Two Knock Outs at Ridgewood

New York, 1895

Two hotly contested glove fights were decided at Ridgewood on Saturday night. Jimmy Black of New York and Dan Casey of Brooklyn met in the first "go" at catch weights. Casey forced the fighting from the start, but Black was very shifty. Casey put his man to sleep in the ninth round with a straight left hand punch on the chin.

In the second bout, Jack McGrath of Brooklyn faced Billy McDonald of New York at 125 pounds to a finish. It was a good even fight for five rounds, but the tide then set in McDonald's favor, and McGrath was put to sleep with a right body blow in the eleventh round.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, May 10, 1895, p. 1.

The Welcome Prize Fighters

New York, 1895

Dick Phelan Knocks Out Barney Lynch in the Eleventh Round.

Quite a large crowd of sporting men saw the finish fight on Saturday night which was successfully pulled off just over the Brooklyn city line in Queens county. The principals were Barney Lynch of Newark, and Dick Phelan of Brooklyn. Both weighed in below the limit set for the match, 131 pounds, at 6 o'clock in the evening, Lynch being a little the heavier. Capt. Jack Mace, Ridgewood A. C., was the referee.

The first round was productive of only light sparring, but in the second the lads warmed up to their work, and Phelan got home some pretty two-handers that set the crowd to applauding. In the third round Lynch began to do some of the fast fighting that he is capable of, and cut Phelan's right eye with a hot left-hand jab. Phelan came up the fresher for the fourth round and rushed his man all over the ring. Lynch was floored by a savage right-hander and badly punished about the body. Lynch assumed the aggressive in the fifth round, but it was only momentary, for Phelan used both hands very swiftly, and Lynch was glad to break ground and run around the ring. The latter was knocked out in the eleventh round with a right-hander flush on the chin.

Are the prize fighters paying for immunity in this county? If not, why are they tolerated?


Note: The point is that prizefighting was illegal there, but the authorities seemed to be turning a blind eye to it. The Farmer newspaper was against prizefighting and trying to make the authorities do something about it.


Burglars in a Silk Mill

The Rhenania silk mills, of College Point, were entered by burglars Thursday night and over $500 worth of dyed silks were stolen.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 8, 1895, p. 1.

Still Another Prize Fight

New York, 1895

To Which District Attorney Noble's Attention is Called.

On February 1st THE FARMER said in an editorial:

"The police of New York raided a prize fight in Harlem last Thursday night. The thugs up in Harlem had not learned that prize fighting is permitted and encouraged in Queens County. They will get the cue now."

This was prophecy. The thugs who were routed in Harlem, as stated above, pulled their mill off at Winfield on Saturday night. It really looks as it somebody was going around inviting the prize fighters to come to Queens County. The protection which these ruffians receive has become a disgrace. The District Attorney does nothing, the "County Detective" does nothing. The following account of the fight is taken from Monday's New York Sun:

About 200 sporting men from New York and Brooklyn journeyed to Winfield last night to witness a special bout of ten rounds between Dick Wunderlich and Jacob Cooper, formerly of Harlem, but now a member of the Winfield A. C. Before the lads appeared Tom Kiernan of New York and Al Manning of Harlem boxed a four-round draw. The next bout was between Boss Levy of England, but now of the Winfield A. C., and Tony Moran of Brooklyn at 115 pounds. Levy's hard hitting and clever ducking were too much for Moran, and the former got the bout.

After an intermission of twenty minutes Wunderlich and Cooper came into the ring. At the call of time both men went at it hammer and tongs. In weight the men seemed to be evenly matched. In the third round, when Cooper had his man almost out, the crowd began to yell so loud that the referee could not hear the call of time. The men fought for some time over the limit, and the bout almost terminated in a free fight. From the third round up to the beginning of the eighth round, both men received severe punishment.

In the latter part of the eighth round Cooper went at Wunderlich right and left, but got the same dose from his opponent. The latter, however, began to get groggy and was floored with a left-hand jab in the neck; but before the referee counted ten seconds he was on his feet again. Cooper saw that he had his man almost out and rushed at him right and left, smashing Wunderlich in the nose and on the body. He followed this up with a straight righthander, which caught Wunderlich under the chin and sent him to the floor like a log. Referee Jack Kenny awarded the fight to Cooper, who made quite a creditable showing upon his first appearance in the ring.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 15, 1895, p. 12.

A Sunday Prize Fight

New York, 1895

Will District Attorney Noble Inquire Into This?

