4 = ^ i The < imaha Sunday Bee i l
4 VOL. 52—NO. 38. PART TWO OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1923. 1—B FIVE CENTS
No Radical Changes to Be Made in Football Rules for 1923
Few Problems
to Be Solved
by Committee
Governing Body to Attempt
to Clarify Points Which
Have Confused Spec
tators at Meeting.
BY WALTER ECKERSALL.
When the football rales committee
meets In New York thl* week it win
have a few knotty problems to solve
in addition to placing a cleaner and
more uniform interpretation on some
of the rules.
Although no radical charges arc.
expected, efforts will be made to clar
ify some points over which there has
been a vast difference of opinion be
tween coaches, officials, and players.
On the face those points appear unim
irtant, but should they come up in
■enly fought struggles may decide
the issue one way or the other.
As a whole the present rules have
met with popular approval. Players
and spectators now have a good idea
of the code and its possibilities. In
fact, the great college game enjoyed
its most successful season last year
from points of attendance and close
ness of the struggles. The average
spectator seemed to know what it
was all about and as a result took a
keener interest in the struggles,
%' which are always decided on their
merits.
One Troublesome Rule.
The one rule which has given offi
cials most trouble is the one govern
; ing clipping or taking off a player ob
viously out of the play. The rules
provide for a 15 yard penalty from
the point where the ball was put In
play. In practically every other case
\_ the penalty is Inflicted from the spot
' of the foul.
In the Michigati-Minnesota game
last fall a most peculiar plSV happened
which had coaches and officials guess
ing. It happened that Minnesota at
tempted a forward pass. The ball was
intercepted by a Michigan player and
as the Wolverine was straightened
away to make a run one of his team
mates clipped a Oopher from behind.
The point immediately came up that
the penalty should have been in
flicted from tbe point where the ball
was put In play.
If the strict letter of the rule had
been followed, Minnesota would have
en given 15 yards, despite the fact
lost possession of the ball in a fair
manner. The official In that game,
however, did the proper thing. lie
exacted the penalty as close as pos
sible from that point where the Mlclp
igan player intercepted the Oopher
forward pass. This is only one of the
many cases which could he cited to
show that a more definite rule should
be adopted.
Anotner llroerenee nr Opinion.
Another point over which there is
a difference of opinion is in regard
to the ball being dead. In the Iowa
Ohio State game last fall, which was
played on a wet field, players carry
ing the ball skidded a few yards after
being tackled. The rule states the
ball is dead when any portion of the
player’s person except his hands and
feet touches the ground while he Is in
the grasp of an opponent, or is so
held that his forward progress is
stopped. In this particular game
A players were tackled and then slid
along for a couple of yards. This is
another delicate point which the com
rnittee will be asked to decide.
To Increase Time Out.
It Is the consensus of opinion of
leading coaches that the penalty of
taking out time more than three times
during each half should be Increased
to at least five yards. The present
J penalty is two yards and teams are
beginning to take advantage of the
small loss and thereby slowing up tlie
games. If a jrmre stringent penalty is
inflicted, captains will not call for
so frequently, anil especially so
W they approach an opponent's
goal line.
The committee will be asked for a
clearer interpretation of the offside
and onside clause. Rule 18, Sec. 1,
states a player is put offside if the
ball in play has been touched by one
of his own side behind him. If
auch is the case then many argue why
should not the reverse be true which
would give players behind the ball a
chance to recover when the, oval has
been touched by one of their own side
in front after it has been put in play.
The rules committee will be asked
to place a positive Interpretation on
Heetlon 4 of Rule 4 regarding the kick
after a fair catch when time Is called
for the end Of a period. Many believe
that the defending team can run back
I he kick tlie Mint as the kicking team
has a right to either kick for the goal
or execute an onside kick for a touch
down. /
Section 5 or Rule 9 should be chang
ed a trifle. Instead of reading “toward
his own goal line" It should be "own
end line," and the word "out" should
be Inserted before the phrase "from
the line of scrimmage.” At the start of
last season this rule caused some con
fusion, but at the close of the year
coaches and officials agreed upon Its
interpretation.
The committee will be asked to elim
inate tha five yard penalty for an off
side player touching a ball, auch as
► on kicks. No man appears to know
even some members of the ruins com
mittee, how this clause of Rule 18,
Pec. J, was injected into the rules.
