Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-06-20
ssDOCgs FLYNN A TRTCKsTER

DOC" FLYNN A TRICKSTEK
The late w. ]. Doc Flynn knew
all the tricks Of the fight game
There wasn't 'fast" one that Doc
| didn't employ sometime or other,
either as 3 boxer, manager, or sec
0nd. doc" was a clever boxer, but
! staying In condition was his buga-
boo. Many q time he entered the
ring In poor shape, depending upon
his cIeverness and quick thinking
20 get him by.
Before his Butte days, about 80 years
ago, DOC" was a champion swimmer
and diver Of the Olympic club at San
Francisco. His aquatic finesse helped
him In the ring. In boxing match, II
he was getting the worst of it, he
would execute nifty swan dive to the
floor, take a nine count, Wobble 10 his
feet, beg his opponent not to hit him
as he would quit in a minute, and then
without warning, would let loose a hay
maker and listen to his opponent get
counted out.
Playing possum was an art with
Flynn. His swan dive was beautiful to
behold in a prize ring. Also doc"
would call his opponents attention to
a broken shoe lace, a girl in the audi
ence, or would tell him that his trunks
were slipping, and then Flynn would
slip in a sleep producer.
won WIN HAS he&Q
One time Flynn was fighting q
kids nose bleeding from the first
round and 1t was an easy target to-
reach. The kid was tough and could
take It. DOC" wore himself out punch
ing the kid who could hit, too, and
Flynn saw that something fast" had
to be pulled If he was going to get
away with this fight. They we're in a
clinch in the center Of the ring. The
boys back was TO his own corner.
DOC" told the kid that his chief sec
ond was ready to throw in the towel.
the youngster turned his head
to see, and as he did, Flynn let loose
with a blow that landed flush on the
kids jaw-and down he went for the
count. DOC" told his friends that he
had a close call in that fight, remark |
ing that IF 1t wasn't for my quick
that bozo doc" Flynn would
have lost fight"
ORATOR JERRY MCCARTHY
Another lad who knew all the ring
answers was Jerry Mccarthy, the Walk
srville pet. Jerry fought here in the
early 1905, later promoted bouts, acted
as manager of fighters, conducted ath-
letic clubs, etc. Jerry is out on the
coast now. For time he had Jack
OempSey's gymnasium at Los Angeles
when Jack was the champ" Jerry is
still mixed up with boxing and for that
matter always will have a finger in
someone's ring pie.
Jerry was clever in and out of the
ring. He could fox" the Smartest in the
business. Jerry could talk, and loved
10 address fight crowds. One night he
talked too much and didn't fight
enough. He tells the story on himself.
In 1905 ne was matched to Tight
Stanley Ketcheu at Great Falls. Stan
ley was on his way up then, hadn't
quite reached the pinnacle. Cold wealth
er kept the fans away, there being less
than 100 in the house. Jerry asked the
promoter If he could address the crowd
and pass the hat, otherwise he wouldn't
90 on for the paltry bit that would be
eft for him. He was TO get 30 percent
If the gate. He was told to go on with
he oratory. Jerry explained to the
,rowd that there wasn't enough money
n the house to make it worth his
while He informed the customers that ]
Re would pass the hat and If they came |
through with sufficient jack he would !
,roceed to flatten the ham" who was {
o oppose him. He explained that he
Uoiild paSt on a good show, guarantee
ng to knock out Ketchel, the ham. ]
Called Turn on Ketchel {
Enough money was collected to sat
sly Jerry. He kept all he collected. His ,
peech didn't make hit with Ketchel, {
Vho was mad as March hare as the {
dirty" cracks were hurled through the /
dcCarthy loud-speaking apparatus.
Fetch gave Jerry trimming, as neat s
nd workmanlike a shellacking as any {
oxer ever had to take. Ketch would c
mock Jerry down, but refused to knock
i'm out in the early rounds. KetcheI /
7anted to keep on knocking Jerry '
n him for keeps in the 18th round I
In the dressing room, friends were q
aking good-natured verbal pokes at q
cry about his speech, regarding the L
nh he Y,,-o,,1fcod n Low Inxu larry z