About 300 sporting men from Greenpoint and South Brooklyn ploughed their way through the snow and over the rough roads of Long Island to a well-known sporting resort at Laurel Hill last night [Sunday] to witness a finish fight between Paddy Gallagher of Greenpoint and George Kelly of Bensonhurst. The two pugilists are well known on Long Island, each having won a number of hard fought battles. The fight was for a purse and a side wager of $200. Gallagher, who tipped the scale at 150 pounds, seemed to have the advantage in reach, height, and in every other way, being ten pounds heavier than Kelly. While the men were getting ready a preliminary bout at 110 pounds, between Ruddy Pfifer of Brooklyn and Joe Brown, "the Winfield Spider," was arranged. Both lads were evenly matched, and boxed four lively rounds to a draw.

Kelly and Gallagher were then announced. The latter was the first to enter the ring, and looked like a giant compared to Kelly, who appeared a moment later. At the call of time both men went at it hammer and tongs, smashing each other right and left. When the referee called time Gallagher was stretched across the ropes, with his hands spread in the air ready to fall when his seconds caught him and carried him to his corner.

In the next two rounds Gallagher received some hard punishment, but he stood it gamely. Kelly banged him all over the ring, hitting him where and whenever he pleased. When Gallagher came up in the fourth round he was very groggy and weak, while Kelly seemed fresh and strong. Both men sparred a few seconds.

Kelly smashed Gallagher in rapid succession with his right and left on the chin and over the left eye, which was almost closed. Gallagher made a faint jab with his left, and to the surprise of everybody followed it up quickly with a right-hand swing which caught Kelly under the jaw. The latter staggered from the blow for a second, and then fell in a heap to the floor.

When the fifth round was called, Kelly was still unconscious, and the referee awarded the fight to Gallagher. The crowd almost went wild at the turn of affairs, and carried Gallagher to his dressing room in their arms. — Monday's Sun.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Jan. 25, 1895, p. 1.

Ye Gods! What'd John L. Have Said to Hair Curling and Brow Arching?

(Click the graphic for better view.)

1920

My dears, you should see that pompadour!

And that isn't half of it. He's having his eyebrows daintily arched, too!

And, to cap it all, his cheeks are adorned with the best grade of milady's rouge carefully handpainted over a field of perfumed pink powder. 'Tis even hinted that for a time he considered wearing a lace-covered corset to accentuate the lines of his form-fitting suit of clothes, but this has later been indignantly denied.

No, Genevieve, your guess is wrong. It isn't Launcelot de Slushe, the hero of "Nine Oceans of Tears" in the movie — it's no less a personage, they say, than Jack Dempsey, heavyweight fistic champion of this universe.

Dempsey won't say whether it's the influence of his recent trial at the movies or the success of his next opponent, Georges Carpentier, the bearcat boulevardier of gay Paree, but —

The erstwhile training camp, 'tis whispered, exudes an odor of lilac toilet water and face powder. Electric curling irons are said to adorn the walls where boxing gloves once hung. Cauliflower-eared attendants no longer take to road work and handball — manicuring and eyebrow-arching is the order of the day now, according to latest reports.

So much did Dempsey admire his first marcel wave at the hands of a Los Angeles society barber that he returned to have his brows arched and has since made it a regular practice, if Los Angeles advices may be believed.

But, ye gods! What would the shades of John L. Sullivan and Bob Fitzsimmons say if they could return to earth and see a modern fistic champion?

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

U. S. Boxers to Sail for France

1920

Frenchmen who are keen to see their boxers stand up against those from the United States will have further opportunities to do so, for Al Lippe sails Jan. 14 with nine fighters, having arranged terms with Theodore Vinne, French promoter. Jeff Smith, Tom Cower, K. O. Loughlin. Frankie Brown, Eddie Moy, Max Williamson, Johnny Alex, Joe Mendall and Johnny Liggett will make the trip.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

He's Willing Now

1920

But Champion Is a Late Late, Says Georgia Poet.

The following was received by the sporting editor of The Saturday Blade from Atlanta, Ga.:

Our Champion.

He's willing to fight in France, they say,
For half a million or so;
But he passed up a chance at a buck a day
When they called on us all to go.

I think I speak for a million chaps
Who went to France with a vim,
Ready for anything — death perhaps —
So —
Hope Georges whales hell out of him.

—Jack Converse.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Note: This poem concerns Jack Dempsey, whose reputation was tainted when it was alleged he was a draft dodger during World War I. There's some details at this link. "Georges" was Georges Carpentier, a French war hero. Dempsey had a match against him in 1921, called the "Battle of the Century."


Canadian Boxer Challenges

1920

Brousseau Wants to Meet Carpentier In Montreal.