Undoubtedly many other points will
be brought to the attention of the
rules committee, which Is not expect
ed to make any drastic changes in the
code, hut it will be asked by coaches
officials to piano a dearer Inter
pretation on some points over which
there have linen a, vast, dlt/ercncs
of opinion in recent years.
Boatoa. Mu*., Mwrli I.—President
of tbs Boston Braves
taMd 100 newsboya breathless hers last
night ss he recounted how he had brohen
Into organised baseball as a bov of lit bv
pitching for the team of a small Pen/tsyl-,
vanla town,
K
Lorena Marcellia, 3-year-old chestnut filly by Seth Cutaneous and owned by the
Updike-Jones stable of Parnell, Mo., is one of the fastest 3-year-olds at Havana this season.
The daughter of Seth recently won a five and one-half furlong event at the Cuban plant in
1:06 3-5. As A 2-year-old Lorena Marcellia was unbeateif. She has been started over the
long route but likes the short distances.
THE OMAHA BOXEK.
• • •
The boxing tourney started well
With 50 entries tough and strong.
When to the place.
Came /eke Mctase,
Who feaid he liked to hear the gong.
• • •
His poor old fare was battle
scarred.
A shaggy dog his only pard.
His back was bent.
His strength was spent.
He'd labored long and hard.
* • •
A [>uMilling bag for days he'd
pound,
And when at last bis turn came
round,
His back got straight.
He changed his gait.
And put them in a swound.
• • •
He knocked them cold, both fat
and thin.
With jabs to face and hooks to
chin.
Until at last
Prelims were past
And he was picked to win.
• * •
He climbed within the hempen
row,
He now was In the final go.
He took a swing.
And now was king,
His man was cold as snow!
* • •
And now he falks his fare clear
blue,
Bjr telling all the boys and you,
‘It Ain't no use.
There's no excuse.
It's all the fault of this man tnue."
Danny Murphy Finds
Pitcher So Dumb He <
Didn’t Know His Ross
THE dumbest pitcher that the
Athletics ever roped Into their
bailiwick was a young left
hander, who. for obvious reasons,
shall go namlees here,
i He was taken on the training trip
■ to Jacksonville. One morning, while
coming out of the hotel, lie met
1 Dan Murphy.
"Say. what's the name of tills
here town'.'" he asked, so innocent
ly that Dan thought he was kidding.
They had been there for a week.
P nally Murphy saw that the
rookie really was a dumb David.
For heaven's sake," said Dan.
"don’t let Connie bear that you
don’t know the name of the town
you're living In."
"Who's Connie?" asked the
rookie.
Greenville Sally Team
Sipns Brother Battery
Manager /inn Beck of ttie Oreen
\ vide Sally team has signed a brother
battery, Homer and Cromer Kdgens.
The former Is the pitcher and Cromer
is the catcher. The pitching mem
ber of the brotherhood is a southpaw.
Homer Sheridan Wins.
St. Paul, Minn.. March 2—(ppeclal.)
—Homer Sheridan of Sioux City, la.,
won the referee’s decision from Ai
Augustine here tonight in a 10-round
bout. The Iowa middleweight won all
the way.
“Rusty” Evans, York, Neb.,
featherweight, added anoth
er victory to his list Thursday
night at Central City when
he knocked out Nick Bright
of Grand Island in the third
round of a scheduled six
round event.
Evans’ next fight is with
Ace Budkins of Omaha. This
bout will be staged at York
next Wednesday.
Coach “Snap-it-Up” Dawson to
Start Spring Grid Practice Soon
University of Nebraska Gridsters to Take Daily
Workouts in Preparation for Coming Foot
ball Season—Graduation and Ineligibility
Injured Prospects for 1923 Eleven—Only
Two Regular Linemen Will Return to Squad,
Berquist and Bassett.
INCOLN, Neb., March 3. — (Special.) —This week,
weather permitting, Head Coach Dawson will
start spring football practice when he as
sembles the candidates for the 1923 team out
door workouts.
All Cornhusker followers are familiar
with the devastating effect which graduation
and ineligibility had on the team of 1922. To
top this off, Nebraska field will not be avail
able for practice on account of the construc
tion of the new stadium. ,
Candidates for next year’s team have not
been permitted to get out of' condition.
Farley Young, freshman coach, has been working with them
indoors for several weeks.
Two Regular* Back.
The only two legulnr linemen who will he hack are Joy P.< rqulat and
Helnle Itassett. Moth of theae men have been working with the weight*
l In track work.
