The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-09-07
ny ZOE WILLIAMS

BY JOE WILLIAMS
| By now the world knows how the
two Jacks Dempsey and keArnse-
split. But only few know exactly
| how this friendship that was destin-
| cd to run into million dollar closed
| corporation was begun.
| Briefly. it was begun in Frisco
| grocery over two large foamy and
otherwise desirable skuttlcs of beer.
, At the time Dempsey was working
in the shipyards. having surrendered
all ambitions to be "a fighter follow
| ing start that was neither cncOur-
| aging from an artistic standpoint nor
| ailuring as a means to sudden wealth
kcarns was currently engaged in
bally hooing one "ted" Watson, n
lightweight. into synthetic greatness,
presenting him to all and sundry as
"a combination Of Cans, Nelson, Nc
Farland. Welsh and the good Mar
quis Of Quecnsberry himself.
But kcarns was not getting very
far and his bankroll had that lean
| and hungry look which made mark
| cd man Vt Cassius in Mr.. Ccasar's
| period.
On the particular night that Dcmp-
scy and kearns met for the first time
| kcarms was flatter than kid"
Breads nose. It being payday ut the
! shipyards. Dempsey was Flush.
Which is to say he had Il check call
| ing for 25 smackcrs.
Jack Was Buying EN-
In those days Dempsey was not cx-
actly uvcrsc to looking upon the
Pilsncr when it was pale, though in
later years he became "a total abstain
! er.
| Having the money, Dempsey was
doing the buying. Not having any
money and not caring whose money
was doing the buying, kcarns con
ccntratcd on drinking.
It soon became observable to Dcmp-
sey. as the hours passed. that the
little runt down at the end Of the log
was remaining singularly aloof t.
the common courtcsics of the even
ing.
whats the matter, buddic, are y0t
bustcd?' asked Dempsey.
"Cleaner than WHISTLE" kcarn:
answered
Thcrcupon Dempsey went into hi
kick. counted out 16 dollars and hand
cd eight to Kcarns.
That's half what got. It's yours.
That was tho beginning Of friend
ship and a business association tina
has made history Of sundry and div
crs sorts.
From that night on Dempsey AM
Kcarns operated on Il $3.50 basis.
Prosperity didn't come to the tw
right away They had plenty o
tough pickings before Tex Rickar
gave them their shot against Jes
Willard at Toledo.
81 Coming east in the prc-champion
ship days, they got as far as Chicag
when the bottom dropped, out Of tn
cxchequer. Kcarns hooked his dis
monds to get enough for hotel an
board.
This was in the winter of 1911
s. Tommy Walsh. the Chicago manage
r who handled Joe Mandot, Pal Moor
! and Jock Malone, tells how Kcarn
n got him to fix it up so Dcmpse
It could work out at Howard Carr
y gymnasium in the loop.
Whipped Smith In Round
nj "kearns was Desperate" recall
y Walsh. ale was telling cvcrybod
I, in one breath that Dempsey was tn
. next heavyweight champion and
the next he was offering to sell ha
% interest in him for $1,000. What
g buy that would have becn!'
Dempsey and kearns got brea
!, when a matchmaker from Racin
:" Wis, blew into town looking for
pushovcr to send against Homo
= Smith, who was then shaping up as
% legitimate opponent for Willard.
. Kcarns offered him Dempsey f.
:, anything he wanted to pay, which wa
:, little enough, the matchmaker M
:. having heard Of either Dempsey {
- Kearns. The two had to pay the
q own carfarc to get to Racine whcl
= the fight was held. but the trip ";
c worth Whlic. Oc"psc! w" :"
i. round.