Evening star., 1933-10-02
STR|BL|NG GR|MLY
SPARS WITH DEATH
Boxers Career Cut Short as
He Loses Foot in Road
y
Crash.

By the Associated Press.
MACON, Ga, October 2.-William
Lawrence (Young) Stribling, 29-year-
old heavyweight boxer, his ring career
ended by the amputation Of his left
foot as the result of an automobile
accident yesterday, was fighting for his
life.
PA" and Ma" Stribling reached his
bedside early this morning.
Mrs. w. L. Stribling, jr., wife Of the
fighter, is in the same hospital con-
child, son. Her family physician in
formed her Of Stribling's injuries, which
also included a fractured pelvis
She was permitted to speak to him
after an X-ray had been taken. She
bore up well after they EXCHANGED
greetings. Later she saw him again.
Baby Fine"
"How's the baby?" Stribling asked.
Fine" she replied.
Mrs. Stribling was crying when she
was wheeled back to her room.
Hospital physicians said Stribling
looked somewhat improved this morn
ing and had spent as satisfactory q
night as possible.
Travelling IS miles an hour yesterday
on a motor cycle, the King of the
Canebrake," en- route to a hospital to
visit his wife and child, waved q greet
ing to friend passing in an automo-
bile. He failed to observe another car
behind that of his friend. Roy Barrow.
The ring veterl, who packed 800 en-
gagements into . years of fighting
without receiving permanent scar, at
tempted to dodge the second car, but
was too late. The fender of the auto
mobile struck Stribling, crushing his
left leg and sending him sprawling to
the pavement.
Another Operation Needed.
The foot was amputated at the hos
pital here. Another operation will be
made as soon as the patient Is strong
enough" DR.. A. r. Roar. the surgeon,
said.
Even as his recovery remained in
doubt, Stribling fought of sleep, await
ing the arrival Of his parents, Pa" and
Ma" Stribling, whose names have been
closely linked with his fight career.
The elder Striblings, en- route from
Texas, were located in Birmingham and
started Immediately for Macon.
In giving his version Of the accident,
Stribhng said he was on the right side
of the road when all of a sudden q
car loomed before me. I cut as far to
tllc 4lSllt dS pOSolUlc, dllu Lllcll IL nap.
pened. The car hit me-"
A Miss Frances Jones, a nurse who
was riding with Barrow, fashioned q
tourniquet from her cape and made
bandageS from her dress to bind the
wounds.
Fighter Grins Gamely.
Stribling did not lose consciousness
at the scene. Barrow said as he ran
to his aid, the fighter grinned, well,
kid, guess it means there will be no
more road work."
Stribling is known here as a hail.
fe1ow-well-met, member of the XII
wants Club and organizer of an inde-
pendent basket ball team. The boxing
world knew him as clean" young
fighter.
He got thrill out of dashing through
traffic on his motor cycle, and when he
tired of this he carried his plane aloft
to exhibit his proves as a pilot. He
holds a transport pilots license and . |
commission in the Air Corps Reserve. /
w. LIS plans to become q boxer were
laid by his parents the day he was
born. the night after Christmas in 1904
at Bainbridge, Ga. He made his debut
as a professional at Is, in Atlanta.
He fought all comers in Georgia and
gained national reputation in 1923 In
fight with Mike McTigue.
Many Victories.
He whipped such fighters as Harry
Krohn, Bill and George Shade, JimmT
Darcy, Dan O'Dowd. Young Bob Fitz.
simmons, Mike Burke, Bearcat Bill
Clemons, Bud German and Johnny
Risko. He lost to Paul Berlenbach In
1926 In a fight for the nght-heavy-
weight title.
"A comeback pitted him against Jack
Sharkey at Miami in 1929. Sharkey
won the decision and Stribling was
labeled as through. Again Stribling
came back, starting with q knockout
of Otto Won Porat in Chicago and Phil
Scott in London.
Stribling's last chance at the heavy
weight title came in 1881 when he lost
technical knockout to Max Schmeling.