Ced Hartman, logical successor for1
' Chick Hartley's position at fullback,
' likew ise hurls a nasty discus. Dave
Moble, who Is billed for his 'biggest
I football year, Is one of the fastest
men Coach Schulte has oti his squad,
Sam Weir, Superior, a first year man,
■ looked good with the freshman tea.n
| last fall and is getting better day by
day with the track team. Doug Mey
ers. Beatrice high school star, is an
other track artist of promise.
"Choppy" Khodcs. who is going t >
make a great football player for Ne
braska, is another valuable adjunct
to the track team. He is a pole vault
er and high jumper. Clarence Mackey,
who may take over the pivot posi
tion made vacant by Peterson's In
eligibility, Is trv.ng to divide his time
between track and grid practice.
Eugene McAllister, distance man
on the track team, and an end on
the foot ball team, is another example
of the versatility of Hunker athletes.
Byron Nixon, lineman In the fall and
cinder crusher In the spring, puts
another name on this list.
Captain Verne Eewellen Is not only
an all around track man but a goo]
bull player. How he is going to ar
range to split his time equally pre
sents a problem nub h harder than
the solution of the mystery of the
laughing hyena laughs. T«tdd Ilubks,
briber of Ernie, and a promising end,
has been working diligently on the
cinders.
Stanley Davies, Field Club
“Pro ” to Write for Bee
IN A wiles of articles written ex- j In view of the fact that Hagen 1s
clualveiy for The Kvenln* Ilee. recognized ns the longest driving pro
Stanley Itavlea, golf Instructor nt . , . , , . ,
.... . In the world, the feat speak* for It
the Held club, will give a comprehen
sive treatise on golf that will be s B,,‘"
revelation to every player. Article* Start Monday.
The fundamentals of golf, the cor- Davies' Introductory article follows,
rert grip and stance, balance, and and succeeding ones will he published
golf faults are nil tnkrn up and die- 1,1 Th" Kv<,»'lng Mee. starting Mondavi
__ , ... . , "In the series of articles I nm writ
cussed In a practical and simple man
•r- lug l will attempt to show up golf
ner that will delight every reader. faults, their causes and their . ITects
Davlpn flood not lnunrh upon an «‘X* on dhoti.
fend?»l and elaborate discourse on un correct jfoinna fttiokc in n>
Important details to show the fallacy "ulr®d °"ly by »PP"™<'0" <»>'' "
of methods advocated hv some 'vork' ,,m’ l" not " r'n "* '» "UPP’"M'“
authorities, but "hews to the line," by «'ll,y"B' K,,r
and tells you, Mr Golfer, what you °n" fr*,J"*n"y b,Mr" ^ r,'"’Mrk
should know. :l r'rtBl" P|By'r naturally gifted
.. „ with a good golfing stroke and can
\ ersesl in Golf I-me. make * golf ball obey bis command
A conacfentloua study of llie articles Now, If one goes buck to the b.->- n
will give tho player an Insight to the nlng of that player's rnreer. th.'
Intricate and essential points of the chances are I hat he did ills best to
ancient Scottish pastime that could Imitate first clnss players by nnalyz
only he obtained through an extend- lug their swing, etc . and by practle
ed course of Instruction*. Ing hard, made their method* hts
No one is better versed In golf lore owrfc
than Davies and therefore no one la "Gene Hsrnzen. In e reeent article,
better equipped to write these articles, stated that h« never lost the nppor
Davie* learned t.te gnme In Ki% tunlty to watch n good player In
land, but I19 did not make a study of action when he was moulding hi* own
It until coming to America. game.
Home of the greatest golf teachers "The fundamental* of the rolflnv
have been unable to put Into exeru stroke are observed and obeyed by
tlon fibeir own method. Hut Davies all who play good golf, onn may have
can go onto the links and demonstrate a different stance or a different gup
their practicability. hut the principle of sinking the hall
When Wnlter Hagen was In Omaha la governed by technique of the swing,
with .Ton Kirkwood Inst fall 1m aWdc "In tho article* following Ibis from
voter* brill the pleasure of seeing day to day 1 will take up In turn tho
Davies outdrive the British optn essential elements of good golf from
champion. j the grip lo tho finish of the swing."
I - .- -
i t ILLY" N E SSL E H A U S,
Omaha sportsman and own
er at Adonis and John S.
Reardon, stout hearted distance run
ners now campaigning at the Tia
juana (Mex.) track, tdls a good one
on his trainer, J. G. feyssey.
