davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Cross First To Draw Crowds
BY Making Addicts Dislike Him;
Sneak Puncher Great Actor
BY BILLY ROCHE
Famous Referee and Manager


Leach Cross made personal un-
popularity pay handsome dividends.
He was the first boxer to draw
great crowds by making them dis
like him.
Cross looked more Ike a casualty
than a priZefighter. Pale, skinny
and emaciated looking, he fooled
spectator and opponent alike into
thinking stiff breeze would blow
him down and out.
At first the fans resented being
crossed by Cross, who disappointed
everybody but himself by winning.
They clamored for his defeat. Every
time. he fought the place was
damned with vengeful citizens who
attended only in hope Of seeing him
get his block knocked of, and went
away frustrated and angry when he
emerged the winner.
It didn't take the fans long to re-
alize, however, that Cross always
gave them run for their money,
and that for or against him, he pro-
vided thrills either way.
Cross spent q couple Of weeks
training in the Catskills for an Inn
portant fight. A wealthy cloak and
suffer happened to be stopping at
the same hotel. Upon hearing that
Cross was a prizefghter, the mer-
chant guffawed.
INSPIRATION OF EAST SIDE
Him a f1ghter?" he cried, why
my neighbor in the city has a boy
who would kill him with a punch"
Whats his name?" asked Cross,
whose real name was Louis WAL
ZACH.
Hes Lyman Wallach's boy, and
Is he q fighter"
The clothier nearly tainted when
told Cross was that boy, wouldn't
believe 1t until he saw Leachie score
q K. o. He became an ardent root
er, brought business associates in
such big groups that they were
known as Cross buttonhole- makers
brigade.
Gross became the fistic inspira-
ton Of New York's lower east side.
Leach Cross, 5-7h, 1876, was born
February IL. 1885, In Ridge street,
IN the heart Of New York's teeming
tenement district. Unlike most lads
who entered the ring from the
neighborhood he was neither
bully nor leader Of q street gang.
He learned to fight protecting him.
self from attack by gangs on the
way to and from City college, where
ne received his education In aca-
denies and dentistry.
Gross began fighting at clubs neer
MS nome IN order to gather a little
extra money. He knocked out Bob
Waters In his first fight in 1905 and
fought nearly $500 fights between
tnen and 1921, meeting the best,
champions and near champions.
His toughest fight was with Fight.
ing Dick Hyland. who stopped him
In Al rounds at Colma, Calf. That
cured him Of As rounds.
Gross was great actor I'm the
ring and this enabled him to land
many sneak punch.
Leach returned to dentistry. went
70 Hollywood, built q magnificent
apartment house, went broke in the
stock market crash.
Leach Gross Is back near his old
ncighborhoOd In New York success.
tully practicing dentistry.
70 vas 3 ilghting dentist who
pqyaE pulled 40 punches.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Torrington Loses
At Long Last

New Britain, Feb. Is Twenty
times this basketball season, a con-
fident Torrington high school team
has taken the court, and on 10 &C.
casions was returned the winner. At
long last, the New City kids dropped
one, but it took an overtime period
of play to turn the trick. continu-
Gus scoring by New Britain High
and then the final score showed the
smallest possible margin Of differ
ence between winner and loser-48-
Al. About $500 fans saw the game
at Stanley Arena. Castellini and
Hanson sewed up the game in the
overtime. Previous it was Torrington
lilo at the quarter; and 1928 at
half time; but New Britain rushed
ahead, 1888 with eight minutes Of
a full quarter left to play. Riera,
whose last minute field goal tied the
regulation game; got II points,
while Callahan, Torrington's high
scorer made one more for an Is
point total. Score.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
(Reg. u. 8. Pat. Off.)
BY JACK CUDDY

