San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-10
DAY OVERTAKES
NATE LEWIS
IN STREET
Runyon Discovers Him Sick
in Bed Over the
Accident.
BY DAMON RUNYON
Universal Service staff Correspondent.

| lOkN Just bN-
fore leaving Chicago recently, II came
to my ears that my friend. Mr.. Nate
Lewis, the bald eagle of Michigan
| in the Hotel Morrison. A sympathe-
tic call was naturally in order.
/ found Mr.. Lewis arrayed in
Canton flannel night gown of the
Abraham Lincoln period. stretched out
on a bed of more or less pain, while
rubber from Mr.. Jim Mullen's gym
nasium was replacing in satchel
bottles of divers odorous unguents
with which he had evidently been
amounting the body of the invalid.
At the bedside | found Mr.. Eddie
Long, manager of Bud Taylor, the
bantam, Mr.. Samuel Wolff, formerly
private secretary to Mr.. Sam Z. Hall {;
Mr.. Phil Harrison, a light-heavy who
once fought under the management OF
Mr.. Lewis; Mr.. Pal Moore. OF Mem
phis. Tenn, who has just returned to
the management of Mr.. Lewis. and
various other citizens of the Middle
West.
WHY OPEN WINDOW:
They seemed to be enjoying large
black cigars. Mr.. Lewis himself
seemed to be enjoying one. The smoke
in the sick room was so thick that
the faces showed through It dim and
sketchily. l at once suggested open
ing window.
"What for?" demanded Mr.. Long.
l could think or no good reason, so
sat down and made inquiry as to the
nature and cause Of Mr.. Lewis illness.
It is not like Mr.. Lewis to be i'll.
i gathered that it was in the ma
ture of an accident.
1t seems that one recent day, due
to some strange meteorological phe-
romena, there fell over Chicago
strange fog. 1t turned the daylight
of reasonably pleasant afternoon
into darkness soon after the luncheon
hour. 1t was so dark that it was nee
essary to turn on the lights in the
stores.
GREEKS SPURIOUS CLAIM.
Mr.. Lewis had retired at his usual
hour that morning after completing
his official duties of seeing that every
body else had gone to bed. There is
a standing reward of $500 in Chicago
for evidence of anyone staying out
later than Mr.. Lewis. 1t is said that
some years ago, Nick the Greek. claim
ed the reward, alleging that he had
been out an hour later than Mr.. Lewis,
| but later it was discovered that the
Greeks claim was wholly spurious,
and based on mistaken identity.
1t seems that he had Mr.. Lewis
mixed up with Harry Hochstadter, the
Chicago sports writer. Mr.. Lewis
and Mr.. HochStadter resemble each
other behind the ears. The Greeks
claim was disallowed by the city coun-
ell, and he was so disgruntled that
he moved from Chicago. Nick the
Greek will not reside in any munich
| pality that harbors man who can
stay out later than himself.
In any event. Mr.. Lewis happened
| TO awaken at . o'clock in the after
noon of the foggy day in question, and,
running up his window shade, he saw
the great city in darkness. Mr..
Lewis naturally assumed that it was
night time and time for him 10 arise,
although a certain fatigue made him
feel that for some reason he had not
had all his usual rest.
He donned his apparel and sailed
forth with the most disastrous conS1-
quences to establish order of things in
the loop district in Chicago.
QUIT AHEAD OF TIME.
The day shift Of bell hops and
clerks in the Morrison Hotel, seeing
Mr.. Lewis, put on their hats and went
home, thinking they must have mad
yertently worked overtime. The traffic
cops in the streets, observing Mr..
Lewis. never troubled to look at their
watches. but walked away. leaving the
traffic in a terrible snarl.
Store keepers, noting the passing of
Mr.. Lewis, chased the shoppers out
of their stores and locked up. Several
night clubs opened hours ahead OF
time, and proprietors wondered what
was OBTAINING the clients. Business
generally was greatly confused by Mr..
Lewis appearance. because Mr.. Lewis
and night time are practically syn
onymous in Chicago.
As he passed the office Of the
Herald and Examiner. the editor spied
! him, and got out the first night edl-
! ton of the paper long before it was
due. Then suddenly the fog over the
city cleared, and Mr.. Lewis was
found in state of collapse at the
doors Of Mr.. Mullens' gymnasium.
The exposure TO the daylight was too
much for him.
Many citizens Of Chicago dropped in
on Mr.. Lewis during my short visit.
He is a popular man, and, moreover,
it seemed that the boys enjoyed shar-
ing his medicine with him. Meantime
Mr.. Lewis told me what a great fight
err is Mr.. Pal Moore of Memphis,
Tenn: Mr.. Moore nodding his assent
through the smoke screen.
FOND OF MOORE.
1 have always been rather fond OF
Mr.. Pal Moore of Memphis, Tenn.
But more on account of his personality
than his pugilistic prowess. He has
plenty OF what you might call vim
and vigor, and a large capacity for
amusing himself and others.
As pugilistic stylist, Mr.. Pal
Moore is in class by himself. He
never could punch much. but he is a
shadowy, elusive fellow in the ring.
He is the author of tine style of boxing
affected by Mr.. Jimmy Slattery Of
Buffalo. and Mr.. Mickey Garcia OF
Bushy Graham of Utica.
Mr.. Pal Moore boxes with his
hands down, eluding punches aimed at
him by weaving his body. Mr.. Stat
terry and Mr.. Garcia box with their
hands down, but they bounce around
on their legs more than Mr.. Pal Moore.
Mr.. Moore, at his best. could outscore
any bantam in the business and never
| lift his hands much higher than his