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TTTE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.
Says He Can’t Be “Goody” and
Play Ball, but That He Can
Scrap and Hustle.
7 HIS is the second of a series of
letters from the members of
the champion Crockers. It is
from Rube Kissinger, the veteran
hurley. who was signed by Manager
Billy Smith at the end of the vtvc
season. I .Rube writes very entertain
ingly as the following showsn l
Adrian, Mich., December 3, 1913.
Mr. W. S. Farnsworth,
Sporting Editor The Georgian:
Dear Sir—I found your letter of the
19th inst. awaiting my arrival home
Saturday evening, in reply I’ll say
that I'm not very much of a story
writer and seek to avoid publicity as
much as possible during the off sea
son, at least, but think I should at
least comply with your request.
When I arrived home from Dixie 1
went to Sand Lake, Mich., for a fish
ing trip, but that was cut short by a
message from the farm to come and
help finish up my new barn and silo. 1
spent 21 days doing carpenter and
farm work and then returned home,
expecting to have a hunting trip in
the woods of North Michigan for deer,
but another message to come to work
on the Lake Shore Railway cut that
short, and I went back to bridge
building, and am now putting in my
time at that work.
To-night I 1 eave for Sandusky,
Ohio, where we have some work to do,
but how long I’ll be there I do not
know, for, unlike baseball, we have no
fixed schedule, but go where we are
sent, finish that work, then away we
go where another bridge is troubling
or another one is to be built. 1m
never at home for any length of time.
In fact, I’m more like a tramp than a
human being, but hope some day to
throw out my anchor and have it hold.
I’m glad the deal that brought me
to Atlanta went through at last, for I
believe it is better for a ball player
to "circulate, as it were,” and not stay
too long in one place, for familiarity
breeds contempt. I am working hard
every day, and weigh 190 pounds now,
which is just about my playing weight
in summer, and I hope my arm and
health will permit me to have a good
season for you.
Now, don’t expect to have me come
to Atlanta to play ball and be a saint,
for that is utterly out of the question
with me. I never could play ball and
be a "goody,” but if hustling and
scrapping will help you, count me in.
With kindest regards to everybody,
believe me,
Sincerely yours,
CHARLES S. KISSINGER.
Amie Sikes Elected
Captain of Vandy
NASHVILLE. TENN., Dec. 6 —
Amie Sikes, left halfback of this
year’s team, was elected captain of
the Commodores for 1914 at the an
nual football banquet here last night.
Twenty-one “V’s” were awarded the
football players, as follows:
E. Brown, Morgan, T. Brown, Mur
ray, Chester, Warren, Askew,
Boensch, Sikes, McQueen, P. Turner,
V. Turner, Cohen, Curry, Huffman,
White. Lowe, Warren, Putnam. Pres
ton and Manager Whitnell. Coach
McGugin was presented a handsome
silver loving cup by the members of
the team.
Cleveland Arranges
Exhibition Games
CLEVELAND, Dec. 6.—All of Cleve-
nd’s exhibition games to he played in
[arch and April have practically been
rranged, according to E. S. Barnard,
ice president of the club, who has just
^turned from Athens, Ga., tm* Naps’
•aining ground. The schedule follows:
[arch 30 and 31, April 1 and 2 at At-
mta; April 3 and 4 at Chattanooga;
prll 5, open; April 6 and 7 at Cincin-
a.ti; April 8 and 9 at Indianapolis; April
and 8, second squad at Dayton; April
1 and 11 at Columbus; April 12, first
Brsus second squad at League Park,
Leveland.
Clark Griffith Has
Praise for Lynch
Clark Griffith, formerly a National
League manager with Cincinnati, and
now leader of the Washington Senators,
aays that he believes President Tom
Lynch has been absolutely fair in all
his decisions. The Washington leader
admits that Governor Tener would make
an excellent President, but he is a
staunch champion of Lynch and an ex
ponent of the square deal.
FOX TO LEAD COLUMBUS AGAIN.
COLUMBUS, GA., Dec. 6.—James
Claudius Fox, for the past five years
manager of the Columbus baseball team,
has been named manager again for 1914.
During the past five years he has won
two pennants, finished second twice and
third once.
LEWIS ACCIDENTALLY SHpT.
PARIS Dec. 6.—“Willie” Lewis, the
American middlewieght boxer, was acci
dentally shot in the leg yesterday by
Frank Moreau, the French heavyweight,
while both were hunting. His wounds
are not serious.
O'BRIEN SHADES DUFFY.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6—"Young
Jack” O'Brien, of this city, again
demonstrated his cleverness at the
Nonpareil A. C. when he earned the
verdict over Johnny Duffy.
WAGNER DEFEATS MILLER.
WILKESBARRE. PA., Dec. 6.—Kid
Wagner, of Wllkesbarre, defeated
Peck Miller, of Philadelphia, In a ten-
round bout here last night.
By GEORGE M’MANUS
POLLY AND HER PALS
Girls Are Funny Creatures,, Aren’t They
ALLANT IN DRAW BOUT.