The Canadian Hockey Club has cabled a challenge to Georges Carpentier's manager in London for the French boxer to meet Eugene Brousseau, Dominion's middleweight champion, in a boxing exhibition in Montreal, July 1, Dominion day, at one of the race tracks.

Brousseau has recovered from a slight attack of paralysis, which followed his bout with Chip, in Portland.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Harry Potter, Colored Loiterer, Still in Jail

Excerpt from court news, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1916

The drunks let go this morning were Walter Kelsey, Dan McMuller and John Starr, the latter claiming to have been robbed of $45. Duke Bransirattor will be up again on Feb. 7. James Moran, a vag, and Harry Potter, a colored loiterer, were ordered hold until Feb. 12.

—Fort Wayne News, Feb. 5, 1916, p. 4.


Siloam Fight Monday

Siloam Springs, Ark., May 27. - A group of Tulsa amateur boxers will meet mittmen from Tahlequah, Okla. and Siloam here Monday night, May 29. Harry Potter, Tulsa, and Philip Bluebird, Tahlequah, and Jack Sikes, Tulsa, and Hoss Glory, Tahlequah, head the card.

—Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 27, 1933, p. 3.


El Paso, Texas, 1937

Mrs. Harry Potter has returned from a visit of several months in the East.


Salem, Ohio, 1894

Harry Potter, who has been visiting friends here, left last Saturday for Mansfield.


New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1940

Harry Potter, of East Washington street, who has been ill at his home, is somewhat improved.

Mine Fire Burns 25 Years

1915

Blaze Thought Conquered, Rages in Remote Gangways

HAZELTON, Pa., Dec. 16. — The Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company is fighting a mine fire at Honey Brook No. 1, that was believed to have been extinguished twenty-five years ago. Stripping operations at the west end of the basin of anthracite fuel uncovered the flames, which were eating up measures which were flooded in the eighties.

In 1906, when the water was tapped from Honey Brook, nine men were choked to death by white damp found in the workings of a residue from the mine fire twenty years ago. No further trace of the blaze was encountered, but it is now believed that it continued to rage in remote gangways cut off by falls of rock from the body of coal that was being worked.



"Didn't Know It Was Loaded"

Pugilist Killed While Fooling With Man's Rifle

NEW BRUNSWICK. N. J., Dec. 16. — George Reed walked into a lunch room here and placed his rifle in a corner and sat down to eat breakfast. In a few minutes Severin J. Kucinsky, a pugilist, 25 years old, came in.

He greeted everybody cheerfully. Then he walked over to the rifle, picked it up and placed the muzzle against his heart.

"Now," he said to Reed, "pull the trigger!"

Reed did so. Kucinsky died two hours later in St. Peter's Hospital. Reed was arrested. He said he thought the gun was empty.

The Reunion Is Over

From the Leon, Iowa, area, date unknown, circa 1900

It Was the Best and Most Successful Reunion Ever Held — People Were All Well Satisfied

The big reunion which has been looked forward to for months closed Saturday night, and it is not stretching it when we say that it was the biggest and best reunion we have ever held in this city. It looked rather gloomy when the reunion opened on Tuesday of last week with a cold rain but when the sun came out Wednesday morning everybody took heart, although the weather was a little too cold, and for the remaining four days there was a big attendance. On Thursday and Friday Mr. Roe Caster had to open up his meadow to teams, as hundreds could not find any place to hitch on the grounds, notwithstanding there were just the same number of hitchracks as last year, so this shows conclusively that on these days the crowds were larger than on any previous year.

The speakers during the reunion were the best we ever had, Judge W. E. Miller, of Bedford, delivering a fine address on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday the speaker was Judge S. F. Prouty, of Des Moines, one of the most prominent men of the state. He was met at the depot by Clerk S. W. Kehler with his fine team and carriage, and a delegation of prominent citizens, headed by County Auditor Gill, and escorted up town to dinner. He spoke at the reunion grounds in the afternoon and the crowd was the largest and most attentive at any of the speeches, and his address seemed to please every man and woman in the vast audience. On Friday Col. M. L. Temple, of Osceola, was greeted with a large audience and his address was well received. The last speech of the reunion was made by Mayor V. R. McGinnis, and notwithstanding it was the closing day he was greeted with a big audience who had the pleasure of hearing Mr. McGinnis at his best, and there is no better speaker in the whole state on an occasion like this than Mayor McGinnis.

