Newspaper Page Text
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1916
Laziness Is the Germ That Has Rotted Many a Rung on the La_;;i:r LLeading to Fam;
'—“—————————_—“*________4
*GEORGIAN SPORTS COVERED 4 EXPERTS
e A el ebo i s ol i B o R R R BB
Al Al Cl UUINIEI
|
.
\\
.
Joe Bean’s Warriors Are on Edge
for Fray With Columbus.
Dixie Title Hinges on Result.
7ITH eight out of nine vlctorle”
“ to their credit for the sea
son, the Atlanta Athletlc‘
*Club basketball quintet plays the last}
fame of their schedule Saturday}
night. The Columbus Y. M. C. A. five
will be the opponents of the Joe Bea.nl
warriors. On the outcome of this
game hinges the title of Southern
Champions for the season 1915-16, |
The Atlantans have the best claim
to the honor so far this season, but
they must beat Columbus to become‘
the undisputed champions. Colum
bus was defeated by the Atlanta(
team in Columbus this season, 21 to‘
16. Atlanta won from Columbus here
last season, 66 to 13. \
- -
THAT the local team will be in tip
top form on Saturday night has
been evidenced by the great playing
of the men in recent combats. Wal
ter Dußard has been ill the past week,
but he will be seen in action in the
£ final encounter. Graves, Forbes, Les
ter and Westmoreland, forwards, wili
most likely be put into play, with the
two first mentioned starting the game
off. Captain “Pie” Weaver and Frank
Carter, who have been setting a great
{:ace of late, will be looked upon to
old the fast Columbus forwards.
- - .
COLUMBL’S will have appearing in
its line-up a number of new
faces. It is not quite positive wheth
er Petty, Dozier and Newman, old
stars, will be in action. These three
men have played in very few games
this season. In their places will prob
ably appear Struppa, a promising and
fast individual at forward. McMath
and McDuffie may divide the other
offensive position. Walter Dußard
will have as his jumping opponent
Bud Massey, a veteran on the Colum
bus line-up. Turner, Patterson and
Smith will take turns at guarding Joe
+ Bean's rapid forwards.
- . - -
T HE referee of the contest will most
likely be Mike Donahue, of Au
burn. Mike refereed the game be‘
tween these two teams in Columbus
and his officiating was most satisface
tory to Coaches Bean and Bridges.
Coach Joe Bean will again offer a‘
five-pound box of candy to the lady |
guessing nearest to the correct acores‘
made by the teams, and a three-pound
box to the one guessing second best.
Following is the probable line-up
for to-night’s game:
Atlanta, Columbus.
Forbes, Lester, r. f
Struppa, Peddy, McDuffle, r. £.
Graves, Westmoreland, 1. f.
McMath, Kilcrease, 1. f.
Dubard, c...... Massey, Patterson, c.
Carter, r. g..... Turner, Newman, r. g.
Weaver, L. g...... ASmitfi. Dozier, 1. g
Andrews Replies to
'
. Frank; Says Case
Bel in Court
elongs in Court
Major Frank Callaway, attorney for.
Charley Frank, In the Jatter's contro
versy with President Andrews, of the
Chattanooga ball club, announced this
morning that he had received a reply
E Frank's open letter to the head of the
okouts last Sunday, ‘
Andrews, in his letter to Frank, re
fuses to accept Frank's proposition to
submit their personal dispute to three
SBouthern League presidents or an arbi
tration board and states that the case,
if argued at all, belongs to a court of law
Andrews says that the Southern
League presidents are men of affalirs:
that it would be unfair to ask them to
give their time to the controversy and
that personal relations might embar
rass them in trying to decide it
As to the proposed committee of dis
interested persons, Mr. Andrews says
that he would prefer the evidence in the
ease be produced before a court of law
Wwith the witnesses under oath. In an
informal investigation the necessary
evidence m',pn be hard to secure, he
says. The local magnate states that
while his charges so far have been
merely general, gn- is prepared to bring
specific proof In court |
.