UNITED Press STAFF Corrcspondentl
New York, Feb. 25.-(UP)-A tip
from Washington informs that y.
Edgar Hoover, chief Of the F. B. T.,
is keenly interested in tomorrOW'G
running of the $4,000 fiamingo
STATES at Hialeah, Fla.
It seems that the favorite for
this most important three-year-old
test of the Florida season is Mrs.
Ella K. Bryson's director J. e., o
brown colt named in honor Of Mr..
Hoover.
Thus far, Director j. Els per-
formances have been spirited enough
surely to merit approval from J..
Edgar. This brown son Of Sickle
and grandson Of Man o. War has
run as If the &c" men were after
him. Because Of his speed and
stamina he will go to the post in
the fiamingo pronouncedf favorite,
possibly at even money. Moreover.
he Is rated leading contender for
the Kentucky Derby. at the indica-
tor quotation Of ISL.
Director J. E., purchased for $500
as yearling, is so highly regarded
now that we understand F. w.
Hooper recently offered SIS. 900 for
him. But Mrs. Bryson smilingly de-
clined this chance for such tidy
profit; she has such condolences m
the colts golden future.
AS a two-year-old in 1943, Director
]. E. won five Of II starts. Vic-
tories included the Richard johnson
stakes and the Oden Bowie, both
during the fall meeting at Pimlic0.
He was shipped to Florida for the
winter season, already possessed Of
reputation for speed.
He made his first winter start at
Hialeah on Feb in the grade IA
handicap, in which he was over
matched against older horses, and.
finished third. But in his next start
against three-year-olds, he won the
Nancy Hanks purse on Feb. II. In
his third trip to the post, last Sat-
urday, he captured the Stagea1aud
purse-over the Flamingo distances
of a mile and a furlong. He won
convincingly, by a length and q
quarter over Good Bid, followed by
four other Kentucky Derby hopefulE.
j. Hirschberg's Black Badge finished
last.
The Flamingo will be watched
closely by the turf world because
it IS the first prep for the KEN
lucky Derby. It viii be followed In
the spring by similar tilree-year-old
tests: the Chesapeake at Pimlico.
the Blue Grass at Churchill Downs
and the Wood Memorial at Jamaica.
In tomorrow's Flamingo, Director
]. E. IS expected to get his stiffest
opposition from Whitley Ahel's
Cramps Image; the Calumet Farms
Bull Weed; Greentree Stables stir
Up, and s. Fineberg's Ariel (cQ)
Flight.
Should Director J. E. stage q
convincing triumph tomorrow, his
future book price for the May 9Th
Kentucky Classic probably win b
pared from ISL to quotation that
will put him close behind 1t. g. "
Whitney's Pukka Gin, current Ia
vorite at 6-1; and George d. Wild
ener'S Platter, now 81.
Anyway, the inside info from
Washington says that J. Edgar
Hoover is mighty interested II the
Flamingo; and that he Is pardonahly
proud Of his nanesake's apparent
ability-much more ability than that
possessed by two previous name
sakes, J. Edgar II. and Jehooger.
both Of whom turned out to be ners
platers.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
The Standings
Brown, Moore Draw

Fall River, Mass, Feb. Is - U.
P0 - Johnny Brown, $50, New
York. drew with Larney Moore, 154
Hampstead, L. T., In the 1O-round
feature bout at the Casino last
night before 1900 fans.
In skies, Eddie Moniz, 1872, FaI
River, decisioned Jack Woods, 1873,
British Navy; Tony Amiola, 157.
Quincy, technically knocked oui
Billy Cisko, 1853, Lynn in the fifth.
Scheduled four FOUNDERS saw Billy
Wilson, 1874, Providence, r. l., kno0
out Joe Rogan, 125, British Navy
in the last round. Bob English, 1877
Fail River, knocked out Tom Maths,
126, Boston, In three.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Rangers Almost
Win At Garden
Try limited PresSl

The New York Rangers, without
victory in Is contests, almost
cracked the ice at Madisan Square
Garden last night. but were foiled
in the last period as the Detroit
Red Wings came from behind to
gain a 3-3 tie in a National Hockey
league contest.
The Rangers held a one-goal lead
throughout the first two periods,
10 in the first. and 2A1 in the
second, but two goal squirt by the
second place Wings matched AZ last
period New York goal with the re-
sultant tie.
At Montreal. the Canadiens de-
feated the Toronto Maple Leafs,
81. With all the scoring confined
to the second session, the CanadienS
netted the puck twice within % sec
ands for more tina nenough margin.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Shortstop Marion
Gets Limited Toq

Fort Jackson, s. c., Feb. 25-CUP)
Martin (Slats) Marion. star, short
stop for the National League cham
.pion st. Louis Cardinals, today had
passed his second pre-induction
physical examination within a month
and was accepted for limited serv-
ice.
Marion was first examined and
was passed over until his board
needed men for limited service. I'm
der the new draft system, however,
men who were not indicted through
Jan. 81. were subject to reclassifi-
cation and Martin fell in that cat
egory.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Athletics IAN Set
For 1914 BoseboIl

Philadelphia, Feb. IS ~ (up.) ~
Manager Connie Mack g the Fall
adelphia Athletics said today that
he felt his roster was intact -
1914. The loss Of two more men yes-
terday prompted the statement by|
the veteran manager.
Outfielder Joe Moore and Utility
Infielder Rip Radclin were the latr
est "A's" to leave the roster. Moore.
obtained from Indianapolis of tht
American Association last season
was accepted by the Navy, arid
Radcliff, formerly with the petfcii
Tigers, said he would Continue
working in Tulsa. Okla, war &ae
tory.
Mack said he was quite sure tzle
Athletics would lose no more men
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Large Army Entry
For IC4A Games