■STON Dec. 6.—Bay Wood and
,rt Gallant fought a twelve-round
at Lowell last night.
Charley O’Reilly Easily Outpoints the Champion of To-day
WILLIE RITCHIE TELLS ABOUT FIRST DEFEAT
By ’Willie Ritchie.
S AN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6.—Al
though I won The lightweight
championship of the woi'd right
here in my native city, I must admit
that I was extremely fortunate in
other cities. I landed victories in my
first two trips away from San Fran
cisco, and, strangely, both of them
were in Marysville.
After getting my start in the four-
round game, I became a bit proud and
ambitious. I wanted to travel a bit
and I wanted to get Some experience
in other places. I kept looking around
for a chance, and my brother, Frank,
who was some boxer himself, helped
be out. He heard of a lad named
Tony Josephs up in Marysville, and he
got busy and arranged a match over
the ten-round route. He settled for
$75 for my end. This was quite a
boost over what I had been receiving
for putting on the gloves with the lo
cal boys.
I managed to keep in pretty good
condition, and learned a few stunts
from my brother, who began to take
quite an interest in me by this time.
He taught me more about the straight
left and also put me wise as to train
ing rules.
Edwards and my brother accompa
nied me to Marysville to meet Jo
sephs. I worked out for a couple of
days and rounded into good shape. Jo
sephs was looked upon as a wonder by
the Marysville fans, who made him a
strong favorite over me. They all ex
pected to make a big clean-up on the
battle.
Knocks Tony Josephs OuL
Well, Josephs might have been a
wonder at one time, but he certainly
did not show any of his great form
the night he fought me. I had heard
so much about him that I was very
cautious and took no chances in the
first round. I noticed that he did not
seem to have very much, but I was
afraid that he might be stalling me,
so I Just laid low and waited.
In the second I opened up a bit and
he came at me. swinging wild and
leaving himself wide open. I simpls
could not resist the temptation any
longer. I hooked him a couple of times
with hard left Jolts, and then brought
my right over to the jaw. That was
ali. Tony took the count and I was
the winner of my first fight away
from home.
They seemed to think very well of
me in the up-country town, for after I
got away with Josephs they offered
me another chance, this time with
Kid Finch, another boy who was very
highly touted.
Well, I did not meet with so much
success against Finch, although I won
all right. It was a ten-round go, and
he kept me busy all the time. I tried
hard to land the knock-out, for I was
ambitious and wanted to make a rec
ord. He was very game and man
aged to stick it out.
After this battle my brother advised
me to return home and look for some
better matches. I took his advice, so
we started back. He got me a match
with Charley Reilly over in Oakland.
Loses First to Reilly.
Here comes the sad part of my
story. I lost my first fight. It was a
tough one to lose, but Reilly out
pointed me all right and I never will
T HIS is the third story of a se
ries by Willie Ritchie, cham
pion lightweight of the world, in
which the title holder tells of his
career. In to-day’s article Willie
describes two more early victo
ries and his first and second de
feats in the squared circle.
forget that beating as long as I live.
I almost cried over it.
That was four years ago, and I
must admit that Reilly was a very
clever boy. He had the class and the
speed and he just kept jabbing me all
the time. I could not work my
straight left nor my right cross on
him. No, indeed. He knew too much
and he would not give me a chance to
get set.
We fought at the West Oakland
club and there was only a small crowd
In attendance, which made it bad for
us, as we were fighting on a per
centage basis. This made the pill all
the more bitter to swallow.
My brother and Edwards and Ba
ker were in my corner as usual. They
tried to send me in against Reilly am!
I tried my hardest to get in close, but
Reilly was too clever and fast for me.
He just kept stabbing me with his
left all the time and dancing away.
My head kept bouncing back and
forth just like a rubber ball, and, to
tell the truth, I was very much dis
couraged.
Even though I was beaten, the de
feat taught me a good lesson. I
learned a few tricks from Reilly
which I never forgot. They have
come in very handy in many of my
big battles. Reilly was one of the
fastest and cleverest boys I ever met,
and I really believe that he would
be right out In the front ranks
to-day had he attended to business
and taken care of himself.
Burns Beats Him Next.
Although beaten by Reilly, I was
far from disheartened. I wanted more
action, and I got It pretty quick, too.
Yes. and I was beaten again—just
about ten days after losing ray first
battle.
Frankie Burns was the lad who
tacked the other one on me, and this
also happened in an Oakland ring.
When I look back over my record. I
always imagine that Oakland is my
jinx town.
Burns was regarded as one of the
best of the short-distance light
weights then, and many of my friends
pleaded with me to pass him up till I
got a little more experience. But I
would not listen to anything like this.
I had made my mind up to go after
Burns and nobody could stop me.
I think that I put up a pretty good
fight, even though I was beaten. The
crowd cheered every time that I did
any good. I had a lot of rny own
gang at the ringside and they all
stood by me till the finish.