Signs Wi};h Redlegs
CINCINNATI, Feb., 25.-—Fred Toney
the premier piteher for the Cineinnatl
National League team last season, yes
terday signed a contract for the season
of 1914
Toney announced last month that he
would not sign up unless given $6,000
At the same time the club announced
that he wou'd not receive more than
4000, No announcement was made to
4‘|.y as to what compromise, If any, had
been reached. ;
JOHUNSON ORDERED TO LEAVE
LONDON, Feb, 25 - Jack Johnson will
sail for South America on March 3
The former champion has incurred tha‘
diapleasure of the British authorities
amr his departure was suggested by
them with the alternative of being de- |
ported Johnson has bheen visiting the
provinces as the headliner of & revue,
and he has been making a lot of‘
money |
ELLIS GAINING ON DE ORO
" JELPHIA Feb 25— Alfred
[‘,,(?::.L:.:c".'mn- of the lead he had
over Charles Ellis 1n the three-cush
fon billiard champlonship mateh when
the second block was finished last
pight. The score now stands 100 to §5,
Iz.'tfa- making two more poihts than the
amplon last night The final block of
u points will be played to-night |
TO COACH MARQUETTE TEAM
MILWAUKEE, Feb 3-Jack Me-
Auliffe. Dartmouth star, was to day
elocted conch of the Marquetts Univers
sity football team
]’[MMY PAPPAS, the little Greek
battler who is now fighting
J around the country as the fly
weight champion of the world, is one
lad who doesn't fear any of them.
The writer is in receipt of a letter
from Jimmy this morning in which
“Jeems” states that he will take on
any bantam in the country, providing
his opponent. will scale no higher than
116 pounds ringside.
“I can make 112 at gongtime easily,”
writes the little Greek, “but I am will
ing to give away four or five pounds
to get matches. It doesn’t make any
difference to me who Frank Whitney
gets as my opponent, just so he isn't
too big. I would rather fight boys
weighing around the 112-pound mark,
but as there are no boxers who can
draw big money at this figure I am
willing to take them on up to 116
pounds, and this goes for Kid Her
man, too.”
. - -
'I HE above statement just about
shows how game a little battler
this Greek is. He battles Roy Moore
in St. Paul on March 1, after which
he will go back to St. Louis to await
word from Atlanta regarding a
match in this city.
At the present writing Pappas’ first
opponent here rests between Johnny
Ertle, Pal Moore and Kid Herman,
with chances favoring the latter to
get the match. Herman stopped off
at Atlanta the other day for a few
minutes on his way to Philadelphia.
He took up enough time to state that
he would meet Pappas in this city on
March 14.
- - -
HERMAN and Pappas would make
a wonderful card here. They
packed the Bijou Theater to the doors
when they battled in Atlanta last
vear, and at that time Pappas was
not the card he is to-day. However,
Moore and Ertle would also prove
good attractions, as both boast of rep
utations as star battlers.
Harry Downey, who is representing
Frank Whitney while the latter is
away, says he will have a definite an
swer regarding a match here within
the next few days.
- . -
THERE looks to be little chance for
Eddie Hanlon to get a match
with Jake Abel, despite the local boy's
liberal terms for a bout of this kind.
Whether or not Jake Abel fears Han
lon's game, or doesn't care to accept a
match of this kind at the present
time we are not in a position to know,
but Max Abelson, manager of Abel,
refuses to even consider a Hanlon g 0
for hig brother.
. - -
A BEL was offered 25 per cent of the
house and two round-trip tick
ets from Chattanooga to box Hanlon
on an all-star card that Whitney ex
pected to stage here next Friday
night. Hanlon in turn agreed to box
for mere expense money, just so as to
get the chance. Whitney agreed to
put the bout on under these condi
tions, but Abelson said “nothing do
ing.” 8o there you are. .
It now looks as though Eddie may
get the Perry match if “Jeems” comes
South. This match will probably be
staged after the bantamweight quar
rel, which is almost sure to be put on
here on March 14. ‘
Y. M.C. A, Athletes
Practice for National
.
