New Britain herald., 1926-09-08
(BY JOE WILLIAMS)

By now the world knows how the 1 split, But only a few know exactly how this friendship that was des- l tined to run into million-do ollar i closed corporation was begun. i Briefly. it was begun in a Frisco grogery over two large foamy and | otherwise desirable skuttlcs of beer. l At the time Dempsey was work ing in the shipyards, having sur rendered all ambitions to be a fighter following a start that was neither encouraging from an artistic standpoint nor alluring as a means to sudden wealth.
 Kearns was currently engaged in ballyhooing one Red" Watson, q lightweight, into synthetic greatness, presenting him to all and sundry as a combination of Cans, Nelson, Mcfarland, Welsh and the good Marquis of Que"nsberry himself.
 But kearns was not getting very far and his bankroll had that lean and hungry look which made a marked man of Cassius in Mr. Ceasar's period.
 On the particular night that Dempsey and Kearns met for the first time Kearns was natter than Kid" Broad's nose. It being pay day at the shipyards, Dempsey was flush" Which is to say he had a check calling for o5 smackers.
 Jack Was Buying 'Em
 In those days Dempsey was not exactly adevrse to looking upon the Pilsner when it was pale. though in later years he became a total ab- stainer.
 Having the money, Dempsey was doing the buying. Not having any money and not caring whose money was doing the buying, Kearns con- centratod on drinking.
 It soon became observable 10 Dempsey, as the hours passed, that the little runt down at the end of the log was remaining singularly aloof 10 the common courtcsies of the evening.
 Whats the matter puddle, are you busted ?" asked Dempsey.
 Cleaner than a whistle" Kcarns answered.
 Thereupon Dempsey went into his kick, counted out IS dollars and handed eight to Kearns.
 That's half what l got It's yours"
 That vas the beginning of friendship and a business associa- tion that has made history Of sun dry and divers sorts.
 From that night on Dempsey and kearns operated on a 50-5O basis.
 Prosperity didn't come to the two right away. They had plenty of tough pickings before Tex Rickard gave them their shot against Jess Willard at Toledo.
 Coming east in the pre- -champion- ship days, they got as far as Chi cago when the bottom dropped out Of the exchequer. Kearns hooked his diamonds to get enough for hotel and board.
 ms was in the winter of 1a1T Tommy Walsh, the Chicago manager who handled Joe Mandot, Pal Moore and Jock Malone, tells how kearns got him to fix it up so Dempsey could work out at Howard Carr's gymnasium in the loop.
 Whipped Smith in Round
 "Kearns was desperate" recalls Walsh. He was telling eervbodv in one breath that Dempsey was the next heavyweight champion and in the next he was offering to sell half interest In him for s2,OOO. What buy that would have been,"
 Dempsey and Kearns got break when a matchmaker from Racine. Wisconsin, blew into town looking for pushover to send against Homer Smith. who was then shap- ing up as a legitimate opponent for Willard.
 kearns offered him Dempsey for anything he wanted 10 pay, which was little enough, the matchmaker not having heard Of either Dempsey or kearns. The two had to pay their own carfare to get to Racine where the fight was held, but the trip was worth while. Dempsey
 l.