to
him.
The champion Is the sixth child
Of Il family Of eight Three OF his
brothers and three sisters are alive
but the youngest Of the eight, who
was named Bruce. died about two
years ago. When Dempsey was seven
years old his parents, Hiram and
Celia Dempsey, with all their children
moved from Manassa 10 Montrose,
Col. where they lived for nine years.
Then the Demsey household was
shifted to Salt Lake City, Utah. and
that is the place which they, in
Guiding the champion, claim Us their
home
Born of rugged parents, Dempsey
claims that he has lrish. Scotch and
Indian blood in his veins and insists
that the fighting qualities for which
all three OF these races are famous
have been bred in the bone and blood
and have come to him in generous
portions from his antecedents.
Most Of Dempsey's early life was
spent in the open on a farm but
later he alternated by working III
the mines except in harvest time
when he found ii more remunerauVe
to devote his strength TO reaping
wheat and other crops in the gram
belt. In this way Dempsey Kept
himself In fine physical condition
the hard labor developing the won
derful muscles which proved to be
such a useful factor in his winning
the worlds heavyweight title.
Unlike his challenger, Carpenter
Dempsey had very little early train
ing for career In the iighuns
arena, while the French champion
was a close student Of the glove
game and an actual competitor wheh
he entered his teens
According to Dempsey's own story
/ his first fstic encounter was IN an
improvsed ring al Montrose, = Oh
when he was about ls years olo'
His opponent was a young biack-
smith. named Woods, whom he KNOCK
ed out in the third round. This IN
ltial contest netted the now cham
pion s25. His next tight also re-
suited in a third round knockout
ANDY Malloy, who had previously
walloped one Of Dempsey's older
brothers. being the victim.
When he was 20 years Did Demp-
sey began rowing around. taking on
bout whenever the opportunity OIL
fered. while between times he return
ed to odd farming jobs or worked as
miner. His first Eastern experience
In the fighting arena was IN Ne"
York City where he met Andre An
derson. Wild Burt Kenney and Les
ter Johnson, a negro, in ten-rounu
no decision bouts. This was In 1915
During the following year Demp'
sey knocked out Al Norton and Char'
ley Miller. each In one round Later
he won from Willie Meehan' Car.
Morris. Bob McAllister and Guneoa'
smith In four-round bouts In Calf
fornia. and was knocked out In one
round by Jim Flynn. the "Pueo''
Fireman" In the following year
Dempsey reversed this BY knocking
Flynn out In a single round and to'
lowed up with series Of knockouts
among his victims being Fred Fulton
Battling Levinsky, Porky Flynn AT
thur Pelkey and Terry Kellar.
Dempsey's banner year was lsl'
when after scoring five knoekouts o
one round each in Pennsylvania an'
Connecticut. he won the title o'
stopping the big kansan, Jess Wiliaru
at Toledo. Ohio, on Independence La'
two years ago