»
Athletic Hexathlon
Only four events of the six required
in the National Athletic Hexathlon were
held last nlfht in the Young Men's
class at the Y. M. C. A. The meet was
in the nature of a ?nctlce ni{ht for
the nationai meet, which will be held by
the Atlanta Association on the evening
of March 15. Although the marks made
last night were good; ge! they do not
quite measure qu to “honorable men
tion” when considered nationally. The
resuits of the meet last n_lsm are:
Twelve-pound Shot Put . C. Beles
key, first, distance 36 feet 7 inches; P.
L. Wooten, second; L. N. Duggan,
third; J. M. Coleman, fourth.
Fence Vault—P. L. Wooten, first, 6
feet 3 Inches; C. C. Boluke}' and 8. K
Sutton tled for second, 6 feet 1 inch:
M. Rohm, fourth.
Running Hl,h Jumg—-s. K. Button,
first, 4 feet 11 inches; P. 1. Wooten and
W. E Clower tied for second, 4 feet §
inches: G. A. Beattle, fourth.
Standing Broad Jump—B. K. Sutton,
first, 9 feet 7 Inches; P. L. Wooten, sec
ond, C. C. Seleskey, third, and G. A.
Beattie, M. Rohm and L. N, Duggan
tied for fourth.
The other two events completing the
hexathlon series are the 80. yard fluo
and the zw‘zud potato races, ese
aon not held last night due to lack of
me.
In the Young Business Men's Class
to-night, beginning at 8 o'clock, the
same series of events will be run off,
the lml’xt games for the night being
postponed.
By A. A 8 i
y A. A, Officials
COLUMBUS, OHIO, Feb, 25-—Club
owners of the Ameriean Association
Baseball League, In session here last
n:'m. adopted a playing schedule of
188 games for the romln‘ season, nam
ing April 18 as the open nq date. The
inrt g:fmu of the searon will be rlayod
Octo 1. Toledo, Ohlo, was listed as
one of the lu(f\u cities, but no an
nouncemeng of detalls for the reoccupa
tion of the city was made.
HOT SPRINGS, ARK., Feb, 25.--Hot
Springs to-day showed the first symp
toms of becoming A baseball training
camp when the vanguard of the Brook-
Iyn Nationals arrived. Jack Coombs
Was In command of the first band of
arrivals, who n‘nond as Sherrod M,
Smith, John T. Myers, R. L. Marquard,
Edward J. Pleffer and Nap Rucker.
Pitcher Larry Cheney will arrive Sun«
day.
e —
BT. LOUIS, Feb. 26— Unconditional
reieases have been handed out by the
81, Louls Cardinals to Pitcher Hub Per
due and Shortstop Arnold Mauser,
Plteher Jack Roche has been sent to
the Little Rock Southern League club
The Bt Louis Browns have reieased
Inflelder James Walsh to the Memphis
Southern League team
Silk Hat Harry
NER HONOR. | GOT TWO HICKS :
IN THE 00UL THAT | THINIS
JTOLE A ELA\NNER - | SEEV
T™E FLiwwv- HEN | SEENM prinde,
THE TWO HICKS AND WHEM if 1
| LOOKS AGAIN THE FLWwV- Y 2
y
PGB/ S |
— P the sl ‘(l\;\\‘.“\'m\
> L —————————————————————————
HERE THEY :
%/ T GUICTHY ] | 0 Vou
( C&L NER HONOR gl
- e
/Q AV, J v
iy S;- 4,7
; _ A.-;
) b N
1 /‘\{%"f-i |
oYy MO 1
BN
A+ TN E 008
UT Bt e {
.13'}»“.1?.53:::169{ vt ‘
B ,
4‘ ’ |
S
K2O ‘
: -
N\ &5 4y o 4
} X ES
3
The original plan of Lee Fohl to
have his battery men report at Now
Orleans on February 19 was vetoed
by President Ban Johnson, and the
whole Indian squad goes South to
l;ether on Febn:ar).' 28,
L
The South Atlantic League at its
recent meeting decided on a salary
limit of $1,350 a month, a cut of $250
a month from last year, although it 1
}BISO more than the league determined
‘upon at its October meeting.