Bussey is the one lo claim John
S. Iteardon out of a‘race down In
Kentucky and brought the route
goer north to fly the Nessiehau
colors.
When John S. Reardon was rac
ing in Kentucky he was known as
a man-eater, simply because they
fought and battled the liorse all
the time. “John” Injured several
grooms- and therefore got a bad j
name. But this didn't worry Train |
er Bussey.
Hussey knew (lip horse could
travel when he claimed him out of
a race. Then came the task or
working on the animal’s disposi
tion.
According lo Npsslehaus, Hussey
started to work on “John's” dis
position by handing him a lump of
sugar each time he passed the
horse's stall.
Pretty soon John S. Reardon and
Bussey got to be real good friends.
Bussey treated the animal just like
he would his son and got wonderful
results. Through curbing "John's"
temper, Bussey discovered It made
a lot of difference on the race track.
The horse quit his sulking and in a
few days "John" was doing his
level best in the morning workout*.
Tlie result of Hussey's treatment
came to light February 23, when
John S. Reardon went onto the Tia
juana track and won a five-length
victory over the speedy Irwin mare.
Ten Huttons, witli such fast horses
as Spanish Maize, Tailor Maid and
Fairw ay fail her back of him.
If the cure Bussey lias worked on
the horse Is a permanent one, well I
John S. Reardon Is going to be j
heard from before the Tlajuana
meeting is over.
DUE FOR BIG ROOM.
AMATEUR boxing in Omaha Is
due for a great growth. The i
recent Omaha Athletic club
first annual fistic tournament is the
cause. |
• • •
Itouls staged by the O. A. C.
proved that amateur contests can he
held iu Omaha with great success.
\ction. plenty of it. and the kind
tile fans like to see, was dished out
lit each fight.
It will not he long before tlic
Omaha Athletic club tournament
pill crop- to In- one of the big
athletic events of the year in Omaha
and the state of Nebraska.
With fair-minded business men,
such aa are behind the Athletie club
tourney, there is no reason not to
believe thaf the amateur boxer will
come into hia own in Omaha.
Morn povv.-r to amateur boxing.
May it grow, grow and glow.
• • •
WHY NOT t XI I. ON Of/ •TI T."
TIEY are talking of bringing poor
ol’ Joe Rockett over to the
United States to get knocked
out. Must he that they have run
out of heavyweight fighters In Eng
land. I’erhaps Beckett wants to
kiss the canvas and can't find any
one in England who ia capable of
making him come in contact with
the floor within the hempen
strands.
Beckett, let It be known, lias
stopped more gloves with his face
tli'ii Kenny Iconard lias pith his
arms and that's sa.ving quite a lot.
I'lie English heavy is n menace to
llie American pork and liean in
dustry.
Why should American promo
ters bring this English punch- j
absorber to the United States to j
provide more competition in the ;
Knock-out-class when we already
have Jim Flynn, Fred Fulton, •etc."
"IIXRE” HERMAN X COMER?
OF the many Veteran and rookie
baxt-lian players who have
signed irp to try out with the
Roston American league cluli,
‘‘Babe'’ Herman, the "Baba Ruth"
of the Western league, is not only
the youngest but has the fastest
hatting average.
On the roster of the Red Sox.
Herman's age Is given as 19 yeafs
old. The ‘"Babe" was 19 when he
played with Omaha, lint what's a
year more or less to a hall player?
Herman's halting average In the
XX'eslem league last season was
lid. Ills fielding average was
9H9 and Is the fourth highest
among the Red Sox players, who
will try out for places.
Ill a letter received by llie writer
from I,. I!. Graves, secretary of
Ilie If'-d Sox, we are informed that
the Boston moguls think very
highly of Herman and believe in the
former Buffalo firsl-saeker they
have a second ‘‘Babe” Ruth.
Herman, in his game in Omaha,
showed that he can hit the hall.
Hut running bases is his weakness.
Herman can field when he wants to
.He'll have to hit, run bases and
field like a demon if he expects to
rout George Burns and Joseph
Harrris out of the first base berth.
Herman can play the field an^ it
may be that if he falls to produce
at first. Chance will take a chance
and put the ''Bali*” out among
the dandelions.
SEVERAL days ago the Asso
ciated Press wires flashed a
short Item over Its wires. It
read something like this: "Irish
Patsy Cline, lightweight Iwjxer, dies
of pneumonia.”
