Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-20
Max SchmeIing's Life History;
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Early Boyhood Yarns Recalled

lin now, In a fine apartment which
her boy Make has provided with the
fruits Of his success. Mother-like,
she adored her son and his winning
of the championship was no surprise
to her She felt SUR that he would
win because Make told me he
would" The father was a huge
man. strong and tireless, known
throughout the country community
as unusually alert and intelligent.
When Max was still a mere baby,
the family moved to Hamburg. a
busting seaport or the Elbe. a mod
ern town. much like Boston or New
York. The elder Max. against the
wishes Of his family. went TO sea.
He became a helmsman for the
Hamburg American line.
The boy Max grew big. strong.
courageous and swift of foot. He
entered the Oldest free school of
Hamburg, a city proud ever today
Of the excellence Of its free schools.
He wrestled and fought with the
other kids. learned to swim, and
played soccer. which occupies a po-
sition in German sport correspond
ing to football in America. He was
good at turning or gymnastics.
In his trim military cap and sailors
blouse, Max toted his knapsack OF
books to school every day.
He could probably give Gene Tun-
ney ar argument about Shakes
peare right now. because the Brit
ish bard is pounded into the heads
OF German kids plenty early, and
Max got his share. he recalls. But
he preferred Jack London.
often he had to be reprlmanded
for his wild jumping and running
through the school building. Leather
balls and other athletic playthings
were much too often fondled behind
the broad covers of his elementary
geography.
For his fight with Jack Sharkey,
Max Schmeling received money,
fame and the heavyweight champ
ionship of the world. For his fight
with Edmund Loescher, a school,
mate. the first fight of the Schlager's
career. Make received a dozen solid
Whacks over taut homespuns with
the razor strop OF Herr Arpe, his
teacher.
right-year-old Max and the Ioes-
e. = boy had it out over some tri-
wi matter. The stern discipline OF
ite German empire reached even
II I'm the free schools at that time.
y n boys were strafed, according
"a he custom.
he Loescher boy wept profusely.
b the young Schmeling gave early
Q fence Of an ability TO take it,"
:. ing his teeth and not giving in
50 much as to whimper. Herr Arpe.
NJ doubt, pulled his punches for
he later recalled the incident and
admitted his secret admiration for
the resolute little German
Max was nine years old in 1914
when the world blazed tip In war
Id the streets of Hamburg were
lied with the long columns of
.eld-gray troops pressing endless
IN westward. Bullet-headed sailors
l0unged about the wharves. The
schoolboys enthusiastically practiced
the ~gooSe-Step.
Max's father was 40-too old TO
serve in the army. But his sea ex-
perience put him in a coast defense
squadron, and he spent the war
years on the gray and foggy North
Sea. Shore leave was difficult to
get, and Max. with his mother. his
younger brother, Rudolph, and his
kid sister. Edith. now dead. made
many visits TO Kiel and Wilhelms-
hafen to see the father Of the fam
lily when the ships we're in Tort.
The German empire went down
under the Allies knockout blows In
1918, and Max's father wasn't able
to get out Of the navy promptly. 1t
was tough shedding in Germany in
those days. with the country in con-
fusion, and the bread-lines. Par
ticulariy tough for the temporarily
fatherless family.
Max was a big strong boy OF IS.
the mar Of the family now. and the
time had come for him to 90 to work
IN the world.