The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-20
LINDY'S FLIGHT
 BIG MOMENT FOR JOB HUMPHREYS
John LIS Last Appearance,
 Al Smiths Only Shove \ ing Were Thrills
(This is the third of six ar- ticIes on Joe Humphreys, daddy oe sports annOuncers).
BY HARRY CRIMSON Shorts Editor, NEA Service

the greatest of all master of cere- monies at fistic encounters, to use the title he selected for himself, because he stemed up show quick CT than Jimmy Durante heated up m night club.
 Anybody who adored great fight CTS as did Humphreys couldn't miss < getting many thrill out Of intro dticing the principals in more than 10000 contests over a stsetch Of 45 years. Joe the Beaut was at his best when one of his kind of fighters stood ready to lash himself into bat- tle-a McGovern, Dempsey, a Leonard, @ Joe Lynch, Greb, or a McI,arnin, particularly If the slight- est trace of Irish blood coursed in his veins.
 Humphreys attained dizzier height every time Lynch squared of with Little Jack Sharkey, and they had it out on eight occasions. Lynch always was good for Q three-minute Cration that finished with "the lighting Irish-American from the west side and the bantamweight cham-peen of the wor-r-ldp Little Jack Sharkey was "the Italian American gamecock." Humphreys, the master snowman, had their re- spective following on the edge of their seats and glaring at one an:- other after they had raised the roof of the old Garden.
 Looking back, Humphreys says he obtained a tremendous kick out of his first important assignment out side of New York-the introducing of Terry McGovern and Young Cor bett in San Francisco, March 3l, 1903. ] The Beaut admits that his pulse quickened that afternoon at Boyle's Thirty Acres when he led Georges Cagpentier front and center. re- minded 75,0O0 persons that he was 'the soldier idol of Old France" and motioned to the band to strike up ! the "Marseillaise. Introducing Dempsey and Luis Angel Firpo, and Dempsey and Gene Tunney before 105000 people at Soldiers Field would make any spine jingle, but Humphreys biggest moment in ring came the night that Charles A. Lindbergh flew to Le Bourget.
 
 As Lindy Flew to Le Bourget
 A restless crowd eagerly awaited the start of the Jack Sharkey -Jim Maloney scrap at the Yankee Sta dium when operators at the ring side received word that Lindbergh was only 300 miles from Paris
 Humphreys raised his right hand ag only he can, and announced the gladSorne tidings after his cuctom- ary "Qui-ett, please--qui-ett."
 And now, lay-dees and gentul- men, let us all stand a moment and bow in silent prayer" Forty thou sand persons, noisy and fldgety on;y a few seconds before, stood as one. You could have heard a pin drop as the matchless intoned, May the Almighty steer him clear across the ocean and land him safely at his destination on the shores of our dearest allied country, France
 Humphreys, who never had an equal at holding disorderly pugilis- tic turnouts in the palm of his hand, asserts that he never before or since felt his power over crowd to the extent that he did that eventful night. Sports spokes- man was invited to speak at hun- dreds of Sunday school classes. Hundreds of preachers used the dramatic picture as the subject of their sermons the following Sab bath. Poems were written about 1t. |
 Humphreys believes that his next | biggest thrill came the night he | succeeded fin getting Gov. Alfred F. Smith to his first and only fight | and introducing him from the ring as "the idol of the sidewalks cf | New York" The occasion was Anne Morgan's show for devastated France at the old Garden in 1921. | Humphreys contends that that pro- dllction did more for boxing than any other one thing since 1t was restored to good standing following the war. They still talk of the main event that night, too Ritchie Mitchell had the great Benny Leonard fin the resin before being knocked out in the sixth round
 Humphreys likes to speak of the reception that State Senator James J. Walker got at the old Gar den when Joe the Beaut introduced the man who legalized the game in New York.
 JOhn L.'s Last Appearance
 Nor will Humphreys ever forget the last appearance in the ring of one and only John L. Sullivan. 1t was at the Jess Willard-Frank Moran engagement ct the old Gar den in 1918; which was Tex Rick ards first promotorial effort in Manhattan, by the way. James J. Corbett and. Bob FitzsimmonS also were present and Joe the Beaut introduced them with rare flow of euperlatives.
 Joe the Beaut had prepared q speech for Sullivan, but 1t didn't seem to it after he had spilled so many fancy phrases on Gentleman Sim and Ruby Robert. After all, Sullivan was the best-loved ring man in history. The situation called for something simple.
 Somebody had handed Hum- phreys the belt of colors that Sul- 5ivan wore when he fought Char ley Mitchell at Chantilly genera kion before.
 As the announcer rested his hand Dn John Is shoulder and brought down the house with "The Modest Roman of Them Aii.' The gradually drew the silk coiors from his inside pocket, and asked Corbett to pre- sent them to the Boston Strong Boy Of long ago.
 ~As Corbett gave them to 5ullI- xnfi, John l.. gobbed, kissed the silk | dag. tenderly placed it in the vest | pocket next to his heart, shook Ams4dg afl around afad left0 r raIalas \