That item did not mean a whole
lot to the sporting public, lint to
those who follow the careers of
boxers it did.
Irish Patsy Cline, when lie was
“right,” wa« one of the most prom
ising lightweight fighters in the
country. It was Cline who heat Ever
Hammer and caused Hammer to re
tire for a time from the boxing
game. At the time of this fight, both
Cline and Hammer were at the
height of their careers and going
strong.
Then Cline met ^itli great mi*
fortune. He was injured In a bout
and his vision impaired. He was un
able to fight for months. Finally,
after doctor after doctor had worked
on this Injured memlier, Irish Patsy
returned to tlie ring. But he was not
the fighter of days gone by.
Pneumonia finally got in a knock
out blow and finished (line. This
lightweight w-as one of the most pop
ular boxers a few years ago, and a
great crowd of mourners turned out
to pay him their last respects.
One of Cline’s mourners had the
following to say of this lightweight:
"Patsy may hate died penniless, but
it's a cinch he didn't die friendless.”
It was a pretty tribute paid by one
boxer to another who had taken the
final count.
HOW A BO IT KKNNKI, CM B?
□MAHA is the home of several
of the best Airedale and Ger
man Police dogs in the United
States, still Omaha is not a member
of the circuit of Kennel club shows.
Wonder why ?
Minneapolis, Detroit, St. lxiuis,
Chicago. Denver, Kansas City and
other cities some not as large as
Omaha, are members of this rirrnit
and stage dog and rat shows each
year.
Omaha Is located in the middle
west and ha*v good railroad advan
tages Still it i-aniwt bc-ast of be
ing a memlier of this circuit of
kennel clubs.
True, there ar- not many do/
fanciers in Omaha, but those who
do reside here arr the breeders of
some of the best dogs in the Unit
ed .States,
These dog fanciers take thrir
dogs tp other eities and win priws.
Htnaliu could become a member of
this kennel (lull rirruit without
much trouble. \ little (-(wipe rat ion
between the Chamber of Commerce
and dog fanciers of Omaha and soon
this city would be admitted to the
dog league.
Dr. .1. .1, M arta. John Welch and
Janies Allen are three Omaha dog
fanciers who welcome a kennel club.
Karli year these men take their dogs
to other kennel shows. The dogs
arc bred in Omaha, trained here,
hut an' sltipiied out to other cities
to win prises.
An Omaha^Kenmi club show ad
mitted to the circuit of kennel clubs
of the country would help Omaha
in more way* than one,
IKS I. IK MANN, former M enter n
. leaguer of Lincoln, and basket
hall winch at the University of
Indiana during the off reason, has
instituted the system of teaching
baseball by the pictorial method In
the ' Big Ten?
Mann is a member of the St louis
Cardinals, and during his tiasebsll
career has collected views of big
leaguers In pictorial roles, showing
all the elements of mechanical base
ball.
For Instance, Mann teaches the
method of sliding by showing ac
tual views of base runner* going
Into the bag. Several colleges have
purchased the system of Instruc
tion. Illinois, where the best base
ball coaching in the middle-west for
the last ?5 years has been done,
has purchased this system of base
ball instrucilon.
Genaro Offered
Bout With Wilde
New York, March 1—Often to
meet Jimmy w tide of llngland, world'*
champion flyweight boxer, were under
consideration today by Frankie He
nuro of N» w N oi l who won the Amcr
lean title Inst night from Pit nr ho
Villa of tlie Philippine island* nt Madi
son Square Hardc \
After receiving an offer from an un
named Knglish promoter to meet
Wilde for the world title in a London
ring, Oonaro received overture* from
two American Impresario* Tex Kick*
•ml. who* staged Inst night s match,
suggested holding a Wilde Oenaro
bout nt the new Yankee stadium and
Tom o'Kourke of the Kepuhllcan Ath
letic Huh proffered the Polo’ground*.
I'rw-k W ini*.
J’ulH'l.a — John IVitik, Neluaska
hrnvj Wright wrratler. won In atraiglit
falls hero last night from Jack Holler,
of Chicago. The first fall rams In
la tnlnnli s anil alt sroon.ls with an
arm look anil thr aeemut In right min
utea with a body allng,
I
Phones on (»olf Course
The s.'lf course twins laid out for
the New York Aihlctle club members
at Marmaraneck, N. Y, will be
equipped >vith telephones over Its 36
hole*.