Excellent music was furnished throughout the reunion by the Garden Grove band, and a better band, or one more liberal with their music was never in this city. The boys are fine gentlemen and gave the very best of satisfaction, both to the public and the committee. It is one of the best bands in this part of the state. The Big Four Quartet from Humeston were also here the entire time, and these gentlemen were heartily endorsed by everybody. They were always ready to sing and there was no end to their repertoire of song, classical or rag time. In the evening they appeared as black face singers and their rag time music never grew old, the crowds always being eager for more. The committee made no mistake when they secured the Big Four Quartet.

The free attractions were the best ever put on by any reunion in southern Iowa, including Clark & Stonebraker in double trapeze, revolving ladders, tumbling and barrel jumping and they are artists in these lines. Zareli, the silver gymnast also made good with his tramp comedy contortions and slack wire walking and unicycle riding, juggling, and hand balancing and posing. He is a good one. There were also a number of other free attraction, including numerous boxing and wrestling matches, and there was something going on at one of the three stands all the time, so that it kept the people busy trying to see it all.

Friday was 111th Alaska day, and these jolly boys had a big special program offering numerous cash prizes for contests and sports of various kinds. The pie eating contests for men was won by Will Akes, who devoured something less than a dozen pies, John Vanpelt being a close second. In the boys pie eating contest Frank Cartwright won first prize and Paul Kenter the second money. Howard Eals of this city proved a wonder when it came to stowing away the most watermelon and he easily distanced all his competitors, but hasn't cared for melon since. There were six good wrestling matches during the day at which cash prizes were offered and they were all for blood, the winners being as follows:

1st — Clyde Pryor won from Floyd Powers.
2d — Steve Akes won from John Powers.
3d — Fred Young won from Clyde Pickering.
4th — Wm. Akes won from Perry Reynolds.
5th — Floyd Powers won from Forest Davenport.
6th — Guy Whitecar won from Jasper Jennings.

In the boxing contests Art Cowden won from Jap Carr, the latter taking a header into the lake from the platform to avoid his opponent. This match was followed by a hot one between Clyde Marvin and Carl Reynolds which the judges called a draw.

Fred Jay, the Davis City high diver, made a pretty dive from a fifty foot ladder into the lake, and as the result of a challenge between J. R. Bowsher and Charlie Akes, Bowsher made a fine high dive, going into the water like a lobster.

The Greatest Fighter

1920

Jack Dempsey of pugilistic fame has been acclaimed by many as "the world's greatest fighter."

He is scheduled to meet Georges Carpentier, the Frenchman who vanquished England's premier prize fighter in less than one round, for the honor of wearing the world's championship belt, not to mention a cash consideration of several hundred thousand dollars.

A little more than a year ago 2,000,000 American youths were facing machine guns, artillery, hand grenades, bayonets and airplanes on the battlefields of France, and 2,000,000 more American boys were in the service on this side yearning for the opportunity to share the dangers of their comrades overseas.

To whom, asks the Atlanta Constitution, should go the recognition of being "the world's greatest fighter" — Jack Dempsey or some of those brave American — or French, or British, or other — boys who stood the test of the trenches?

There can be but one answer.

—Saturday Blade, Chicago, Feb. 28, 1920, p. 6.

Funnygraphs — "He Fell Unconscientious"

1900

McAisy — I do be seein' that Misther Hardin' has quit findin' out things. O'Deer — But whin did he ever begin?

It was the colored pugilist who said: "It on'y lasted one roun'. I landed on he chin and he fell unconscientious."

"What's the difference between wrath and a woman who wants you to subscribe for something?" "I dunno." "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

"Would you call a cat herbivorous, carnivorous or ominvorous?" asked the man who is learned, but tedious. "Neither," answered the man who yawns; "merely vociferous."

"You've got your linen suit on a trifle early, Hopkins," "Yes; but my folks are interested in a rummage sale; and when I carry my clothes around with me I know where they are."

A man smoking a cigarette boarded a Union traction car, and a woman handed him an anti-cigarette tract. "Thank you, ma'am," said he. "I'll take it home to my son." — Muncie Star.

He — A live donkey, you know, is better than a dead lion. She — Yes. He — Why are you looking around in that way? She — I'm looking for the dead lion that made the comparison pop into your mind.

Thompson — Jones was around early this morning to borrow my snow shovel. Robinson — Great Scott! What does he want with it this time of the year? Thompson — He doesn't want to use it now. Brown borrowed it last fall, and Jones didn't get a shot at it the whole winter, and he is determined Brown should not get ahead of him this year.

Fighters Seek to Settle Grudge Over Woman in Ring

1896

Britt and Lawler Indulge in a Fist Fight All on Account of a Woman

San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 18. — It took twenty-eight rounds of desperate bare knuckle slugging to settle the grudge that has existed for a long time between Jimmy Britt, once the champion bantamweight of the coast, and Frank Lawler, another well known athlete whose doings in the fistic arena have made him quite prominent.

