The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-06
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(Reg. U. $. Pat. On.) BY HARRY FERGUSON United Press SnOrta Editorl

Fort Worth, Tex, June 6.-(Up) Let us pay tribute today to MT. John J. Manion, Q golf professional from St. Louis, who bravely declared war on a feroclous, three -pound bass named Leopold who Is dor fuehrer of Q pond In front of the ninth green at the Colonial Golf club.
 This will be our last chance to do afl essay on Mir. Manion, for he gale lantiy took nine strokes during his blitzkrieg against Leopold and prob- ably shot himself out of the tourna- fnent. MT. Manion is 6 fine golfer and has done some sensational things in his day, such as making seven holes in one. shooting seven consecutive threes during one round and three consecutive twos during another.
 But the thing that will keep his name ringing down the ages and bracket him with Izaak Walton oc. cured yesterday when he devised c new technique for fishing (patent applied for). Leopold successfully re. sisted the attack and technically was the winner Of the battle, but MT. Manion electrified the gallery by making e brilliant retreat In good order to . previously prepared posi- ton in the club house.
 Likes Dlmples
 Leopold has been lurking in the bottom of the pond for some time building a marvellous maze of sub. terranean caverns out of golf balls that land in the water. He is said to prefer dimple-marked balls to the nesh-n1arked variety because they are smoother against his fins and occasionally he allows caddies to re- cover a mesh ball. But no man can hope to fish q dimple- ball out of the pond.
 Tiny Gooch, former Texas football player and delicate little fellow standing six feet, six inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. Already has lost a decision to Leopold. Tiny re- ported that the members of the Colonial club decided to remove all fish from the pond In preparation for the National Open. They got them all out except Leopold who saw the National Open as magni- iicent chance to add two dimple ball wings to his palace in the mud.
 Up to the ninth tee yesterday came our hero, MT. Manion. Chival- rous to the end, he sliced his drive into the rough as 6 warning to Leo- pold that the battle was about to be joined. Other and lesser men could use rod and reel, seine, gig, pole or harpoon in the battle against Leo- pold. MT. Manion was going to fight l. out with an eight iron and a bag full of dimple-marked balls.
 It developed that MT. Manion's plan of attack was to loft Q high shot into the pond and try to bring Leopold up from the bottom in pur- suit of the ball. He performed it with marvellous precision and the ball landed squarely in the middle of the pond, sending out rings of ripples.
 Spectators around the green, thinking that MT. Manion was play ing golf instead of engaging in le guerre with Leopold. gasped as the ball disappeared. Then they fell si- lent as MT. Manion approached in a flank movement from the right. His lips were barefuly moving in a whis- per. His face bore the taut, strained of 8 man who knows his big moment is at hand.
 Pointing
 Then the second phase of MT. Manion's strategy unfolded. He walked to the edge of the pond and dropped a ball over his shoulder to the turf. He went through elaborate motions of lining up his shot and pond. That, 1t developed, was a mere feint to throw Leopold of his guard.
 MT. Manion's club flashed in the sunlight and the ball travelled like a bullet into the pond. It was a point blank attack on Leopold, brilliantly conceived and brilliantly executed one of the finest topped shots ever seen In a National Open.
 The ball disappeared under the water and MT. Manion leaned fore