- - Ld
~ The Louisville club in selling Claude
Derrick to Indianapolis figured it had
enough infleld material without nim
in Kraft for first, Corriden at second,
Walsh or Roach at short and Midkif?
at third. If Roach gets the shortstop
position, Dee Walsh will go to the
outfield. J
. . .
Federal contracts are not the only
things hard to dispose of. The Now
York Yankees are trying to get somo
body to take Ed Sweeney, ex-Cracker,
and his SB,OOO contract off their hands.
They sent him to Richmond last sea
son, paying part of his salary, but he
did not make a showing there to w.u'-i
rant Richmond asking for his return. |
. .~ - \
According to what Outfielder Jimmy'
Johnston says. Charley Ebbets is try
ing to pull off another peculiar o>.
Ebbets took over Johnston's contract
from the Feds and now, according to
the plaver, seeks to revise it accord
ing to his own notions. As a result
Johnston says he won't report to the
Dodgers.
- - -
Cal Wenger, after six seasons in
the Michigan State and Southsrn
Michigan as a manager, finds himself
out of a job and now is connected
with a bowling concern In Grand
Raplds. He expects to return to the
game, however, if he can find a club
that wants a manager of his experi
ence.
- - .
Del Drake, one of the Fed “stars”
who became a St Louis Brown
through the amalgamation., has le
fused the contract Fielder Jones sent
him. The contract called for about
half what Drake was getting last
year, and It was the plan to send him
to a minor league., Drake hag asked
for his unconditional release and proo
ably will get it
- . %
President Walter Morris, of the
Texas League, has made a suggestion
to the Western Association magnates
that a post.season series be plaved
hetween the two grganizations next
fall. The Western Assoclation seems
willing. It is only a Class D league,
but It has a lnt. nf.fnl.th in itself.
Roy Johnson, a first baseman, who
nlayed In the Colonin! League with
the Taunton team and was considersd
A bright prospect for advancement
died at his home In Alllance, Ohlo, re
cently. He was taken !l hefore the
season closed and never recovered,
. - -
Catcher Eddie Ainamith, of the
Washington team, i» taking treatment
from a specialist for an affect'on of
the eyen and may not be able to
make the training trip with the team.
His left eve I seriously affected and
he is comnelled to wear dark glassos,
The specinlist says Alnsmith is la«
proving and he hopes his eyes w..)
zoon be as good as ever
. . -
George Stellars, a Chicage pitcher
signed by the White Box, won 18 ont
of 19 games he pitched for a semi
pro team In 1915
- - .
The Chicaoe Cubs have turnad
Piteher Robhine over to the Wilkes.
barre club, of the New York State
TLeague
PALIL DIXON KNOCKED OUT
. NEW YORK, Feb, 25 - Sillent Martin
knocked out Paul Idzon in the Afth
round last night
‘THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN.
| GOOD PROSPECTS FOR ANOTHER STRONG SQUAD THIS YEAR, DECLARES HEISMAN
JACKETS' OUTLOOK BRIGHT ON CINDER PATH
By J. W. Heisman. |
T will we recalled that the Yellow
‘l.hckets put out a pretty swift
track team last year. At that time
Tech was not within the fold of the
S. L L A, so it was impossible for
them to compete at the champlonship
meet of that orzanization. However,
the Jackets romped home easy win
ners in every meet they entered,
which included contests with Tennes
see, Aubnrn, the Georgia State meet—
against Gergia, Mercer and Emory-—
and the Southern A. A. U, .nieet in
Birmingham. "
The outlook for another very strong
team in this branch of college ath
letics is excellent. Robinson, the re
‘markable high jumper, and Southern
record holder in his event, is not back,
but Captain Jordan, of this year's
team, can probably be counted upon
to take his place satisfactorily. Not
that Jordan will be likely to negotiate
the extreme heights achieved by Rob
inson, but he can do 5 feet 9 inches
right along, and that will come pretty
near to scooping five points for Tech
in the meete. In addition to Jordan,
Tech still has Biackwell, a man who
can soar almost as high as the for
mer, 80 that there is no chance of a
special weakness showing in this de
partiment. ,
v B
I N the sprinting line Tech should be
well fixed, as Sparks, Nigels and
Griffin are all back, and they are three
crack runners. tl will take some rec
ord work for any rival racers to down
them in the 100, 220 and 440 yard
dashes,
Bob Glover was also good for 10
sure points at each meet last season.
