Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-04

would have been. It was also just few
hours ride from any place in the Mid
ole West.
Only $4,000 at Fight.
Having arrived at that conclusion,
took the plunge. The erection OF the
arena alone cost me $4,000
But the people did not come-not In
. great numbers.
guess didn't size it up right. There
were no hard times then and that cam
not be given as an excuse. Everybody
had plenty of money and was eager to
spend it.
It is possible that the big fight was
ballyhooed a little too strong. Many
stayed away, believe, because of
general belief that it would be impos-
sible to get seats That, though, does
not fully explain 1t. The fact Is, the
people of the Middle West did not come.
The railroads at that time were I'M
der Government control and We had
great difficulty in arranging excursion
trains. Even so, more people could
have been accommodated.
built the arena large enough to seat
10000 people in pinch, and expected
$4,000. When the big day arrived we
had but $4,000 spectators and there
were great rows Of empty seats.
That, by the way, was the hottest
July 4 have ever seen.
Our receipts in money amounted to
$452. 900, less than half what had ex-
pected. Come to think of 1t, that
crowd was about proportionate to New
York ct that, when we consider the
population of the immediate surround
ings. 81 .as s:& = a'a
Great Day for Water.
I spoke of the weather. On the
morning of the fight hundreds of news
paper men were in the ringside seats as
early as O'Clock The heat was so
intense that some of them almost coll
lapSed. There was constant process
sion of boys carrying them water Be-
fore the time for the fight many of
them had raised umbrellas to escape
the burning sun. This furnished an
unusual scene at prize fight
AS said in my last article, I really
felt sorry for Dempsey when met him
for the first time and signed him up
to fight Willard. He looked so small
that 1t seemed impossible for him to
win. When I saw him in training.
though, revised my opinion. Though
apparently small. he was as 1.-the as a
panther. Still, 1 had doubts that he
could win.
Many others felt sorry for Dempsey.
He was immensely popular with those
who knew him personally. A lot of
fans wanted to see him win. but doubt
ed that he could do it. Willard was
q big favorite in the betting.
number of the newspaper writer's,
the boxing experts, had a bunch that
rr4xa ~
said so openly in their columns and
others made bets on Dempsey. 1 re-
member one prominent writer who
made bet of 5000 against $4,000 that
Dempsey would knock Willard out in
the first round. That was looked upon
as a joke bet.
Almost Winning Get.
1t really resulted from an argument
during the training period The news
paper writer insisted, though, that he
had made good bet. How close he
came to winning is well known now
In fact. thousands of fans believe tc
this day that he would have won, but
for an accident in ringing the bell fol
the end of the first round.
In my whole life I don't believe ]
ever have seen more confidence in q
mans face than that in Dempsey:
when he took his corner just before the
gong sounded. Over in the other corner
Willard looked like a huge elephant
about to crush a panther. 1t seemed
impossible that man of that size coule
be downed by man like Dempsey.
When all the preliminaries were owe!
and the gong sounded, Dempsey fairl!
leaped from his corner. Without an.
hesitation or cautious Sparring he tor
at Willard. Getting inside the big arm
of the champion, Dempsey let fly :
right-handed swing. 1t landed flush OF
the jaw of Willard and the big gian
was knocked as fat as pancake. H
tumbled like house hit by cyclone
The crowd actually gasped in surprise
In other minute the whole place was Il
an uproar. Visions of new champion
were in the minds of the crowd.
Down Goes Jess Again.
Bang. Dempsey socked another on
squarely on Jess jaw, the moment h
got TO his feet. Down he went agar
I haven't the writing ability to de
scribe the scene at that moment.
was something like that exciting nigh
when Firpo knocked Dempsey out c
the ring The people went crazy. vii
lard went down seven times.
1t was during this excitement tia
something went wrong with the gor
and it failed to work. I am not |
position to say, because / do not knoN
but there are many who insist tn;
Willard would have been knocked OIL
il the gong had sounded at the rigl
moment or if the principals had heal
the efforts of the timekeepers.
Tn fi1n rreec Spatc there IVac q rom
motion. Everybody believed for SCI
ond that the fellow who had made Il
bet of 5000 against $4,000 had won.
After that it was all DempSey's figh
il" His first punches, like battertng ram
had taken the force out of Willard
return blows. He could not recover.
Thinks Jack Greatest.