Britt and Lawler were formerly friends but had a falling out over a member of the fair sex and decided to settle the controversy in a bare knuckle finish fight. Both being members of a well known athletic club that has turned out a great many good boxers, it was decided to hold the match there. The location of the ring was kept a secret until the last minute and while the fighters were in training, no one except a favored few knew where the mill was to take place.

These few selected a well known sporting man as referee and the combatants stripped and went to work. The first three rounds consisted of hot give and take work with the result that both showed signs of distress when the fourth round was called. From the fifth to the twelfth, however, the fighting was fast with honors about even. They took things easy until the twentieth when another fierce rally, nearly resulted in Britt going out from a right hand swing that landed on his neck. He recovered in the next round and from that to the twenty-eighth round had a shade the best of the argument, Lawler being tired. As there seemed to be little chance of a finish and both men were terribly punished the referee called the match a draw.

Paid $1,500 to Clear Jack Dempsey, Wife Confesses

1920

Paid $1,500 to Clear Jack Dempsey, Wife Confesses to a Federal Jury

LOS ANGELES, Cal. — A statement to the Federal Grand Jury in this city, making an investigation into the charges that she had been "induced" to leave the country in order to avoid testifying in the slacker cases against Jack Dempsey, her ex-husband, Mrs. Jack Dempsey, or Maxine Wayne, as she is better known, made a clean breast of the transaction, in which it was said she was paid a sum of money to repudiate her first statement involving Dempsey in the slacker charges.

Mrs. Dempsey said she was given $1,500 in cash in Los Angeles. It is claimed by the Department of Justice investigators that she later received other substantial sums.

Arrangements were being made, she said, to send her out of the country when the Department of Justice operatives blocked the scheme. Offers to pay her money to leave, said to have been in telegrams sent to her over fictitious signatures, will be substantiated, it was claimed by the messages themselves. They were seized by the Government. Letters written by Dempsey with reference to his draft status also are in possession of the Government.

Mrs. Dempsey frankly stated her earnings had helped to support Dempsey before he became the world's champion heavyweight.

Julius E. Gardner, who was arrested at San Diego, is involved in the plans to get Mrs. Dempsey out of the country, according to the Federal authorities.

George Washington Meets Fast-Talking Modern Man

Anaconda, Montana, 1914--

Some Observations by the Wanderer

What would the immortal George Washington say if he came to Butte for a day?

The dapper young swell would greet him, of course, with a few remarks, and into his speech inject enough of the present day lingo to make the father of his country wonder what the world is coming to.

"Lo, old top; you look like the ready-cash gazabo come to pipe the gang. Now, for a starter, suppose you shoot your lamps at that across the pike -- isn't she a pippin?"

"Old top, lamps, pippin? I do not understand your language, sir."

"Now, what do you know about that? Wouldn't it crimp you? Forget it, bo, get wise, take my hunch and polish your peepers. I'll put you next to yourself. You sailed in to see dear old Butte, didn't you? Then take my wing and we'll trek over to the swellest cabaret you ever bumped into. Some doings over there, believe me."

"Believe you? Why, my good man, I cannot believe my ears, or" -- his gaze riveted on a wisp of modern femininity, garbed up to the minute -- "my eyes, either."

"Ah, what's the gag; hereto pipe the procesh, ain't you? You're handing me something but don't you do it, see? You need a gin ricky; or how would a flapdoodle kerplunk dingbat at the Dutchman's strike you? Your pipes hot? Come on over to the glassy mahogany and we'll look at Reuben. No? How'd a trolley down to the place where they give a correct imitation of the hesitation and the bunny hug hit you? Can you fall for the dance? Looking for a joy ride? Name your choice and I'll dig; let's paint the old burg a lurid carinine, eh? Get me?"

"How strange it all seems. Would that my sleep had not been disturbed by the Mexican silence at Washington."

"Come out of it, old scout; you haven't sized up this dump yet. There's peaches and cream all over town. Take my steer and don't let any good thing get by."