His specialties are the broad jump and
high and low hurdles. He should dis
play even faster class this vear. There
is no discounting the grit of this fel
low, and anyone who plans to beat
him in any kind of a race has cer
tainly got to have his mind made up
to run it out to the very last inch of
the stretch.
‘ - .9
IN the main, Hugh Mauck and Jim
% Preas looked after the weight
events, the former swinging the ham
mer and hurling the discus, usually
for first place In both, while Preas
gathered in the points on putting the
shot. As both will be on hand again
this spring hopes are entertained of
new Tech records being hung up In
all three of these events.
~ Clyde Jordan, in addition to ac
counting for second place in all the
meets in the high jumps, scored first,
8% A general thing, In pole vaulting,
So here again the Jackets seem well
fortified.
.~ The one vulnerable place on the
team's hrave front was in the depart
ment of long-distance running. The
only distance man Tech had was
Cowles. He was a pretty good man,
but not capable of going both the half
and the mile acceptably in the same
inncrnoon. This vear he is not back,
#0 Conch Alexander will have to put
in some hard work developing alto
kether new men for these Important
!ovent‘.
.9 8
‘,l.\' addition to the old men already
& named who will be on hand striving
for places this spring there !s Street,
who has done well with the hroad
sump the past two years, and who
thould he able to beat his best pre
vious marks this year.
80, from the standpoint of point.
winners back, the outlook seams extra
good. As yet it is too early to say
much about talent, but Ray is ex
pected to score heavily In the broad
jump, and Battle, last year at G. M
A, is expected to be heard from In
the dashes, Strupper, of football
fame, may come out for the quarter
mile, and If he does he will wake
vome peonle up, for he has the
strongth to go this most difMcyit n"
all races to the top of his bent and
the grit to take the other fellow's .
heart out as well 1
.8 9 ‘
C!)A(‘H ALEXANDER has been
having a number of both new
and old men out aiready, and it Is
evident that a greater interest will
BRING~
'EM
wYou N po
Sno N s %
IT O 3
p— “
¢ ‘
CassSioNy 'B/
TAKE EM INJOE
ANDQ RC
"‘- \ I 3
SR (.4,'-:.::."\.
74 i ’,'/.%gg,
T 2
S R 9
e fp
oy
be taken in track work than ever bo-1
fore Meets have already been ar
ranged with a number of colleges.
Auburn will be met at Grant Fleld,
while the team will ‘journey to Nash
ville for a dual meet with Vander
bilt—the first dual meet ever pulled
oft between these two. The Georgia
State meet will be held in Athens this
year, and the Yellow Jackets will also
take that in, along with Mercer and
Emory.
. 0
WHILE Tech has deemed it best not
to put out a varsity team in bas
ketball, merely because it is thought
best not to diffuse energy over too
many branches of sport, this does not
mean there are no basketballers in
’oonm nor that the game is not we!l
liked. Each class puts out a team
and these are now engaged in playing
through two rounds of interclass
games. Probably the Sophs and the
Juniors are the strongest of the four
teamis. The former includes such ex
cellent players as Golden, Strupper
and Phillips, while on the roster of the
Juniors is found such men as Mauck,
Spence and Bradley,
The last games will take place on
the night of March 4 and will, no
doubt, decide between these two
teams for the championship. The
o 2 ) ) f!‘ X 4
PAA Dy er IRLDE
fiSR Bytne |
AL Il it bP2 Z - CDDRURE
ILBERT DAVlS—and we are
W glad there's nothing in a
name-—most promising of the
young pitchers corralled by Connle
Mack during.the dark period of last
season when the great Philadeiphian
was floundering around trying to re
build his Invincible machine, will
‘vear a Cracker uniform this season.
His contract has been received at
Charlie Frank's office at the Hotel
Ansley, sealed and signed.
