The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-13
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) By JACK CUDDY

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, July 13-(UP)-Old Sam Langford, fat and blind, didn't have to move from his dingy hall bedroom in Harlem to find green pastures" Instead, that little cub icle became "a bit of heaven" for him during the past Is months.
 In January, 1944, the sightless old gladiator thought the world had be- come a ''cold hell" as he sat penni- less and shivering and hungry in his frigid quarters. He was way back" in his rent, and only the kindness of his poor landlady pre- vented him from being tossed out into Harlem's merciless streets.
 It was there that Al Laney of the New York Herald Tribune found Langford-deserted and alone-liv- ing only in his memories. Gone was the roar of the crowd that accom- panied his amazing performances during SAP professional fights. Gone was the golden harvest that meant so little to him when fair-weather friends were Hooking around and skipping his broad back.
 When sportswriter Laney discov- cred the blind Negro in abject pow erty on that bitter January day, old Sam had no complaints. He ad- mitted he was cold and hungry, but Ans used ter that" He regretted only that he had no money to buy "baccy' for his pipe.
 What had happened to place him in such plight
 "Ah don't know essactly; guess ah didn't figger tn world out jus right"
 Laney sat down at his typewriter and told New York about the fate of Boston's legendary Tar Baby. Other neWspapermen joined Laney, and the story was carried through out the nation.
 A group of kind-hearted New Workers organized a fund-raising committee. Contributions were re- ceived from many areas. News papGs in Denver and New Orleans, appealed to their boxing fans and sent in heartening checks.
 This committee functioned until last April. By that time. total of $10,892.33 had been collected from about 2,000 contributors throughout the country. April II, the commit tee bought Sam an annuity with the Union Central Life Insurance Go. The annuity wasn't large about SIS month. But it assured the old fighter that he will be fed and housed for the rest of his life though not in luxury indeed. In fact, Laney has to arrange with the New York Alliance for funds once a year to buy clothing for the 60-year cid Negro.
 When the annuity was estab- IShed, some of the committee mem bers suggested to Langford that he move to better quarters-or out into the country. But old Sam said, Noah better stay heah. A cain't see a thing, you know; but ah've learnt to feel nah way aroun' heah wid nah cane. And this heah room is beginnin' to feel sorta lak heaven-now ah got plenty of baccy and good vittles-and frien's are comin' ter see me an talk ol' times. It's jus the bes' place in tn world foah me-
 So-thanks to the generosity of the nations boxing fans, this fat, sawed-off, eldster with the derrick shoulders, long arms and basketlike hands has found green pastures" in the same little room where only the spectre of poverty had been his visitor. He puffs contentedly on his pipe as he listens to fights or his own radio; and he goes down Memory Lane with old-timers who look him up. Great bouts are re- fought in the clouds of pipe smoke, as the gnome-like man recalls his encounters with Jack Johnson, Joe Jeanette, Harry Wills, Joe Cans, Jack Blackburn, Joe Walcott, Jim