The Washington times., 1928-11-21

We Travelled around~in the min
Ing camptowns offering $50 to any
man I didn't flatten in four rounds.
Inasmuch as We never had al
much as $50 at any one time, It
was up to me to knock out all
comers eor risk being lynched in
any town where l failed to and
the old kayo. and was asked to
produce the $50.
One night think it was in the
town of Olathe, Coll was TO give
a fellow a four-round chance as
the concluding act of a minstrel
show. / was to be paid $35 for my
''act'' meaning that if / stopped
the other fellow in four sessions
got s35, but, II, / didn't. he got
my s35 and also SIS more out OF
the Malloy Dempsey combine, which
he wouldn't have received because
the joint cash balance of the Nal,
lon-Dempsey company was Sand
no more.
The first round wasn't half
over when knew the dude
wasn't going to last any four
rounds. So | had visions Of cOi-
lecting that $35 and already
was spending my half of it.
Just then the sheriff jumped
into the ring and said that prizes
fighting was against the law,
and that we'd have to stop.
The crowd howled. 1t wanted ac-
tion-not the stopping OF the show.
So the sheriff bawled out:
"Fightin' is agin the law and
there amt gonna be no more fight
in! But wrestlin' amt again the law
If these fellows want to wrestle it's
all right"
..Let 'em wrestle,' demanded the
crowd.
That put me In a tough spot for
the fellow had been fighting was
q 200-pounds wrestler. who promptly
agreed to wrestle me. l wasn't so
.'hot' about the idea. But the
wrestler was-and the crowd sec
onded his motion.
"An right-all right bawled
Andy at him finally. Dempsey
will wrestle you but not under the
terms we made on the fight"
"Sure-the same terms" insisted
the wrestler. IF he don't throw
me best two out of three ] get the
t5O'
Nix protested Andy. For Andy
knew all about my chance against
wrestler who outWeighed me so
pounds. Listen, you big clown
You get SO If Dempsey doesn't out
wrestle you and not cent if he
beats you"
The crowd was yelling for
aefion. The wrestler took IL as
his cue to demand $50. He fig
ured Andy and wouldn't refuse
In face Of the bowling mob.
But Andy leaned close to him.
s'You accept that so proposition
or I'll get my boy to punch you
right on the nose. Do you accept
''All right $40 is a bargain
agreed the wrestler. whose nose /
lad hit twice in the abbreviated
bout and who didn't seem eager 10
have me bump it again,
lost the first fall in 19 minutes,
the second in and that ended the
show. The wrestler got $40 Of my
hoped for s35 and Andy and /
split the other 1926.
Years later-earIy in 1871 was
touring with show through Penn.
sylvania That was just after /
was matched to meet Jess Willard
In 1919. a few months before the
fight. I was offering large money
to any of the "all-comers" who
would stand up for four rounds.
One nIght. while / was playing
in the Penney coal regions. 1t was
arranged / was to take on two
men, both of them giants. With
No. 2 sitting in the wings, l
knocked out No. l in the first
round and wasn't particularly
gentle with that job because No.
was a husky who had some skill
and punch, and while 1t was a
wild punch, it looked like 2 mur-
dernus thing if il ever landed. So
! didn't take any chances with him.
Immediately after the No.
bout was over No. declared
he wouldn't fight me-that he
would wrestle me. lie said he
would wrestle without wanting
any pay for his services. win.
lose or draw. All he wanted
was chance 10 get square in
behalf OF his pal.
wasn't 50 keen about it. because
never had seen the fellow before
and he was almost the size of Luis
F'irpo, and although ] had learned
a little something about the racket
since the days with Andy Malloy.
/ wagn't wrestler--that's all.
The audience was yelling for the
next bout-iIppatien about the de.
lay. I wanted to box, but this No.
2 fellow wouldnt fight; he insisted
upon wrestling. SO | finally agreed.
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