Davis, like most of Mack's finds, is
a college product. He was grabbed
off the campus of some fresh-water
institution of learning and athletics
in Pennsylvania and immediately put
to labor for the more or less shot-to
pleces Athloue-; s
ACCORDI!\'G to the wily MeGilli
cuddy, Davis is the most prom
ising youngster that he has seen work
from the mound in years. S 0 promis-
Ing does he consider him that he is
sending him to the equally wily Frank
to learn the fine points of the game
by engaging in the actual warfare
lather than by sitting on the bench
doing relief duty and pitching in bat
ting practice in the big show.
In addition to bflinf A hurler of rare
promise, Davis v a slugger extraord!-
nary. Despite his last season green
ness, his hitting ability was recog
nized, and he was used by Mack as
his only reliable pinch hitter,
Manager Frank is overjoyed in
grabbing this boy. He believes that
with Thompson, Perry, Lafitte, Davis
and one other good hurler he will
have as capable a humn: corps as
there in in the jeague, despite the
well based boast of Birmingham, who
already have on the Baronial pay ro!l
Dick Robinson, Arthur Johnson, Car!
Biack, Burlelgh Grimes and two or
three recruits
- - -
To.urmnnw the Southern League
magnates will meet for thelr
widely heraided halr-pulling. Some
how or other, | have the hunch that
there isn't going to he a great deal of
hair pulled. The principal object of
the meeting, of course, is the adop
tion of a schedule and the tentative
arrangement of playing dates agreed
on by the schedule committes in Bir.
mingham seems to bhe satisfactory to
all of the clubs, with the exception of
Chattanooga, whose o-tn.oJ presi.
By Tad
games wil! be followed by a big
dance.
. - .
EA(‘H succeding year witnesses
some new work undertaken to im
prove Grant Field, which is already
far and away the finest athletic field
in the South.
The wooden stand and fence on the
east side has just been torn down to
make way for the putting through of
Orme street, and this latter work will
begin immediately. A strong retain
ing wall several hundred feet long
and in places as much as twenty feet
high will be erected on that side, and
this will make a splendid boundary
on that side and finish off the only
remaining rough spot of ground any
where around the fleld. The actual
area of the fleld will not be dimin
ished by these improvements, whllel
the wooden seats probably will be put
along North avenue, where they will
‘be better located with reference to
the baseball diamond. When this
work is all completed the field indeed
will be a thing of beauty, particularly
as a new fence will be erected to go
around the entire playground, includ
ing the large class fleid at the north
end of the present inclosure, which
will glve a level area of well over six
acres.
dent is as hard to satisfy as an irate
infant crying for the moon.
There may be minor cnwn made
In the schedule—undoubtedly there
will be—but the chnngn will not be
of a nature to cause the multu to
draw daggers and fly at others’
throats,
Again, there may be some strenu
ous debate on the spitball resolution
of Charlie Frank. Several of the clubs
possess the services of a hurler who
uses the moist delivery and it is sup
posed that these clubs will fight
strenuously against the adoption of a
rule putting a ban on this time-killing
method of pitching. The policy is
short-sighted, but that is a failing
common to most humans, baseball
mr::mun included. There s little
trading to be done, but there will be
large quantities of brew to be con
sumed, which particular business is
usually accomplished with smiles and
good fellowship rather than stern
combat and beclouded brows,
President Baugh will reach Atlanta
to-day at 2 o'clock. It is not kKnown
when Oliver Buckner Andrews, presi.
dent of the Lookouts, will arrive. He
declared in an interview in The Chat
tanocogn News of recent date that he
wWas not going to stay away from the
Atlanta pow-wow on account of frig.
id feet. He stated that it was the one
mad desire of his longing heart to at
tend this meeting. But he intimated
that he wouldn’t be on hand, though
It In known that there are trains still
running between this fair city and the
mountaln metropolis of Tennessees,
and it is suspected that Oliver Buck
ner possesses the ‘nl‘tmd fare.
-
U MPIRE HADLEY WILLIAMS, the
Nashville papers declare, has re
turned his M%M contract to Presi.
dent Baugh, Al In nothing to write
about, as we view the thing. How
ever, the story goes on with the in
teresting information that Umpire
Willlams' contract gives him a sub
stantial ralse in salary
In recollecting Willlams' work of
last wenson, we are encouraged toward
making a long planned, but equaily
dreaded, plea to the esteemed boss of
this chronicle of events.