Korheeler. V 1 , March ! —lrt(n| M ,|
helm, in4it4«cr of the l'h;i«.tel|.h!« ,N»
t Inna I lea sue In.cl.a.I . tul> Inet >car, la
n Khl .lanM 4 mnin • «nh the Ho,-better
r twrimt >n tl l<-aguw >’««m a* a roach ani
■« out \V«lh*tm will Irate h^rc tutnor
f' for tl.» Ki iff training . amp m
Sphna Aii. Wii'Hlm llehctl for Koch
• *t#r in iflO. S* 11 «ml l»|] when It won
threw pennant*.
Bright Lights Did It
YOUNG GRIFFO.
Fremont Reported Free
of Influenza Epidemic
Fremont, Neb, March 3.—(Special.)
U'hiie other sections »f the state are
stricken with light flue epidemics,
Fremont is practi<ally free frorn that
ai!m<nt this year with only five
casfs registered during the month of
February. In 3922, during the same
month, 60 cases of influenza were re
ported. Statistics show that Fremont
has but one quarantine case every
tlx days for a population of 10,000.
Beals Johnny Kleseh.
Macon, Ga,. March 1-—Ynung Strib*
ling of Macon wan awarded the
referee's decision over Johnny KJesch.
of Cleveland, O., at the end of their
10 round scheduled fight here.
l.«ii* Firpo. in p reparation for hi*
f-irth<'ttri.m; halt,* with Bill Brennan.
«■ • «t', i out IE • - ft*ro- n »jth ' F'a :-j>%
T 4'-h .'. v- hr v,rs par T.'f of
Harry W; * "'h** Ar*r‘-»tinS*n Doond th*
color- 4 boy h?. ? * dosea times in two
round*.
Star Jay Trackster
EKE S EMERSON NORTON. 103
pound trnsk star of the UnU
—' Varsity of Karens who is get
ting better nnd better every dnv. East
years ns n freshman. Norton broke
two school records, the tvle vault
and the high. He cleared the bamboo
pole In the pole vault at a helghth of
12 feel and the hurled h.s 203 pounds
over the pole at a helghth of six
feet two Inches at’.I one half inches
in the high Jump Ten and one fifth
seconds catches him In the hundred,
and he travels the 220 in 33 flat. He
hurls the shot at 43 feet; discus.
feet and can do 22 feet, six inches in
lhe running broad Jump, lie holds
the school record in these events.
Coach Sohndeman of Kansas is go
ing lo enter Norton In the pentathlon
at the l’en relay games In May. He
predicts that Norton will be * the
world s best all -aroint dathlrte. This
is Norton * first je.\i in \ tlhy com
petition.
Morvich May Be Seen Under
Block Silks Again This Season
New York. March 3- Morvloh. the
champion juvenile of 1921 and win
tier of the Kentucky I'rrby la«t
spring, may lm seen under silk again
this »*n.nm. The renowned thorough
hred Is now standing beside Mann
War at Miss Katherine 1 lungcrflelds
stud farm In I.exlngtnn. Kv., hut It
la the Intention of Benjamin Ttlork
hl» owner, to put him m naming
nl'imt May If, |f |lr ntna n* mm nil
h<' will rare all * nnmri. if m>t. hr
Will In' «hi)i|>r,l Ivirk lo thr mock farm
Itrprria from the U!ur gras-e are
to thr effort that the colt ha» ini
proved to per cent in api>earance. He
ha* epren.l out ami grown ui< ha*
ink. n on more than too | ton ml a. Fre.1
tlurle*-. the ertrran trainer, who pre
pannl him for tlie ilrrhv, again will
have charge of him.
Misconduct of
“Young Griffo”
' Cost Him Title
Ma iter Boxer of Antipodes
Followed Twinkling Bright
Lights to Defeat—Now a
Derelict in New York.
Thl» la the eleventh article about gr*af
box*r« who failed to win the title and
the regions why.
R.v SIDNEY MTHKRLWO.
To acknowledge a p>eer, fond and
meaningless keystone word of democ
racy, is to admit a degree of medioc
rity, since there is scant distinction
in equality. Those who know no peers
need no epitaphs—their superiority
Stves them life after (Bath. There are
few such — Shakespeare, Napoleon,
Newton. Michael Angelo—and in the
realms of their endeavor they were no
more kingly in their day and way
than the subject of these paragraphs
Better to be the best street sweep
er in all the world than the second
greatest statesman who ever lived.
