The Washington times., 1929-01-23


in history.
South America was paying its debt
to Tex Richard
Again Richard was playing the
game Of public demand in his match
making. But this time with an
added feature. In previous battles
he had waited for public demand to
express itself. and then had stepped
energetically in to the task OF sup,
ply. This time he had taken time
by the fetIocak and had bullied pub
lie demand with his own Snowman
ship.
Ii is doubtful IL anyone ever
knew Richards real feelings az
regards that mach. In public
he always insist I'd that Firpu
had chance, and from time to
time he would make the predie.
fi0n that ''tEat big felles might
stop the 81 imp"
On the other hand. he realized by
t. is time that Dempsey was his ace
IN the holy, and he waHIdH't wilfulty
take any chances on running his
meal ticket.
Others were more outspoken. Box
ing writer's, watching the two men
in training, declared that Eirpo
hadn't a chance. Dempsey will
murder him" they commented. But
even in their condemnation they
were So influenced by the colorful-
ness of the Argentine giant that they
tempted their judgment with
hcneyed words Of ballyhoo.
Then came the fight.
AMI with it the unfolding Of ring
history that 10000 wild-eyed fans
will never forget so long as they live,
Dempsey care out of his corner.
raging IKE t aly 10 run
smack into a Firpo right. He went
down Ia his knee. and came up
swinging. Ffrpo went down Again.
And again. As one man the $4,000
rose to their feet shrieking. yelling,
mad. After that came pandemon-
jun. So fast was the action, so ka-
leidescopic the turns of events that
not any two men in the whole
throng could a ZEE as to what hap.
pened.
Up from somewhere came 4 Fir
poian right and Dempsey the Tiger
of the Ring, the champion OF the
world, went catapulting over the
ropes and into the lap of a news.
paper man. a championship hung
IN the balance And Tex Richard.
ws.tchinr from q ringside seat, turn
ed his head. as he afterward admit
| ted. He was afraid Of what he Was
about to see.
I 4. E -
The rest il ring history.
Boosted hack into the ring.
Dempsey held On until the bell
rang--and then in the second
round went out, carefully ana
casually. ana dropped his man
a. d butcher felIs m Ok.
TO this writer, his nose hugging
the ring floor that hectic night, GER
tain things win always stand out.
He win never forget the shock Of
seeing Dempsey, heels in the air,
sliding over the ropes and outside
the ring. He can never forget the
excitement 81 Jack Kearns. clirsing
and striking cit Jerry the Greeie be
cause he didn't produce smelling
salts which Kearns had in his
pocket all the time.
Nor will he ever forget Sid Mer-
Ger, standing to his feet, his eyes
staring. his jaws working convJIl-
sively. muttering aloud as fingers
instinctively pecked away at a
typewriter, spelling nothing.
What night What 4 battlel
And what triumph for Tex
Rickard, who had taken Firpo when
other Judges said he wOuIdn t do,
had carried him along over the hard
places and had turned him out the
finished product playing his part
in the blood drama that ripped civil.
izatior.s veneer from 10000 re-
spected citizens and turned them,
for the moment, into raging wolves
bowling for the kill.
Tex Rickard sat on top OF the
world that nigl1t-his judgment vim
dicated. his showrnanship proved be-
You'd peradverlture OF doubt.
It was his one big moment the
masterpiece Of drama, the fulfill
ment Of life's dream.
There were other great events 10
come into the life Of Tex Richard.
Other fight Epectacles that for at
tendance and gate receipts would
sends this one into pale insignifI-
canoe. There was, looming ahead.
the opening OF a new Garden that
would bring reality out Of anticipa.
ton: the coming realization Of a
dream which would see the big
people working hand In hand.
hut 50 TAR as this writer ID
concerned the mention Of Tex
Richard recalls the Richard of
that September night at the
Polo Grounds.
A Richard sitting, close to the
ring, his hands folded over the ton
Of his cane and his chin resting on
his hands-watchingl Watching!
And later a Richard strolIing
around through the empty seats
after the throng had left. pushing
here and there among the busy
newspaper men, clicking at bits Of
paper with HIS cane. chewing away
at his cigar ana musing to himself