FREDDIE ANDREWS IS VICTOR
HARTFORD, WIS, Feb, 25 - Freddie
Andrews beat Frankie Lynn in ten
rounds here last night
27, I,
A
7A & .
r;) AR ? v
o A
Z\ U | ) b/ = ¢
&t o oS
7 i ‘.l VI, AN oN NN 7
et/ MBY DAMON RUNYORMR
e L T P TTTTTT, Aet 2 o T likL Lk
A Lightweight Stir.
FTER a period of stagnation which extended over Some months,
Athere has come a sudden flurry in the lightweight division,
and the class which was gradually being totally submerged,
so far as public interest was concerned, is again attracting a lot of
attention.
Ordinarily the lightweights are the most popular of all the fighters,
but the past two or three years saw the crowding of the division by
a pack of soft tapping young men who were not lightweights, anyway,
and the fistic fans soon tired of them. There was a time when a
brace of lightweights could always be depended upon to pack any
house, but of late the promoters have been very chary about putting
them on. :
The division was cleaned up of most of the overweight birds
long ago by a sudden exodus into the welterweight class, the lure
being the prospect of more publicity, which is the fat on which the
fighter feeds. James J. Johnston was responsible for that upward
movement when he raucously proclaimed Ted-Kid Lewis the welter
weight champion of the world‘. 4 s
James J. Starts Something.
AMES J. was not animated by any philanthropic motives when he
J launched the scheme which emptied the lightweight section of the
140-pound folks. James himself had a fighter in Ted-Kid who could
not make the lightweight limit of 133 pounds without parting with a
leg or two, and besides that he saw a chance for gathering notoriety
to his man.
He inveigled Willie Ritchie, who once fought a lightweight bat
tle here at 141 pounds, or thereabouts, into the welterweight crew and
immediately thereafter Jack Britton, and numerous others who had
been doing thé best they could as lightwelghts, followed. As a re
sult, the welterweight division is to-day about the class'est of them
all, but meantime the lightweight class was left thinned out and
emaciated.
- - -
Real Contender Looms Up.
THE events of last Monday night are largely responsible for the revi
val'of interest in the little fellows. Two of these events may be
regarded as having more or less bearing upon the championship
situation; one of them surely proved that the shadow of a real
contender falls across the path of Freddie Welsh, the title holder of
the division.
Over in Philadelphia, Benny Leonard, the Bronx boy, knocked out
Jimmy Murphy, who was regarded as a marvel by the fistic insects of
the Quaker city. Coming on top of Benny's stopping of Phil Bloom,
and his speedy flattening of Joe Mandot, to say nothing of his showing
against Shamus O’Brien in between, the performance indicates that
Leonard is one of the most sensational fighters developed in years.
There can be no belittling of Leonard’s latest feat. When he
dropped Joe Mandot, it was alleged that Joe was sick, and upset by
domestic troubles. When Leonard stopped Phil Bloom, one of the
toughest of them all, there was some other alibi on hand calculated
to detract from Benny's accomplishment. When he bested O'Brien
it was charged that the Bronx boy had his hand bandages so hardened
by plaster of Paris that they took on the conslistency of a rock.
. . -
Leonard Mars Murphy’s Record.
S O far, the Murphy folks have produced no excuse, and judging from
the sensation Benny's performance created in Philadelphia, no
excuse they can manufacture will go very well even among the home
folks. Murphy had never before been floored, and he claimed a victory
over Welsh. In fact, the only time the popular decision ever went
against him in Philadelphia was when he met Johnny Dundee in a
six rounder.
Meantime, while Benny was flattening Murphy, Dundee was losing
a decision to Mandot in a twenty rounder at New Orleans. Johnny
claims he got the old Home Guard work, of course, but, when it is
considered that he was unable to do in twenty rounds what Leonard
did in a twinkling against the same man, Benny's feat looks all the
better,
L . -
Benny Develops “Yayo.”
