Evening star., 1924-03-30

man. This brought him to. then
Firpo picked him up as If he had been
a baby and carried him to his corner.
Poker Appeals to Firpo.
The four-day journey from Havana
to Vera Cruz was spent in playing
poker. Firpo is an excellent poker
player and he loves the American
game which is so popular in Argen-
tina. The South Americans have
added a number Of rules to the game
thing. Firpo is a very lucky player
and as he won most of the way
across, mostly from Mexicans who
Joined the game, he was in excellent
spirits when we reached Vera Cruz.
1t always has been a source of
wonder why Firpo is so fond of trav-
cling. He does not visit any of the
places OF interest, but just likes to
move from one place to another.
When he is not playing poker he
looks out of the car windows, and he
is satisfied to spend days in a train
doing nothing else but these two
things. He always sleeps in an upper
berth. He prefers ii. and he sleeps
Firpo did show considerable inter
est in the fact that more than a hun
dred soldiers accompanied us on the
trip, armed TO the teeth. They were
there in case of attacks by bandits.
The conductor told Firpo that it fire.
quently happened that the train was
attacked but that the soldiers always
managed to repulse the bandits.
.compadre." This is a peculiar word
typical of Argentina. Its literal
translation is "compatriot." but the
way Firpo uses it il has several
meanings. In this particular case it
meant What country"
Gets Thrills in Mexico.
Firpo had several thrills in Mexico.
The first came when we reached Es-
peranza. Firpo wanted to get out and
stretch his legs. but the conductor at
once locked the doors at both ends of
the Pullman car. He explained that
as soon as a station of Importance
was reached the doors were locked,
be responsible for the safety of the
passengers baggage. FirpO again
said 'compadre." THIS time il may
have meant damn
The Firpo fight at Mexico city
against Jim Hibbard Of Buffalo, y. Y.
was promoted by De Segurola, an OPP
cratic tenor, who never before had
promoted a prize fight He wore a
monocle and everything, and wheN
things went well he sang snatches of
Madame Butterfly" and when things
went badly he sang "MephistopheIes.
During our stay at Mexico he mostly
sang ''Mephistopheles, and he had
good reason to.
Upon our arrival at Mexico CITY
we were driven to the hotel, and Sc
gurola introduced Firpo to Kid Saw
age, Sam Langford, Jim Tracy and
Fireman Jim Flynn. All these prize
fighters, who once had been more or
less famous, were now endeavorfng
TO earn a livelihood in Mexico. Firpo
solemnly shook hands with all Of
them, then turning to me remarked:
This place seems to be a Sanatorium
for retired prize fighters. ! wonder
if I'll end my days here
Owing TO the poStponement of
Firpo's match at Havana our stay in
Mexico was very short. There was a
clause in Firpo's contract with Segu-
rola that in the event of rain the
match would be postponed one week.
Segurola hoped IL would rain, so that
the match would be postponed and he
would have more time to advertise it
Rain, but No Postponement.
1t did rain--in fact, ii poured-but
the match wasn't postponed. Lady
Luck was certainly against Segurola.
The fight was held in La Plaza de
Toros," probably the most beautiful
bull ring in the world. Tremendous
preparations were made. Police, sol
diers and fremen were on hand Alto
gether they numbered more than d
thousand strong to keep order among
a crowd which did not exceed 5000.
Every one of the 5000 present was
armed to the teeth. Spectators ar
rived at the ringside with double
belts of cartridges and two revolvers.