The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-19
l Sailor Tom Sharkey Recalls Kid Mccoy
 As "Mean'' Fellow
Tried to Fight With Load ed' GlOves-'WOrd Not
 Worth Dime' Says Tom

San Francisco, April 19 - (UP) Time has taught Sailor Tom Sharkey there is no good in a grudge, but he could not find it in his heart today to forgive Kid Mo- Coy for his mean tricks"
 Sharkey, now 66, is Irish and sen- timental, but his lips frightened about his cigar when he was told that Norman Selby-the Kid-had committed suicide in Detroit yes terday with $1775 in his pocket.
 The old sailors expression did not change when he learned that Kid Mccoy, the same age as he, had been unable to endure this worlds madness" and had left note adviS- ing the youth of this nation to live cleanly.
 Tom Sharkey fought Kid Mccoy once, and the memories of that fight were what made him say:
 I'm sorry to hear about McCoy's death, for he was a great fighter. But you'll have to excuse me if l can't say nice things about him."
 He told about their fight in the Lenox Club in New York, back in 1899. Neither was champion but it was the fight of the year.
 He came into the ring that night with his gloves on," Sharkey said bitterly. Tommy O'Rourke, my manager, ordered the gloves remov- ed. We found almost half ton of plaster along with the heavy band ages. Had the plaster stayed on Mo- Coy probably would have knocked me out for keeps. Do you wonder didn't have exactly pleasant mem- ories of Mccoy?
 Mccoy was probably the hardest hitter the fight game ever knew, outside of James J. Jeffries. They were betting 10 to 6 Mccoy would beat me, and when the Kid knocked me down in the first round, the ringSide went wild and the odds went to 10 to it was all over. But I weathered the storm and came along to the 10th round. I couldn't box him-he was too slick, so l went for his stomach. That finished him. Tim Hurst was the referee and he counted him out in the 10th. I can't help thinking of those load ed gloves.
 "I'll have to tell the truth about Mccoy; he was fast, cold blooded, good feinter, but just plain mean. Recall that trick of his of stopping apparently to tie shoe lace then catching his opponent off guard and knocking him cold?
 Pleaded Poverty
 T remember too how he met Tom my Ryan, in 1896 after working as Ryan's sparring partner and learn ing all his tricks, still hiding his own skill. He wrote Ryan he was dead broke and sick and wouldn't Ryan give him chance to make some money? It would be just a workout for Ryan but 1t meant change for the Kid. He told Ryan he wouldn't even have to train. Ryan took him at his word and gave him the fight. Mccoy beat him unmercifully-and laughed about it."
 The Kid, said Sharkey, made a hobby of pretty women.
 All his wives were beautiful and probably all well to do, although l don't recollect their names at the present. It was women and fast iv- ing that finished him. He used to parade the peacock alley of the Waldorf Astoria with bank roll that would choke horse. He was always the dandy, too. His word wasn't worth a dime, though"
 Sharkey lives in tiny hotel room south of the slot in San Francisco, spends his days chatting in the lob- by and making an occasional foray into gyInnasiums. His room walls are covered with clippings from yeilowed newspapers, the Police Gazette and religious paintings.
 Proud of his excellent physical condition-he weighs 2l0 pounds without 8 bulge about his waist Sharkey took part in the Cavalcade of the Golden West at the San Francisco fair last year, playing the strong man" dressed in leopard skin. He'll do 1t again this year.
 He lives moderately and cigars are his only dissipation. He makes occasional guest appearances as re-