"Farewell, my country; again, farewell my countrymen. This is not my counter -- these are not my countrymen. By heck, where am I at?"
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The old-fashioned man who established a checken ranch that his heir might enjoy the fruits thereof has a son who is doing his best to keep tab on the chickens.
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The average man who comes to see the sights of the town usually obtains his first impressions in the big mirror behind the mahogany.
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A new suit of clothes, a shine, a shave, a hat with the bow behind and a $10 bill have made millionaires out of many hard-working men.
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The apple of mother's eye sometimes develops into a pippin; often is regarded as a winesap; sometimes as a wealthy, but more than ever, as the summer approaches, she swings into the early transparent species.
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Father used to black his boots with soot from the stove lid and mother, on Sundays put a little corn starch on her ruddy chin. Both used charcoal on their teeth and read the Bible and preferred each other's company on all occasions. This day brings forth sons and daughters who never open the family Bible, never both about father only when money is needed and never mention mother's name in society and prefer any other company to that of their parents.
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Sometimes it is a fact that the man who picks his teeth with his fork and wipes off his whiskers with his knife and uses his fingers to lift the flapjacks to his mouth and passes up the finger bowl can write a check for thousands and live in his own house.
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It has been written that he who hesitates loses. That's all at variance with fact today -- the one who can hesitation best wins the prettiest girl.
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The good fellow invites half a dozen up to the bar and throws up two of the biggest silver dollars he can find. He accompanies his wife to church and fishes around in his pocket for the smallest nickel to throw into the plate.
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The majority of residents of Anaconda are not aware of the fact that a railroad used to run from a point near Washoe park diagonally across lots to Sheep gulch, up to a great quarry from which many hundreds of carloads of building rock had been taken. Lime rock also was mined in that part of the gulch and there were lime kilns there, too. Only traces remain of that once important industry.
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A man who says he is a pioneer of Anaconda, having come here about 17 years ago, accompanied a real old-timer up Park avenue the other day. Passing the brick building across the alley west of the Montana hotel the old-timer said to his young old-time friend:

"That building was the first brick church in Anaconda, one of the very first churches built here, if not the first."

The 17-year old-timer looked up and down the sides of the brick house and then at the old-timer. "That right? That a church once?"

"Sure it was, built by the Rev. Mr. Stanley, a pioneer South Methodist minister."

"Well, I'll be -- I didn't know that."
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And John L. Sullivan visited Anaconda in the early '80s, in the heyday of his importance as a fistic expert. He drew an enormous crowd to the old skating rink down in First street, since named Commercial avenue.
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One sees a very large number of things in one day in Butte if one be inclined to observe things in passing. One can almost say that one sees some things that are not in sight, so much is there before one's eyes. So much may be seen now that could not be seen a month ago. Butte is a remarkable town in many remarkable respects. It grows, it keeps apace, as they say in suffragist meetings, it is in some respects ahead of itself, and it never looks back to see if the rest of the procession is coming.
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The observer notes a wonderful change in everything, including fashions, since last fall. Now they wear high hats and flat hats, whereas last fall they wore flat hats and high hats, only they were built on different lines last fall.
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The observing visitor also notes a radical change in man's apparel. Looking back 25 years ago the observer beholds a kindly old gentleman in the act of shooting a man wearing a thing called a coat that looks more like something that someone had thrown out of a window and which fell on something alive. Nowadays that thing is called a top coat and the man wears it without molestation -- for it is vogue.
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The whiskey is the same, the people are the same, the atmosphere is the same, the cigars are the same, the hotels are the same -- only some visitors imagine that because they are away form home they can stand more abuse than they can at home.

--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, March 22, 1914, page 4.

Gentleman Jack O'Brien, Great Fighter, Interviewed

1920--

GENTLEMAN JACK O'BRIEN, WHO IS APPEARING AT THE PALACE THEATRE, GIVES A LENGTHY INTERVIEW ON RING BATTLES OF NOTE

Former Champion, and One of the Greatest Fighters That Ever Crawled Through Ropes, Is of Opinion That Present Champion Will Fall Before the French Fighter—O'Brien Is an Actor of No Little Ability, Having Appeared Before All Crowned Heads of Europe—Was Great Worker for Charitable Institutions During War.

Gentleman Jack O'Brien, one of the most unique exponents of the squared ring that has ever visited Olean, was a guest in the Herald office this morning. Mr. O'Brien, who is a gifted and polished conversationalist, discussed a wide range of subjects from keeping in perfect physical trim to the League of Nations and easily demonstrated that he has not traveled the world over in vain.

In a word Mr. O'Brien is an "uplifter" but not of the usual variety. In a thoroughly sane and unbiased manner he discussed the things that have brought ring battles into disrepute and showed the way for a reformation to the ultimate end that these contests in physical strength and endurance might be so staged that they would appeal to the most refined and intelligent, as they did when staged for charity, during the late war, particularly in France and England.

Mr. O'Brien was somewhat guarded in discussing the Willard-Dempsey fight in Toledo but unhesitatingly expressed the opinion that when Dempsey meets Carpentier there is going to be a quick knockout and the Frenchman will win. This opinion is of more than ordinary value due to the fact that during the war Mr. O'Brien boxed Carpentier, in France, for the benefit of the Red Cross.

