The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-03

Down around the circulation room, of the Journal I had my first ex- periences in the use of fists, both With and without the gloves. Get papers was chiefly matter of the survival of the fittest and the best battlers got out on the streets first with their papers.
 It took some time before I was able to graduate from the rear ranks and the process of going up the line, step by step. was discouraging and at times rather painful. The newsies used to hang out in large room adjoining the circulation room while they were awaiting the next edition. The period of waiting was usually marked by many fights and battles. Finally the boss, deciding perhaps that since 1t had to be fighting hour on the daily schedule it would be better to make it more orderly. provided some boxing gloves.
 Appearance Of the gloves was talk ken an an indication that fighting was an officially approved occupa- ton as a pastime and everyone went to it then. Crowds used to gather When the gang gathered bunch of gloves would be tossed in among tlem and the battles started. Out of that circulation room came some of the best fighters in the Middle West in later years.
 Two Dollars For First Fight.
 Boxing sort Of came naturally to me l knew none of the fine points of the game but I was unusually fast on my feet and before long I was looked upon as one of the best the Cincinnati Times-Star was sports editor of the Journal at that time and he was also acting as a matchmaker of several clubs. Heu used to pick most of his preliminary boxers from the boys In the circu- afternoon and asked me if I wanted to Ego on" that night. The lure of a couple of dollars got me and agreed. It was that night that I got my name Britton.
 Along in 1903 I really got my start In the ring. I had never thought of boxing as a business but by going on in short preliminary bouts. it was possible to pick up from three to ten dollars once or twice a week and that was a lot of money for youngster in those days.
 The first Classy" card I got on Melody championship bout. In those days they didn't make out the pre- liminary cards. The matchmake CT just told you to "be there" and when you arrived he would tell you who your opponent was. I was sent named Kid Sweeney I weighed about 125 pounds then and he was little heavier, but I was faster on my feet and l won the decision. We split ten dollar purse. seven and three. I managed to sneak into a 3- saw Ryan win the welterweight championship with one punch.
 Up Against An Q 6ld H Q Timer.
 Other h--.s were offered me with more frequency then and I began tp feel that I was pretty good. l wasn't heavy enough to win many feet that I had no trouble winning decisions. After the Cans McGovern scandal had stopped public boxing. I went down to the Rosemont club one night with crowd from the Journal. Danny Gillen, an old timer was on for preliminary and the boy supposed to go on with him didn't show up. The announcer asked for volunteer and I went on. got draw with him and we spli, even a ten dollar purse.
 Along in 1903 and 1904 boxing wasn't going so good Tn ChlcaEO ana we started hitting the outskirts. l went over to Hammond, Ind, and beat Grover Hayes, one of my pals from Chicago. I then went to Mil waukee and got a decision from Jack Nolan, who was regarded as a very good boy at that time. So far l had met with nothing but success. I was getting fairly good repu- tation and naturally could demand more money. was then getting from $15 to s25 for a bout and l thought I was getting a huge roll and would soon be rich.
 O O o
 Knocked Out-First And Last Time
 The first big setback came soon after that when l was knocked out for the first and last time. I was