The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-27
nv FRANK G. MENKE

Every person who has achieved /
fame in his particular branch of en-
deavour, has encountered the one
crucial hurdle in his life, a hurdle
which, il taken, meant success; If un- {
taken, meant defeat and the end of
the road
Bill Brennan faced such hurdle in
1916 when he was tossed into the ring /
with Boer Rodel, as tough and rough |
a customer as ever snapped punches
in prize ring.
Brennan had come out of Chicago
only few weeks before and gone
under the management of Leo P.
Flynn. He knew that if he could show
something worth while Flynn, with his
connection, could launch him on a
mighty lucrative career. Bill likewise
realized that if he failed, it was back
to the bushes" for him-back to the
sheet metal workers trade.
Stanton Battle Helped.
"The inaugural battle l won against
Eli Stanton helped a little to impress
Flynn-but I knew that the fight
wasn't the real test" related Bren-
nan. Stanton was only fairish sort
of fellow, and was little more than a
fourth rate. But Rodel-that was
something entirely different.
The Boer had fought some Of our
best men. He hadn't whipped 'em all,
but he certainly demonstrated that he
was no SLOUGH. He had gone ten
rounds with Willard, just before Jess
won the championship, had fought
along with some of the other satellites
and was, all things considered, near
the top among the second raters.
And, at the time, was just
novice"
When scrambled through the
ropes that night knew I had to stop
the Boer if l ever wanted to accom-
plish anything in a sporting way. And
the stopping business sized up like a
rather big job. For the Boer in addi-
ton to being quite 4 fair stopper him.
self, was a glutton for punishment.
Receives Telling Blow.
We had just about gotten under
way when the Boer lifted one off the
floor and tried to plant it on my chin.
! was lucky enough TO duck the chin
out Of the way, but the old pile driver
landed on my head, just above my
forehead. 1t split the skin for about
three inches and the blood began to
stream down so much that it half
blinded me. had to do lot of fight
ing, therefore, sort of in the dark.
The Boer later popped one on my
nose-and that started to bleed Then
he paced one on my mouth-and blood
came from there. Yes, sir yes sir, l
was a CORY looking bird before the
fourth round ended-but l kept fight
ing the only fight that 1 then knew
And that was to keep tearing right
into him. taking everything he had,
for the chance to land one or two on
his Jaw
But, for awhile, the Boer kept out
of my way. And all the while he was
jabbing, jabbing. Most Of them land
ed, too-and on my nose. No the Boer
didn't give me the nose l wear now.
No fighter did that. My nose was
broken years before in a ball game
with kids. l was catching. The bat
ter hit the ball and then threw his bat
1t swung around and landed on the
bridge of my nose. The result is
evident to anyone who looks closely al
the nose
Could Take Punishment.
"Well, the Boer and / kept a-going
through the fifth and sixth, with the
Boer trying with every thing he haC
" ulOp Llc. Dul II COuluA NC uOhc
! wasn't much on ring science in those
days-but l certainly could take {
seeking. And | took one-don't ever
doubt that / guess it looked to the
crowd as if the Boer was numbering
me, from the way the blood rushed
down my head, nose and mouth. AnC
some persons yelled to the referee t
stop the battle.
But motioned that was all right
! guess that sort of took the hear
out of the Boer. He must have decid
ed about that time that he'd have t.
use a crow bar to drop me-and thu
rules in those days barred crow bars
So he decided to conserve himself ant
win the battle on a popular decision
When | saw him easing up, | tor
in ! went with both fists flying
Then I set myself and let fly a Ion;
one for the chin / landed-and tn
Boer went down and the referee count
ed him out as stood over him-bloot
from head to waist, probably as awfu
looking victor as the prize rim;
ever saw.
Leo Is Converted.
After the fight. Leo came to m
and said:
"'Even ifYou do come from Chicag
you seem to be able to d
some fighting. Winning over the Doe
just about makes you. Now l vii
~ go out and get yu other fights, wor
you along nicely and in a few year