Among the famous fighters that Mr. O'Brien has met in the ring are Sam Langford, Stanley Ketchel, Kid McCoy, Bob Fitzsimmons and Tommy Ryan and in speaking of some of these events he said that in the days gone by there was no fiddling over a big bonus, or vast sums to be paid to the loser, but just a case of taking on the best fighter at hand for the best terms offered, with the whole idea of pleasing and satisfying the public.

He discussed boxing as an aid to long life and incidentally suggested that he had made no great sums out of fighting and that the best of his work had been done in the interest of some public benefit or charity, just as he boxed, during the late war, for the benefit of the Red Cross, War Chests and Liberty Loan drives. Mr. O'Brien was in the aviation corps, during the war, and he was requested to aid the various loans and drives, particularly in the United States. At one benefit performance, for the Red Cross $125,000 was raised, largely through his efforts.

At the present time Mr. O'Brien is signed to meet Joe Beckett, heavyweight champion of England, in London on July 4th, but anticipates that so far as England is concerned the fight will be stopped because of his announced intention of giving his share of the proceeds to the Irish organizations, to use in their fight for the freedom of Ireland. He says, however, that the fight will be held somewhere if called off in England.

Mr. O'Brien, who is appearing in a remarkably interesting monologue at the Palace Theatre, has appeared before President Wilson, William Jennings Bryan, Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, Sir Henry Irving, the late Theodore Roosevelt, former president, William Taft, in this country, as well as the King and Queen of England, Madame Barnhardt, Queen Alexandria and other titled personages, in the old world, from all of whom he holds personal letters of appreciation.

In every sense of the word Mr. O'Brien satisfactorily fills his title of "Gentleman" and in his conversation, stage work and writings easily demonstrates that he is as much at home in a drawing room as in the ring, and a person not only of rare attainments but of wonderful personality.

--Olean Evening Herald, Olean, New York, December 13, 1920, page 11.

Boxing News: The Vader White Hope Loses in First Round

Centralia, Washington, 1913
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FARMER AND SWAIN BOUT CALLED DRAW

Frank Farmer, of Kapowskin, and Joe Swain, of Portland, fought six rounds to a draw at the local armory before a big crowd of fight fans last night. The decision of Referee Biddy Bishop proved to be popular with the crowd, the fight being one of the most closely contested and the "scrappiest" ever witnessed in Centralia. Farmer led in the earlier part of the fight, while Swain came back for the best of it in the latter rounds. In the curtain raiser Battling Burley disposed of Billy McFadden, the Vader white hope, in one round.

--Daily Chronicle-Examiner, Centralia, Washington, August 30, 1913, page 6.



Chehalis, Washington, 1921
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FIND BIG MUSHROOM.

Sidney Jefferts and H. Ailsworth went deer hunting last Sunday. Game was scarce, but the trip was worth while, as they found a 16½ -pound mushroom. They have decided now to go mushroom hunting instead of after deer.

--The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, Chehalis, Washington, October 28, 1921, page 3.

Jeffries Says He Will Re-enter Ring

Announcement Throws Theater Crowd Into Tumult.

New York, April 21 - "I will fight Mr. Jack Johnson. I will defend my title as undefeated heavyweight champion of the world." Before an audience that filled the American Music hall, and in which there were as many women as men, James J. Jeffries made this formal announcement. It was a signal for great joy. Excited men leaped from their seats, shouted and cheered, and many women in the audience applauded, their shrill and excited cries of approval as they stood up and waved their handkerchiefs and their peach-basket hats to the ponderous, bowing and blushing "undefeated champion" added picturesqueness to a remarkable scene.

There are several conditions attached to Jeffries' re-entering into the prize ring. First, Johnson must defeat Ketchel. Then Jeffries can not sign articles for possibly 10 months, and he insists that the fight shall take place in this country and that it shall be unlimited as to rounds. He also declares that he is in splendid physical condition.

--The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, April 21, 1909, page 2.

Jeff Debates With a Minister In Open Ring at Minneapolis

NEW YORK, July 24. - "Big Jim" Jeffries, who is preparing to wrest the title of world's champion pugilist from the black brow of "Jack" Johnson, yesterday debated prize fighting and religion with the Rev. Dr. G. L. Morrill, pastor of one of the largest churches in Minneapolis, according to special dispatches from that city yesterday. The men met in the ring in which Jeffries gave an exhibition in an amusement park, and a large crowd cheered Jeff when he said there were many prize fighters who would make good preachers, but few preachers who would make good prize fighters.