I tried hard with Burns, just a3 I
did with Reilly, but he knew too much
for me. He would get Into that
crouch of his and pick away at me
with his stinging left hand. I might
have beaten him over the longer
route, but 1 will admit that he had It
on me all the time in those six
rounds.
Food for Sport Fans
DO YOU?
Somewhere on the brood Pacific
Baseball athletes sail,
Trembling at the wild, terrific
Beating of the gale.
Then mag be near Honolulu
Or near Timbuctoo,
Or bexide the Isle of Sain—
1 don't care, do yout
It is estimated that 1,242 batsmen
faced Walter Johnson last year, none
of whom particularly enjoyed it.
“There is no such thing as a bat
ting eye,” says Ty Cobb, who always
likes to kid the pitchers.
Bob Hedges is said to be worried
over the report that some of his ath
letes have jumped to the Federals. but
why should anyone be worried about
losing any of the Browns?
Packey McFarland has several novel
training stunts, one of which is to fire
Emil Thiry and hire him back every
day.
They placed him on an all-star team.
And there was pride hwithin iJiis
heart.
He eyed the rest with scornful gleam
i
And proudly held himself apart.
Such lads are hard to reason with;
Their domes are lmade Lof lSolid
bone, l
As one who i.saysB ll“J/// lname iAs
Smith," l l
And thinks that name is his alone.
In these days of frenzied football
experts it has become an honor not to
be named on an all-star team.
Joe Tinker hit .317 during: the play
ing: season, but when he batted
against Garry Herrmann he hit into
a double cross.
It may be true that many a player
I has eaten himself out of the big
; leagues, but none of them ever his
eaten himself out of the Winter
League.
Opening the morning paper one
learns that Emil Thiry Is fired or
hired again, or about to be fired or
hired again. If Emil does not have a
care he will bump into himself com
ing back.
Owning stock in the Boston Red
Sox is almost as steady a job as
managing a team in Cincinnati.
Just as the Mexican situation be
gins to untangle itself Ad Wolgast
butts in and offers to fight Joe Rivers.
Jess Willard Signs
To Meet Rodel in
Twenty-Round Bout
NEW YORK, Dec. 6.—Jess Willard,
who outpointed Carl Morris in a bur
lesque bout in Madison Square Garden
Wednesday night, has signed articles to
box twenty rounds with George ltodel,
the Boer Heavyweight, in New Haven
on Decernoer 29. Willard in order to
have plenty of time to prepare for this
mill has induced the Queensberry Ath
letic Club of Buffalo to stage his combat
with “One Round” Davis.
After this event. Willard will go to
California to get a bout with the win
ner of the Arthur Pelky-Gunboat
Smith affair, to be decided in San Fran
cisco on New Year’s Day.
Willard beat Pelky here two years
ago. and in turn was defeated on points
by Smith in twenty rounds on the coast
last winter. Willard must be in Los
Angeles on January 7 to stand trial for
taking part in the scrap with Bull
Young, whose Injuries proved fatal.
Former Vandy and
Sewanee Football
Stars to Clash Jan. 1
Nashville, tenn, Dec. 2.—The
real climax to the 1913 football
season will be staged either in
Rick wood Park, at Birmingham, or on
Dudley Field, at Vanderbilt, when an
aggregation of former Commodore mole
skin stars will oil New Year’s Day set
tle a dispute of long standing with cer
tain pigskin artists who in days gone
by won fame at Sewanee.
Willis Stewart, a former crack end at
Vanderbilt, who last season piloted the
Southern all-star Invasion of Texas, is .
arranging the New Year’s Day battle |
and has succeeded in collecting a for
midable array of talent for use against
the Tigers. Whether Birmingham or
Nashville will land the battle will de
pend a great deal on the inducements
offered by the Alabama city.
Billy Smith Leaves
For Gotham To-day
Manager Billy Smith, of the Crack
ers, will leave Atlanta this afternoon
for New York to attend the annual
meeting of the National League,
which will be held there December 9.
Billy will stop off at Washington
en route for a conference with his
friend, Clark Griffith. This confer
ence may result in the transfer of'
some more ball players to the Crack
ers.
Infielders are the men that the local
chieftain Is after, and he expects lo
get a couple of players while in New
York.
Startle
Whole World by the
Weirdness of His Suicide?
That’s what Gabriele D’Annunzio, the noted Italian poet and
dramatist, promises to do, now that he has grown weary of all
human emotions, and Paris fears he will follow the example of
the Greek philosopher who hurled himself into the boiling cra
ter of Aetna. The complete story of this eccentric character’s
most eccentric plot will be told in
Next Sunday’s American
With it will be a more cheerful page dealing with what the
stars foretell for
Two of the Most Interesting People in the
Universe, Vincent Astor and His Bride
And continuing on the whole scale of human emotions comes
another installment of the most extraordinary human docu
ment ever written,
The Story of My Life by
Evelyn Thaw
News? Yes, all of it, from the most crowded metropolis to
the very borders of civilization. You can’t be uy> to the minute
if vou miss
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The Sunday American
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