The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-29
BOXER TAKES Dive
TO ESCAPE BEATING;
GIVES QUEER ALIBI
By FRANK G. MENKE


Dan Morgan, perpetual fount of ring
anecdotes, relates this one at the ex-
pense of Jim Savage, the retired glad
iator. who, six or seven years ago,
was rather big noise in heavyweight
circles.
After Jim had stopped Frank Nor
an, whipped Tom Kennedy and beaten
UP a sundry collection of good heavy
weights, decided to make big gam
Bile for him by sending him up against
Gunboat Smith. 1t may be recalled
that the Gunner was going great IN
those days and, as Jim's manager,
had it all figured out that if he could
take the Gunner it would qualify him
for fight for the championship.
"Jim outpunched and outgamed
Smith in the first round Things look
ed awfully rosy. But in the second
Smith hit Jim on the cheekbone once,
smacked him twice in the body, hit
him on top of the head twice and then
landed one which / thought was sure
to break Jim's neck.
Just about that time I say that Jim
decided all chance of winning was
gone. Jim didn't like to take beat
ing and he began to look around for
a nice soft spot, but the bell saved
him in that round.
Can't Fool Jim.
"In the corner / tried to talk Jim
into the idea that he was really win
ming But Jim was too smart to be
fooled that way He knew he had met
his master, and so he just looked at
me blankly when l was trying to
screw up his courage.
Almost as soon as the third start
ed, the Gunner faxed a left and then
shot powerful right for Jim's jaw. 1t
missed Jim ompletely-never even
, dove to the floor head first, and stayed
there until he was counted out.
in the dressing room after the
fight, asked Jim why he did it.
after explaining that he was a life
saver at the Rockaway Beach IN. W
during the summer months and, de
failing that he was dazed by Smiths
punches in the second round, he de
clared that he must have been out Of
his head in the third, for he was GER
tain he heard cry for help.
I thought someone was in trouble
out in the water and so l Immediately
dove to the rescue he concluded.
Spins Another Yarn.
Another Morgan story deals with
Eddie FitZsimmons, the southpaW
lightweight, now in his stable.
Eddie enlisted in the navy in 1917,
said Morgan, land was ordered to re
port to Newport News. Among the
things that most rockies had to learr
was something that had to do with
boxing.
Eddie reported to the sergeant box
ing instructor who was a welterweigh
in size. He was drilling big class
and without trying to find out if Ed
die ever had boxed before, tossed hin
into it.
after a few days of rudimentary
teaching, the instructor paired off thu
boys. When Eddie took his southpav
position against one of his mates, thu
instructor promptly told him he would
have to change it. Eddie told him he
thought he could battle better that
way.
You'll take the position / order,
yipped the sergeant.
Eddie swung around the other wa,
but time hardly had been called wher
he was back again, right foot forward
right arm out for jabbing purposes.
The sergeant Immediately stoppet
the thing and began to pan Eddie
When he had finished, Eddie said:
81 think l can fight better the wa,
1 stood
Decides On Lesson.
The sergeant, deciding to teach Ed
dies lesson, then said:
"All right, you box with me you
way and I'll quickly prove to you tina
you are little fool
Can l hit you as hard as 1 want
Will it be real fight?' asked Eddie
go the limit said the sergeant.
They squared off. Eddie, in south
paw style, tented with his right, dre1
the sergeant in and then put every
thing he had into left handler Whe,
Fitz does that something usually hal
pens. 1t did then. The sergeant, III
used to blocking southpaw fighter:
got the smash on the chin-and wen
down.
He revived 80 seconds later. H
rubbed his jaw for a full minute-an
then said to Eddie:
would you mind telling me wha
sort of work you did before you joine
the navy?'
Boxing
"'Oh, yes-oh yes unused the il
structor.
"Will there be any more lesson
for me today, SIR asked Eddie.
No-not today-and not the mex
day, or any other day-at least wit
me as your teacher. Get outa m
sight-and never get back into
again."
Copyright 1921 BY King Features
Syndicate, Incl