New York, Feb. 25-(UP)-Asa
Bushnell, executive director of the
IC4A indoor track and field cham
pionships scheduled for Madison
Square Garden on March 4, today
announced that % colleges would
participate in the events.
Bushnell said 1892 individuals had
been nominated for the Is varsity
events mad that army's team topped
all entries with 80. Columbia has
entered SO and Navy IS with other
entries ranging down to one by
Manhattan and Virginia Universe
ties.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Enkcors Oppose
Coissons Toninhf

Boys Club Enkcors win play the
Cassions tonight in a preliminary
to the Varsity game and the game
Is slated to start promptly at 1880
o'clock. An players are asked to be
In the club at TOO o'clock 50 that
they can hold q short practice be-
fore the game. Both teams have
former high school stars In the line
up and the game promises to be q
thriller from start to finish.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25

New York, Feb. Is - U.P) -
The New York Yankees today an
nounced that two more players had
signed 1914 contracts making 10
now in the fold for next season.
Foremost Of the pair announced
today was Ernie Bonham, right
handler who won IS while losing
eight last season and was charged
with the only loss suffered by the
Champions In the World Series. The
other was InfieldeT Don Savage,
who may rlay third base or short
stop regularly,
Savage, up from the Newark
Bears hit .z5e last year.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Fights Lost Niqht

Portland, Me.-Boyo Mallon, 1856,
British Navy, decisioned Billy Lam
caster, 154, Portland, (8); Oscar
Suggs. $50, Newport, r. l., decision
ed Jimmie Cook, 149, Portland, (8);
Cannonball Cote, ITO, Lewiston, de-
cisioned Johnny Lawless, r73, Port
land, cd: Henry Legasse, 100, Old
Town. Me-, drew with AL Stuart, 1873,
British Navy, (6).
Nashua, N. H.-Frank Rossi, 145,
Boston, decisioned Lawrence Clout-
Ter, $50. Manchester, (10); AL Bilo-
deau, 149, Nashua, knocked out
Chick Lanno, ISL, Boston, ca.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
British "Tor" Wins

Portland, Me, Feb. Is = (U.P)-
Boyo Mallon. 1855 IL, British Navy.
decisioned Billy Lancaster, 154,
Portland; and Oscar Suggs. $50 IL,
Newport, r. l., decisioned Jimmie
Cook, 149, Portland, in twin eight
round features at Exposition build
ing last night before 1900 fans.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Broxes Get Shemo

Boston, Feb. Is - U.P.) = The
Boston Braves had picked up an In
fielder today In the person Of Ste
phen Stenio. 3-year-old free-agent
Of eWoyerSvilIe. Pa who played last
year "a the Eastern League with
Tie Springfield Ofaeg,, club.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Rossi Best

Nashua, n. H., Feb. Is ~ &c. p
Frank Rossi, las, Of Boston. 1<&|.
stoned Maurice cloutiers 1D IA
Manchester before 1,Do0 f1N1 a
Recreation han last night g. l@.
round bout.
AZ Hilo6eat. 1z9. Nssh01 W
ont Chick kAn1o' lsI N1s a
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Basketball
BY UNITED PRESS

West Virginia 68, Geneva SO.
Oklahoma A. & M. So, Denver %.
North Carolina State AZ, Maryland
%.
Virginia Polytechnic SO, Davidson
a
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
MONOP0LIXRG TTTIE

Purdue Universlty has won O.
tied for the Big Ten Conference
basketball ehannrl0nship thixteen
times llncs 1900
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25

High-scorer Of the Torrington In
dustrial league for the past three
years, expected to give the Boys
Club Varsity plenty Of trouble
tonight, when the Torrington
Shurfines meet the Art Very
team on the local court. The
visitors have won IL straight in
the New City hoop loop, which
they lead.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25

Score at half time:. U. S. Rubber
II, Yale A. A. F. 25. Referee: Stat
terry.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
Woodrow Wilson

totals 80. 5000.
Score at half time: Slocum 4,
Woodrow Wilson, Referee: Barone
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-25
7. s. Rubber
Totals &C.. 20

Yale A. A. #.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
Gil Dodds Nears Indoor
Mile Record In Garden

