The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-06

ii l wanted to eat regularly. l was couldn't get any opponents at that W
 Billy Elmers, who ran club on Sixty-sixth street in New York, of fered me $50 to go for ten rounds with Mississippi, a rather popular boxer around New York then. He offered me the chance to go in the main bout, and as it was the first time that I had been so honored l decided to accept 1t.
 I had never gone any more than SIX rounds but l knew that I was strong enough to go that distance and l won the popular decision from Mississippi. The next night went on in Brooklyn with Terry Young and got $25 for six rounds and on the following night l picked up $30 in bout with Eddie O'Neil
 Such an avalanche of cash made m @ feel like I was getting rich and was highly elated at being able to step around with over $1o0 in my pocket. But the days of fat and plenty didn't last long. The matchmakers around New York told me that I was a good boxer but that the boys who could hit were the ones that drew the crowd
 It hurt me to be told that and to
 
 to develop a punch instead of try ing to earn a meager living as a dancer. I realized, however, that they were right. I went back to Philadelphia and started to learn the knack of hitting, if possible.
 Battle With Johnny Resan.
 Some time later Jim Buckley was arranging an all-star card at his Bath Beach club in Brooklyn and he offered me a ten-round bout with Johnny Began for $50. Johnny Began was one of the top notchers at that time and had gone twenty rounds to draw with Abe Attell.
 All my friends urged me to accept, saying that 1t was great chance for me If I thought I could knock him out. but they all warned that he was almost sure to outpoint me If If 1t went the limit
 with him that night. I felt 1t was my first big fight and I was little bit nervous as the house was filled with lot of expert critics. It was the first time that I had ever been af- fected by a house" We went along for one round. I was dancing around trying to feel him out and keeping my left hand in his face.
 Starting the second round l thought he was open for right hand and I worked him around for 1t. He was led into a trap and l got right hand over to the jaw and he went down for the count.
 I have been asked a thousand times how I felt the first time I had knocked out an opponent. I have always replied that l didn't know and l do not remember. I do not re- call that it brought any great thrill didn't think that he was down to stay and if I did have any emotion it was due to surprise when the count was finished over him. When I got back to the dressing room, I began 10 feel good over the victory, not particularly because oi the fact that I had knocked an oppo nent out but because l thought il would help me along in the game.
 went back to Philadelphia again and found enough work to keep me going. I figured that I had grad uated into the ranks of 'windups' and I wouldn't consider offers for any preliminary bouts or for any purse less than $50. I finished ur the year 1916 with a number of small bouts at little clubs. winning them all on decisions.
 Meeting With Jack Johnson.
 In 1907 we began to work around outside of Philadelphia. One nigh 12 of us went down to Lancaster where Diamond Lew Bailey was running boxing shows. l was to SC on with Lou Houck in ten-rouno wndup number. and Jack Johnson was the referee. I had no trouble in winning.
 Coming back to Philadelphia we were all very tired. The train was late and did not get into Lancaster until in the morning. We boxers had to pile into the smoker. while Johnson went back in another car with Bailey and some others of the "aristocracy."
 Johnson was always up to some kind of a joke and this night his idea of having a good time was to walk through the car just when we all had succeeded in going to sleep