Evening star., 1926-10-13

! was OH the SuDJSCl VI HAS ldlC OpD-
nent.
I've been gratifed." he said, "t
see how the public attitude ha'
changed toward Jack since he los
the championship. There never wa;
any really good reason for his un
popularity. He didn't go to the war
| yes But others that were of militar.
age didn't go either; people that have
become prominent since-and nobody
has remembered it on them.
Il never could quite understa nd
why he didn't; probably he was badly
advised But you can be certain of
one thing. 1t wasn't because he was
afraid of the war. There isn't
yellow streak as wide as a hair in
Jack Dempsey. He took his defeat
like a man and a sportsman and
gentleman. And the public is begin
ming to understand him--see! A fine
fellow-a better man in every way
than half the men he beat The
championship-and his popularity.
It's curious-when he had it he didn't
have it, and now that he's lost it,
he's got it,"
did you know him much before
the fight?" asked Bill Edwards. who,
occupying as he does the space of
three men. had planted himself con-
siderately in the doorway.
"Oh, sure, And a lot more about
him than / knew first-hand-See! For
years I was following Jack Dempsey
like his nemesis-always dropping in
just after he'd left. The room l took
for my first fight after the war, Jack
had just left. One accumulates a lot
of information about a man under
those circumstances. And 1 never
|, IL l. oil f1nf NJ n
his credit.
Had to Fight or Starve.
but the first time l ever met him
Il was only fighting preliminaries
then. Twas after I'd come back
from the war and couldn't get job
and had to fight or starve. I'd been
champion of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces over there. But the
public has short memory for the
war. Nobody remembered that.
They'd introduced Jack Dempsey
in the ring that night. I'd come
through the ropes after my bout and
he stopped me and shook my hand.
He said. I've heard of you. You
fought a nice fight. You'll do well
and 1 wish you luck
That's how he always was, as I've
known him-genuinely kindly--trying
to lend a helping hand.
THE next time / saw him, 1t was
different. I'd got the best Of Greb at
last. I'd realized for some time that
/ couldn't make the light heavy class
any more. / was going on into the
heavies and at the top of the class I
had to meet Dempsey.
Fate threw us together railroad
journey up from Atlantic City. There
l sat, with him. talking and sized him
up. l wonder if he guessed what was
going on in my mind? He'd hurt his
hand in his last bout. The skin was
peeling off. He'd grab a piece of skin
now and then as he talked and jerk
1t off. like that.
And l wasn't listening much to
his conversation, but just watching
that big pair of maulers and wonder
ing how they'd feel against my jaw
see. They stuck in my psychology. l
suppose because it's my weakness in
this game that l have small hands"
He stretched out one of these mem.
bers on his knee. We'll, Pixies Peak
Is a small mountain, too-compared
to Mount Everest.
THAT was my only handicap in the
fight. The gloves were made for
Dempsey's size hands and not for
mine"
Admits Rain Handicapped Him.
"Aw, Gene" spoke up Ed Van
Every-who was the only major
sports writer in New York to pick
Tunney before the fight and who sits
therefore very near to the throne
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