Johnny Fulton, San Francisco
Olympic Club middle distance star
who was nosed out last night in
the 1:55 halpin half mile by Joe
Nowicki of Rochester U, may meet
Dodds in a special mile exhibition
in the I. C. "A games in the Gar
den March 4. Fulton won the Mill
rose 600-yard event, and the Lap
ham 1,000-yarder at Boston.
Nowicki, who clipped eight
tenths of a second off his winning
time of 1943, became the third re.
peat winner in the half-mile. Bill
Vessie of Dartmouth and Cpl. 10.
shua Williamson of the U. S. Ar.
my, co-holders of the national in
door high jump title, battled
through their specially to a first
place deadlock at six feet foul
inches; Philip L. Lansing of the
U. S. Military Academy scared l;
feet six inches to win the pole
vault; and Ollie Hunter of the Co
]umbia Midshipmen paced the two
mile pack in 9:19.8, in other top
flight events
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
SPORTS TRAIL

bringing on all kinds of worries.
The point is that bumps and
bruises shrugged off in younger
days assume serious proportions
when the old chassis begins to feel
the weight of years.
An aging player, such as Johnny
Cooney or Paul Waner, who has
kept active still can move around
with some freedom and compare
lively little risk, but once the play
er takes to the arm chair for a
couple of years he's finished.
When Leo Durocher decided ha
was ready to be a bench manager
he still was a pretty fair short
stop. He bench managed for a
while and came the day he was
needed out there in The field. For
those who had seen Durocher in
his palmy days the results were
too horrible to contemplate. He
was playing on postage stamp
out there. He may try it again
this year, but not because he
wants to-
Jimmy Wilson. after long lay
off. was drafted into action to
catch the World Series for the Gin
cinnati Reds few years ago. He
did right well. but he'll tell you
that once he got squatted behind
the plate he thought he'd never get
up, and foul flies gave him the will
lies. Ability to judge fly balls is
one of the first losses suffered by
a retired and aging player.
So Mr.. Mack knows what he's
talking about. He'd rather have
kids out there every day than have
the creaky old gents out there one
day out of seven, with the other
six days set aside for recupera-
tion
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21

Charles Kullman, tenor Of the
Metropolitan Opera Association,
and famous concert artist will sing
in the auditorium of the New Hen
over High school tonight at $3.50
o'clock under the auspices of the
Wilmington Cooperative Concert
Association. Admission will be by
membership card only, and the
house is sold out. Cards are trans
ferable, however.
The appearance of Mr., KuIman
l.; the third event presented by the
association TIL season, the fourth
being Mona Paulee, mezzo sopra'
no, also of the Metropolitan. Miss
Paulee will sing here on March II
to end the series.
Mr.. Kullman has arranged a
program well calculated to cater
to the tastes of the average audi
ence, with selections ranging from
the severely classical to very mod
ern compositions. He has also In
Guided several well known operate
arias, from such popular operas
as Carmen and "Rigoletto.
Stuart Ross, accompanist, will
round out the evening with a group
of piano Iolos.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
By FRITZ HOWELL

NEW YORK, Feb. 20.-R)-A
galloping Gil Dodds headed today
toward clean sweep of the big
Five" miles on Eastern indoor
tracks - feat accomplished only
by such board burners as Glenn
Cunningham and Chuck Fenske.
Boston's bespectacled divinity
student pulled $4,000 cheering fans
to their feet last night as he won
the 33-year-old Baxter mile in 4:08
at Madison Square Garden, just
six-tenths Of a second off the in
door record.
His performance, best indoor
mile since 1912, was the feature
of the New York Athletic Club 18th
anniversary games, and gave him
his third straight win in the big
events He goes to the post next
Saturday in the seth annual A. A.
U. games, and on March II in the
K. of C. games, both in the Gar
den, to round out the "grand
SIAM which Cunningham accom-.
plished in 1888 and Fenske in 1910.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
Cinker TOPS Southern
Pines Hunting Event

SOUTHERN PINES, Feb. 90
s(Pl-Clinker, an aged bay gelding
owned by Cecil luke of Hot
Springs, Va, with Scotty Ryls up,
won the feature class for middle
and heavyweight hunters today in
the hunter trials and Equestrian
Gymkhana held here for the bene-
Sit of the American Red Cross.
A field of six participated in this
class.
Renown, five-year-old chestnut
gelding owned and ridden by Mrs.
W. o. Moss of Southern Pines, was
second, and Blackstone, six
year old black gelding owned by
Louis Scheipers of Lawrence,
Mass, and ridden by his son Don.
aid. was third.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
IY JAZZ VESSELS
SUNK IN PACIFIC
CONTINUED from Page Cnel