Jeff was stripped for action, with six-ounce gloves on his fists and an American flag around his waist, when Dr. Morrill climbed through the ropes. The big fighter had been told the clergyman was coming for an interview and Jeffries went to him with a smile and held out his gloved hand. "You're welcome, sir," said Jeff, "but not any more so because you are a minister."

For a moment Dr. Morrill seemed confused. The greeting evidently was not what he had looked for, but he quickly gathered himself and retorted:

"Well, Mr. Jeffries, I don't think a minister is any better than any one else just because he is a minister."

"Neither do I," said Jeffries, emphatically, "and, another thing, there are just as good people outside the church as there are inside."

"I don't even say you are not right about that," replied Dr. Morrill, who then listened to a sharp lecture from the fighter.

"Why do you preachers always fuss about differences in religious belief, and split the people up into factions?" asked Jeffries. "Why don't you, just once in a while, tell them something practicable for their good? Why don't you tell them how to take care of their bodies? How is a man going to save his soul if his liver is out of order? If you are too fat, don't it make you a better man and a better Christian to take exercise? Don't you know that as a rule a physical coward is a moral coward? I'd like to get into the pulpit and put on the gloves with you, Dr. Morrill, and then see which of us came out in the best shape to deliver a sermon."

"Big Jim" stopped and shook his head seriously. The clergyman took the chance to slip in a word.

"Perhaps you're right again, Mr. Jeffries."

"Sure I'm right," said Jeffries. "And another thing. If you want to stop men drinking, don't preach at them, for that will make them dry, but go at them and make them exercise. Make them punch the bag half an hour a day and they'll work off their craving for liquor. You never saw a well-trained man in your life bothered with a thirst. It's the soft-bodied fellows who keep the brass railings bright."

"I believe it is," put in Dr. Morrill, meekly.

"I'll say another thing," continued Jeffries, so earnestly that he had begun to back the clergyman into a corner of the ring. "Why do you preachers always condemn boxing? If I could get you to try a three-minute round with me every day for a month you'd be a convert to the game."

"No, thank you, Mr. Jeffries."

"Boxing teaches a man to take care of himself," continued the prize fighter. "It makes him confident. These glove contests are not fights. There's danger in football and wrestling. Yet you preachers look on us as criminals."

"Not all."

"We won't argue that point," said Jeff, "and I'll only say this much. I believe that when the final count comes the man who does good is going to get more credit than the man who simply tells other people to do good."

As Dr. Morrill was leaving the ring he said:

"You've missed your calling, Mr. Jeffries. You ought to have been a preacher."

"It runs in the family," responded "Big Jim." "You see, my father is a clergyman and I've got the knack from him."

Dr. Morrill said that as a result of his experience with Jeff he will preach on Sunday on "The Morals of Muscularity."

--The Syracuse Herald, Syracuse, New York, July 24, 1909, page 15.

KING TUT LOSES TO LOPE TENORIO ON FOUL IN FIRST

Minneapolis Lightweight Piles Up Lead.

CHICAGO (AP) – King Tut of Minneapolis, formidable challenger for the world's lightweight championship, lost on a foul to Lope Tenorio, Filipino warrior, in the first round of their scheduled ten round bout in the Chicago stadium tonight.

Tut unintentionally sunk a left hook low in foul territory and Referee Dave Barry disqualified him.

The weaving Minneapolis lightweight had all the better of the fighting until the foul was delivered. He had Tenorio in full retreat, driving him around the ring with a fierce attack to the body.

Tenorio, seeking to escape, backed into the ropes with Tut tearing after him. Tut cut loose with a low punch and Tenorio sank to the floor, rolling over on his back. He was in such distress that he was unable to continue. Tut weighed 140 and Tenorio 139¾.

Pete Meyers of San Francisco defeated Bobby O'Hara, Augusta, Ga., southpaw in another ten rounder, spilling him twice. Meyers upset the Georgian in the first round for a count of two with a sharp right cross and repeated in the seventh, flooring him for a count of eight.

Solly Schuman, Chicago bantamweight, outscored Johnny Burns, a Notre Dame student, in five rounds, with King Levinsky, Chicago light heavyweight, knocking out Nick Taft, Chicago, in the third round of the opening bout.

In the semiwindup of ten rounds Babe Hunt of Ponca City, Okla., 6 foot 4 inches and as thin as a slat, pounded out an unpopular victory over Al Friedman, Boston heavyweight.

-- Des Moines Register, Oct. 17, 1929, 6-A

There's a picture of King Tut (Henry Tuttle) and a list of his fights at this link.