New Britain herald., 1927-09-23
GENE EXPLAINS
 HIS COMEBACK
Smelling Salts and Insults
 GOaded Him on

ol Snltlllng salts ana 'llttlc hell saved the heavyweight champion ship for Gene Tunney. The title holder said so himself today.
 The whiff Of aromatic spirits and the strong language Of Jimmy Bron- son Genes chief second. sent the champion out from his corner in the eighth round "tghting mad" to ship Jack Dempsey the punching menace who had foored him for the count of nine in the seventh and taun'ed him to come on and fight"
 In the general forum that took place at Tunney's hotel quarters after one of the greatest heavy weight fights in history. Bronson admitted that the arousing of Tun- ney 10 such pitch that he met tlring Dempsey at his own game and punched out a victory when the heavyweight crown seemed lost was not the object of the salts and ti- rade. But it won for Tunney. Just few moments before. Jimmy told me to keep working to- ward Dcmpsey's right side to avoid the left hook" said Gene. "I did that all right until Jack wobbled. Then I went in 10 get him. grew careless and the first thing l knew I was on the floor.
 My first thoughts were, What is this? How did l get here? I ought Ito be ashamed of myself. That smash stunned me but I could have gotten up all right at the count Of five.
 "But instead I looked across 10 my corner and there was Jimmy, waving to me to stay down. So I did until the count reached nine, Then I made very certain that would bc hit with no more punches like that, at least until my head cleared.
 Dempsey said: Come on and fight He could have said: Come on and get hit and knocked down again My lips never moved but my mind said to Dempsey: So long, Jack. I'll See you next round when I'm feeling better Then I went to dancing and when I felt better I came back and won the fight"
 Then Jimmy Bronson took up the tale.
 Gene came back 10 his corner after the seventh badly hurt. I asked him how he felt.
 "Don't worry about me, I'm all right Gene said. So 1 gave him the smelling salts.
 Then I asked him again: How do you feel. Gene and again he an swercd: Don't worry about me, Jimmy I'm all right So that time gave him a little hell. some more smelling salts. and some more hell and sent him out there to answer the bell for the eighth. l really made him mad enough to chase Dempsey around but l didn't know it.
 Tunney was unable 10 shake hands with his guests due 10 pain and swelling caused by too tight ap- plication of the tape used 10 bind his fighting bandagcs. Not q mark showed on his face as he chatted with Mayor William Hale Thomp- son. of Chicago. and dozens of not ables who held impromptu court in the Tunney suite.
 The conqueror of Dempsey twice within a few days over a year had nothing but praise for the former champion today when the heat of the "open letter" controversy had died and talk of fouls. poor sports manship. and long counts subsided.
 Pm afraid hes through, now" Gene said a bit respectfully. Now that his dream of rcgaining the title has faded 1 doubt if he ever will
 fight again. He has been a grand warrior, one of the greatest in the history of the ring, and the gamest foeman I ever faced.
 "I'd like another shot at him just to prove that I could go out there and slug with him. toe-to-toe and whip him at his own game. l did if in the final rounds. I could do it again."
 But the man who wielded the smelling salts and doled out the "hell'' when necessary. shook his head. Apparently memories of the heart wrench that took every mom- Der Of the Tunney entouragc when Gene suddenly hit the floor was too real and recent for comfort. Tunnoy will spend the next few days with friends in Cleveland be fore returning 10 New York. He plans to leave tonight after sleep ing most of the day. Within week or two, Gene will hike for the Maine woods for q vacation of indefinite length. He has no ring plans. sees no worthy opponent in sight, but Nould prefer 10 fight twice in the coming year if only 10 keep in the best of condition.