With which preparatory words, meet
now the greatest boxer of all history
—Albert Griffiths, known to ring Im
mortality as Young Griffo. One goes
to patriarchs of the tribe to learn its
record, and one stands amazed while
listening to old fans grope for adjec
tives to portray this marvel from the
Antipodes.
Marvel From the Start.
Griffo was born “down under” In
IS-!. As fishes need no natatorial ,
tutor, so this featherweight had but
to don the gloves to make the gym
nasium wiseacres in Sydney biink
their eyes in realization that this buli
nccked, bullet-beaded, thick armed,
slender legged little lad was poten
t-ally the most clever boxer the world
ever was to behold.
He started his recorded career In
1S58. That record, for reasons pre
sently to be outlined, is clouded w-ith
confusion. For five‘years be never
lost a battle and travelers and cables
carried to sporting circles throughout
the world the tidings that in the
lard of Fitzsimmons and Creedon and
Peter Jackson and Slavin there was
a boxer whose abilities made even
their abilities seem like the pawing,
fumbling efforts of awkward, fright
ened an a'.eurs.
American Debut In Chicago.
Chicago was the scene of his Arne'-,
can d»but, when he met "Young
Sootty” on November 33, I*93. Chi
cago never forgot that six round en
co«feter. Standing in the center of
the life,-, bis hands hanging at his
Vdfl petrified the
letting h,s opponent use everything
he had for three full minutes in vain
endeavor to hit that bobbing h*ad.
"Strike me ruddy, but the blighter
cawnt 'it me!" said Griffo, leaning
over the ropes and spoofing the rlng
s:ders. “H.f this Is your best boxer,
you blooming Yankees are habout to
see something new. 1
They did: and so did the crack col
ored boy: for never in the annals of
boxing did gloves travel with such in
credible speed: never d.d piston rod
move as fast or true as Griffo'* fists
Hefts and rights from every angle
footwork that made the onlookers
crosseyed: ducking and blocking and
jabbing and hitting without parallel—
and all without a return from the Chi
cagoan whose graduation In prize
ring lore was but a kindergarten
course for the Kangaroo.
Only One Defeat R«s ortled.
The master's career continued four
years more with only one defeat, and
that by a 10-round hairline decision to
Jack McAuliffe. Outweighed IS
pounds in nearly every match, he
twisted ir.to helpless tyros such as
Solly Smith. Ike Weir. "Kid'' Lav me.
George Dixon. "Kentucky Rosebud. '
Billy Murphy and Jo* Cans.
And in the jears of his ascendancy
he became as famous for his incom
parable ability as he became notori
ous for his misconduct.
That tells why he never won a title,
and why it was difficult to keep track
of his contests. He followed the
•w.nkling lights down the path whose
'Inevitable terminus Is defeat. S*o one
who bought a ticket ever had any as
suranee that the Australian would
appear to perform. For many of h.s
battles the promoter hsd to send out
i scouts for him.
1 And they often ft'und him propped
I against a bar. singing h!s Cocknev
songs, or with hands In his pockets
i standing on a ffclded newspaper uni
' betting the drinks ' that no mar.
present could knock him off the paper
or hit his face.
Made Clowns of Opponent*.
Once lifted into the ring, regardless
. of his condition, he was as eccentric
land sensational as he was aide. Often
he would lean on the top rope, cross
his legs, exchange jibe* with the
spectators, and by merely moving his
head and one arm. prevent h.s foe
i from landing a blow
Today Grtffo is a memory—and a
derelict. V.tnv a dollar has been d
• vied toward his need* by admirer* c?
former day*: he lias been put away In
asylums, the consequence of his folly,
and numerous benefits have helped
him survive his tvoerty. few vear^
l ago, friends collected tt.MO to send
him Iwok to Australia, hut rtriffo
refused to go and he is hanging
around somewhere In New York City
■J years old. very fat and very forlorn.
•The final article will tell the story
of I’ackey McFarland I
Bolt Zupjikt' Hhs l^rcat
l.ritl Hooorrl al Illinois
Despite two Ivad aeaaons in a row.
Holi Zuppke. Illinois' dynamic little
football coach. still has a marg.n of
j v ictory over all of the conference
j team* which hd lias met in his >ear*
of coaching. except Michigan and
1 Ohio, which are tied wuh him H*
' ,11 has at leas: on* same to the
g "d on ail of th* other B% Ten
( universities. —»»». _»
