The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-05
''''''" Today,S"''''''
Sports Parade
BY HENRY NC LEMORE

OultCu TC5S QUAIL NoAASSpohANAS
Chicago, Aug. -(UP)- Joe
Louis, the "Buddha Bomber, held
his last workout for King Levinsky
yesterday, in ring pitched just
outside the Savoy ballroom.
The Savoy ballroom, a cavernous
shed of dim lights and acres OF
have echoed to the hi-de-hi and
the ho-de-ho of Duke Ellington,
Cab Galloway and Louie Arm
strong, spreads itself half block
on South Parkway, the Park ave-
nue. and the Broadway of Chicago's
South Side,
Here Louis, but a few months
removed from the grind of tht
Ford factory, is king. When hi
stepped in the ring yesterday, the
trimness of his 200 pounds, the
richness of his chocolate skin ac-
centuated by snow-white trunks
and shirt, 5000 of his race greeted
him with a roar that could be
heard to the loop.
It didn't matter that it was 95 in
the shade and heaven-only-know
what in the bare, squalid backyard
of the Savoy ballroom where the
ring was pitched. 1t didn't matter
that it was Sunday-reSt day-and
the lake, with its cool breezes and
cooler waters was but blocks away.
Louis, Joe Louis, Louis the killer,
was working for the last time, and
the South Side came and came I'M
til the ringside, the near-ringside,
and the bleachers was packed. Out
side the arena hundreds milled and
sweated, waiting until their idol
came out and they could fight for
a glimpse of him. Windows of
houses and buildings which over
looked the ring were packed three
deep.
It was a happy crowd, these
thousands of men, women and chill
dren who watched Louis work
They laughed wnen he swished
home eft hook that sent his help
less sparring partner spinning,
groggy and bloody into the ropes.
ped their hands as he dug wicked
rights into the bellies of his part
ners, and snapped back their heads
with nasty uppercuts.
When Tiger Payne, who rode
into town in boxcar, suddenly
had his legs turned to rubber by q
right cross which twisted his big
mouth out of shape, they yelled
happily.
Put him away, Joe boy, put him
away! You're paying him five
bucks a round, Joe, SO put him
away" and
Lets see him bounce, Joe! Sock
him like you're gonna Levinsky!''
And as the sparring partners.
most of them weatherbeaten boys
in dirty, torn trunks, hit the can
vas, to kick and squirm as though
suffering a fit, the crowd laughed
and shouted.
If Louis, working with the dis
patch of a butcher chopping up a
side of beef, ever heard or felt the
crowd packed in sweating, steam
ing rows about him, he never
showed it. He was as expression
less as a Buddha through it all
He walked into the ring with q
frozen face. He answered the greet.
ing of the thousands with frozen
face. He Slipped on his headguard
had his cheeks and forehead rub.
bed with vaseline, and plopped In
his rubber teeth protector, al
without so much as flicker of hi'
eyes.
The bell rang and he turned or
his first victim with a face as un.
emotional as that of a snake. Moth
ing changed 1t. He took punish
ment and dealt 1t out without the
slightest change of expression. A
the finish he slipped on his bath
robes and. without looking towart
the crowd, slid through the rope
and, in slow. shuttle, disappeared
through his dressing room door.
It was an uncanny exhibition
You felt as though you had watch
ed o. mechanical torture device, {
relentless instrument entirely unaf
fected by heat or cold, pain or Joy
solitude or company.
Perhaps the Detroit Negro Is jus
that. Perhaps he is just q young
(none out in 3rd). Koslosly in
innings. Hit by pitcher-By Gied
eritas (Malaniol. Struck out--B,