, 1923-01-21

leather crested, up the the Shi
One knowing the MeKican's history
might wonder what he thinks about
as no sits staring at tho surf. Does
he reflect, for instance, on tho name
of his county.
Ventura-venture. essay. adventure.
The liquid Spanish syIlables evoke
dreams OF romant o deeds. In our
lharsher tongue 1t is not OF romantic,
but OF valiant deeds one thinks. And
valiant deeds need valor; and valor, In
the argot or the environment in which
.Ybarra has spent most of his 81 years,
is usually pronounced CUTS.
He Had 80, 600 Admirers.
It might be that Don Jose ia think
Ing Of that Fourth of July afternoon
In 1912. when he crawled through the
ropes OF the arena at Vernon, near
Los Angeles, and heard 10000 spec
~.tators scream his name
Joe Rivers
Remembering that scene. he might
appropriately give a thought to the
brutal translation of Ventura. For II
he had been capable OF summoninF
from the innsrmost recesses Of his
heart that reserve OF courage the real
'ly great pr re fighter always ian com
mhnd for a dying effort, Senior Ybarra
would have whipped Ad wolgast that
holiday matinee and become light.
weight champion OF the world.
In that memorable he
gave Wolgast a terrible beating. His
long left arm would snake out. Ads
head would bounce up and back, his
chin pointing above the horizon
sw shI crash would go that RICH
and Rivers would step back to see tn.
result.
In the middle OF the thirteent'
round both launched right Bwings q
the same time; both fists reached
their objectIves-the jaw-slmultan
ously: and both men fell with a crash
Rivers lay on his side under the ropes
wolgast, also knocked almost entirely
across the ring. lay nearer the m ddle
FatefuI Count Is Begun.
A great hand clutched 80. 900 throat
and kept them hushed. The referee
voice cache the farthest tires. his
arm rising and falling as he counted
One.
Two.
Three
Rivers drew up one leg, raised hi
head, and looked keenly across tn
ring. Unconscious men do not lool
keenly at anything.
Four.
Five
Wolgast. on his face. arms on
stretched, ! fled his PUPPY c"ountenanc
from the resin. drew his hands slowl
in. and dragged himself to his elbows
A thing in torment. he shook h
heoad. the blood gushing from Il
mouth.
Six.
Seven
Rivers watched his foe pull his legs
up under his belly. lie there huddled
for a momen on his elbows and
knees. then force himself groggiIy TO
his hands and feet, and rise. sway
ing, blinded, sick and nauseated-but
erect. Erect and dRuntless and ready
to carry on!
The Mexican Dogged II!
And Rivers closed his eyes and let
his face drop back on his forearms
while the white Tipped crowd heard:
Eight.
Nine.
Ten and out
o, yes, valor is the prettIer word.
but quits tells this tale.
And II Senior Ybarra, stirring un.
kasly in mis- rocking chair, prefers to
forget that hour when Opportunity
extended her arms and begged h IN
10 embrace her. perhaps he may re.
call n Fourth OF July afternoon in
1913 when he crawled through the
=, ropes in San Francisco and heard
10000 spectators yell his AnElicized
nom de Euerre.
Hero again Don Jose might medi.
tate on the vulgar translation OF
Ventura For there, too. Opportunity
beckoned and no turned his head. For
ten rounds they watched the scientific
and merciless butchery of the new
champ on. Willie Richie. While
Ritchie's physical measurements sur.
passed Rivers. Rivers was by far
no greater natural fighter.
QuaiIs Before Rare Courage
And in tho eleventh round Richie
staggered out OF his corner. stood
reellnE In the middle OF the ring,
psered dazedly with d shEured eyes,
spat blood from his throat. and Bpaks
his taunt:
why you lousy Ereaser. they told
me you could hitg'
And then he advanced 10 where his ,
enemy stood, shifty eyed before this
rare courage. whipped his right from
his hip TO the MexXican's chin. and
clutChed the ropes while Eddie
Graney oounted the challenger out.
Rivers YVES, indeed. n marvel.
Glance at the list OF his battles and
read amazed that he who whipped
! such boys could not whip n champion.
Danny Webster, Jimmy Reagan, Joe
Coster, Frankie Conley. knockout
Brown" Matty McCus. Steve Nor
risey, Johnny o'Lsary. were among
his knockout victims; while he won
dec BiOns from Joe Mandot, Willie
Beecher, Frankie Russell. Harvey
Thorpe, Stanley YoalVum and Johnny
Kilbane.
Probably no boxer who failed TO
reach the top ever made as much
money As Rivers. He fought at least
fifteen lights on the coast in which
his end OF the purse averaged SIC. 900,
while his earnings elsewhere totaled
- least sEn mn