The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-18
Dempsey Ducks Many Fights Out Of Rine
Former Heavyweight Champ
Declares He VIII Never Man.
age a Fighter
By EDWAR J. NEIL

- 49, VVAAASA> ~ NAlA
New York, Feb. 18.-(Py-Can you
imagine Jack Dempsey running away
in a panic because a 135-pounder
dared him to put up his fists and
fight like a man? 1t has happened.
The Old Man Mauler would tackle
anything that ever lived inside the
ropes Of a prize ring, but a pug
nacious out in public and you'll lose
part of your audience abruptly. Juries
in damage suits have ways of sylapa-
thizing with the amateur warrior.
"Drunks," he says, ARE the worst.
They think they can lick the world.
I've run away from more fights out
side the ring than I ever had in
them"
Dempsey probably won't fight again
because no one has asked him to. His
comeback "feelers" haven't excited
anyone to make him an offer. He'd
rather keep on %refereeing, but he is
subject to financial temptation. One
thing he has sworn never to do is
manage a fighter. They gave him
Leo Lomski once and he gave Leo
right back.
Is Great Host
He is of the greatest hosts in
sport. One party at his $25O,OOO home
in Hollywood cost $4,000. He lives
to talk about the swimming pool that
cost So, 900 and the 400 persons who
can dance in the ballroom at one
time. He hates to be alone. The
bigger the crowd the better. he likes
it.
When wandering around the coun-
try Dempsey carries q pocketful of
cash and any hard luck story is worth
10 or 20. Obvious charity embarrasses
him.
He was sitting with Tex Rickard at
his attorneys table inside the court
room rail on the opening day of Jack
Kearns' suit against him when he no.
ticed a big fellow with q pronounced
limp coming into the room. He turned
away quickly and scrooched way down
in the seat.
Only n person In the place saw
him drag all the money he had from
both pockets, put the bills in one
hand and the change back, lean over,
whisper to Rickard, and as quietly
frisk him Of every bit of paper money
he carried.
Dempsey Strengthened up then,
crumpled the bills into his right hand,
and with a show of great surprise
discovered the big, dragging fellow as
he was helped into a seat. He rushed
over, wrung his hand for a long time,
chatted with him, and came back
to his seat. His right hand was empty.
Helps Friends
THAT crippled guy used to work
with Dempsey, but the punching
ruined him." someone explained.
He's probably the champion God
father of America. He never misses
a marriage, birth, death, christening
or the sailing of a friend. There is
a gift or personal note. His
is so hearty it sometimes dis
shoulders. He likes to play
Estelle Taylor always wears his or
chids Or gardenias when they're to-
yether. He's crazy about youngsters.
greatest disappointment is that
~ q AASA1C VI LAD OWA. VIlCIl LIJCy
,ook the bandageS off his remodeled
nose his wife gasped "Ginsboig' and
she has called him that ever since.
Likes Delicatessen Food
He thinks delicatessen food is the
yrandest thing that ever happened.
When in New York with his wife he
axes her to delicatessens and they lug
PAPER bags full of bologna, liverwurst.
olutwurst, pickles. cheese and potato
to their hotel room and have
zig feeds. He's an expert on antique
urniture, but is so restless that he
amt sit still long enough to read a
'ook through. He SLAVES three times
day in the summer. but his voice
queaks. He smokes a cigar as though
le was afraid 1t would explode.
Dempsey set his brother, Barney,
lp in business in order to make a
lace for Jerry the Greek as his rub
'er. The business didn't do so well.
Jerry bought land with his salary
md struck oil.
One of his greatest delights is to
aid a haberdashery. He wears only
'lue, double breasted suits, but he
'uys shirts, ties, socks, underwear by