THE sudden acquisition of a knockout wallop is one of the curious
features of Leonard's development. He was regarded at first as
Just a clever boxer, who could not hit hard enough to dent a derby
hat. He was showy and flashy and anything but a punisher. Then he
met Mandot, and to the astonishment of everybody dropped the New
Orleans boy for the full count.
Even then mafy thought that it might have been a fluke, as Man
dot’s handlers immediately raised a cry of poor condition, byt when
leonard went over to Boston and stoped the tough Bloom. the most
skeptical had to admit that his new-found punch must be the real thing.
It is not often that a fighter starts out as strictly a clever boxer
and develops a knockout punch, although many begin as fighters am
turn to cleverness. Abe Attell at the start of his career knocked out
all his opponents in short order, but then he picked a knowledge
of the clever points of the game and came to be rated one of the
shiftiest of his time.
. - .
Leonard Retains Cleverness.
]T is said of Leonard that in addition to developing a punch he has
retained his cleverness, and the combination ought to make him an
ldeal fighter. He s still quite young, and unless he {s hurried along
too rapidly has a grand chance to eventually acquire the champlon
ship. Billy Gibson 1s now trying to mateh him with Freddy Welsh.
In a long bout, Leonard with his youth and strength, would have a
better chance than in a ten-rounder. He might knock out Welsh inside
of ten rounds, of course, but the chances are against it, and Welsh
might tender him a boxing lesson and a great deal of discouragement.
Frank Whitney oOff
For His Hor{m in
d .
Cedar Rapids, la.
After a stay of over two months
here, Frank Whitney, the local fa
vorite, departed last night for his
home, In Cedar Rapids, lowa.
Whitney will combine business with
pleasure on his home Journey, Frank
wil' first pay a visit to hia mother, in
Cedar Rapids, after which he wil} take
part in minor bouts at Davenport and
Waterloo, lowa. As soon as these
dates are filled, which will be early in
March, Frank will come back to At
lanta,
On March 17 the “Fighting Carpen
ter” has a bout scheduled with Young
Sayior, at Kansas City. This bout
has been wet back a week, due to an
Injury to Whitney's shoulder, recelved
in the Cortez battle Saylor and
Whitney should draw a packed house
in Kansas City, as Saylor is the iad
who stopped Leach Cross in Ave
rounds the other night, while local
fans, of course, are well aware of ths
fact that Whitney holds & k. o, vieto-
Ty over that other great veteran ring
warrior, Ad Wolgast,
Lewis Disposes of
Trendall in Seventh
BT. LOUIB, Feb. 8. Ted Lowin
knocked out Harry Trendall, of St
Louls, In the seventh round here last
night,
MATHEWSON LEADING SQUAD
NEW YORK, Feb. 25— The first squad
of Glants will leave for the training
camp ay Marlin, Texas, to-day, Eleven
players will be in the n‘u‘.'d They
.nfu lad by Christy Mat son.
_ATLANTA, GA.
Leach Cross Says
' .
He’s Through With
.
Padded Mitt Game
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.—Leach Cross
has sung his “swan song.”" The den
tist fighter says he is through. He will
fight no more. 'This is final, not @
“Patt! retirement.” Leach puts up ne
alibl for his recent defeat by Milburn
Saylor. He simply says he's through,
.
Savannah Franchise
May Go to Waycross
Gee, Chalrman’ of the. Wanrsor Ml ale:
'f'l committee met l;m-h onc;’xr‘l&mml
(\":&:’ofi' :.Mn::-‘n:.fi?:" Rh-:i.!ulo. it
Is lleved this city will bo;onc .
member of the Sally League. Ans ars
‘""‘Xm pay off the association's debts
to the old class D organization, o
which Dick Jemison, of Atlanta, was
president, as well as meet the South
Atlantic’'s requirements,
—————————
FISTIC GO ENDS IN DEATH
“INCINN . Feb, 28 - fri
poing out o, Wiy "G
Naisel, age
5’.'.‘1'1’...1?3’ in ?R.dou; of Hildebrandt
following a hard blow on the Jaw,
E prempt
without treonventen: e
of The
OHA‘TRRH BLAD"
11