Continued from Page Gnel
by American airmen On the frs
units commanded by Rear Ad
miral Mare A.. Mi scher, were
able to lie within striking range
Of Truk testifies to the effective
ness of the air cover.
It was Admiral Mitscher who
commanded the former. aircraft
carrier Hornet from which was
sprung the long-dis ance air blow
against Tokyo April ID. 1912. Vice
Adm r. A. Spruance was in over
ali command.
Aircraft, some of them making
three or more separate strikes
during the two-day raid, thorough.
" bombed and strafed airdromes,
ground installations and shipping
throughout the Truk atoll.
Pending further word from ma
val quar-. ers, it was assumed i'm
uortant Japanese installations,
such as the drydock and ship re-
pair yards in the atoll and the ex-
cellent and highly developed Eten
island anchorage, were raked by
the American airmen. The 1000
yard airstrip on Eten island and
another important runway on Pa
ram island were also probable
targets.
If damage to these and other in
stallations, was comparable to
shipping and plane losses, much
of Truk atoll would be a sham
b.es today.
However, the Japanese have had
more than 80 years to build mighty
underground defenses and it is
possible these escaped serious
damage when the American at
tacks were directed against en-
envy shipping and aircraft.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
American Military Men
Skilled At Gugilism

ALGIERS, Feb. 20. -P)- Am
e1icans are usually pretty handy
With their fists and they demon
srrated it yesterday by winning
II of the 16 boxing championships
decided in the weeklong tourney
among Allied soldiers and sailors
fer the North Africa amateur and
professional championships.
Survivors of the more than 1000
who entered the regional elinina-
tons month ago were two Ken
tuckians, two Pennsylvanians, two
New Workers, two Californians,
and one each from Colorado, New
Hampshire, Ohio and Texas. OF
the remaining four titles, two went
to the French Navy, one to the
British Army and one to Honolulu
n the Hawaii Islands.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
George Brown Captures
Big Bowling Tournament

WILLIlIANTIC. Conn, Feb. 20
-(P-George Brokn of Fairfield.
One of the early finishers, posted
a 15-game total of 2076 to capture
the Eastern classic, one of the ma
tons top buckpin bowling tourna-
mems, which finished here early
today.
Brown. who annexed the $500
first prize, led field of 1902, a
record for any national 15-bame
event. His score was Is pins net
ter than that compiled by last
years victor. Joe Genovesi OF
Rockville. and the second highest
ever rolled in the tournament s
13-year history. A 2088 tally won
for Mac Carboni of New Haven
four years ago.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
More Facts Needed
By Americans, Says
Former Owl Official

WALLA WALLA, Wash, Feb. ~.
-R)-Palmer Hoyt, publisher and
former chief of Office of War In
formations domestic section, to-
night declared the American peo-
pie need more and more facts,
and not philosophy about the war,
and the peace to come.
He addressed Whitman Colleges
mid-year graduating class, devel-
oping a theme that war moral
ity to cover the war and the
peace" is the country's great
need.
The "present lack of war moral
ity," he said, can be blamed on
those who have the power to give
information.
Americans, he said, ''need stor-
les of action as grim and as re-
alistic as war itself and not
preachment and lectures"
The speaker said that perhaps
1--WE can muddle through the war
itself without adequate understand
ing of events and issues, but it is
doubtful that we can muddle
through the making of the peace
which will require vast patience
and endurance from a people al
ready anxious" to return to nor
NAL living unless they are in
formed as to both the hazard anc
the necessity"
"The establishment of such {
sense of obligation on the part O.
citizens to government and govern
ment to citizens is the one thing
that can guarantee complete de
feat of the enemy and be certain
insurance Of properly regulated
world when victory is won.
Hoyt received the honorary de.
gree of doctor of laws from Presi
dent Winslow S. Anderson of Whit
man during the graduation.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-02-21
Baseballer. Al Simmons
Thinks Old Timers Out

HOT SPRINGS, Ark, Feb. 90
opal Simmons, the veteran out
fielder whose big bat helped the
Philadelphia Athletics to three Am
erican League pennants back in
l929-31, says he agrees with his
former boss, Connie Mack, that it's
foolish for old timers to try to
help out in the games current
manpower shortage.
Il tried it last year and couldn't
make the grade" said Simmons, a
visitor here during the winter sea-
son.
mo man worked harder or was
in better physical condition for a
comeback"
He added that he had the extra
incentive of trying for his 3.0Ooth
hit in an effort to become the sew.
enth man in baseball to attain that
record.
The 4o-year-old outfielder unit
the sport last season after nl.r;. -
in only 40 games with the tBostna
Red sox and hitting little he et'
ter than 200. e'