Evening star., 1926-09-23

Rival sports crashed the gate to
compete with boxing. Banners over
the stadium advertised professional
foot ball in Philadelphia and hockey
in New York.
In the final swirl Of enthusiasm
there was no lessening of sentiment
for the challenger among his thou
sands Of well wishers, but lengthening
the champion indicated that the hard
headed bettors were not listening to
their heat beats. Little discussion of
wagers was heard in the stadium,
growing more and more crowded each
minute.
Airplane Flight Pleases.
Tunney's sensational airplane flight
from Shawnee on Delaware caught
the fancy Of the crowd and supplied
an unexpected preliminary thrill.
1.-THE Marine entry who was once
a soldier and sailor too threw ter
ror into the stout heart of Tex Rick
ard when he took to the air to COM
plete his martial triumvirate on the
day of his great opportunity. The
promoter made no secret of his wish
that one-half of his championship
fighting crew had waited until the
title was decided before he took his
second lesson of his life in aviation.
Until today's dash from his training
camp to the battlefield. Tunney had
flown but once. He laughed off the
concern his air dash caused those
most interested in the financial end
of the bout, taking refuge in the
trite but expressive "all's we'll that
ends WELL"
Fails To Raise Pulse.
The calm that characterized the
challenger 'in the closing days Of his
training did not desert him as he at
tempted and completed a forward
pass to top it off. Stepping into the
he rated a parachute. When told that
he did not but had the assurance of
the airplane driver that they would
go down together Tunney laughed
and said: That's enough assurance
for me-"
Arriving in Philadelphia for the
formal weighing-in ceremony and
examination by the medical repre-
sentative Of the Pennsylvania Athletic
Commission, Tunney's heart was
found normal. NO extra pulse beats
had been added by the novel con-
veyance chosen for the last lap. This
bore out the conviction of those In
intimate touch with the contender
that he has nerve in plenty, but no
nerves.
Weighs In at 1851.
Tunney's weight also proved a sur
prise when he scaled 1852 pounds
at 2 o'clock. He was expected to en-
ter the ring at approximately 1856 to
1877 pounds. Claiming from the flrst
Of his training period that he knew
better than any one else his condi-
ton and what he needed to perfect 1T,
Tunney set his sights for 1856 pounds
at bout time. He may have missed
by ounces.
Jack Dempsey, although his crown
was still on perfectly straight, was
pushed out of the early spotlight by
his rival.
Dempsey. weighing 100 pounds at
Q o'clock, also surprised the wise ones
by his weight, being under the figure
expected.
Dempsey, however. had no airplane
and could not make a dramatic en-
trance. He contented himself with
the slower. but safer t ain, and had
no Philadelphia welcome on his ar
rival not long before time for him
to enter the ring.
The failure of the expected sell-out
to materialize (some 1000 seats being
left at box office) had the spectators
''out" on their feet.
Many were overstocked with the
higher priced bits Of pasteboarG and
We're forced to take a loss. Some
tickets with q retail valde of $3.50