Adventure, June 1911 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

202 Trust Company was instructed to cover all the money that any one wanted to bet at odds of 10 to 8 and 10 to 7 on Gans, we taking the Gans.end. A sign was hung in the window: reading: “A large sum of money has béen placed with us to‘ wager on Gans. Nelson money promptly covered inside.” Mr. Sullivan was in his glory. Prize fighting suited his tastes better than high finance, and he was as busy as a one- armed paper-hanger with the itch. An argument arose about who should referee the fight. “Tex” Rickard nomi- nated George Siler, of Chicago, and Battling Nelson promptly O. K’d the selection. Mr. Sullivan objected. He sent for the news- paper men and gave out an interview in which he declared that Mr. Siler was preju- diced against Gans because he was a negro, and he did not believe Mr. Siler would-give Gans a fair shake. “Rice,” whispered Sullivan after the newspaper men left the office, “I am four- flushing about that race-prejudice yarn, but it won’t do any harm. Siler needs the job. He’s broke and I’ll make him eat out of my hand before I’ll agree to let him referee the fight. They’ve already invited Siler to conte here, and I won’t be able to get another referee, but I'll beat them at their own game. When Siler gets here I'll thrash matters out with him and agree to his selection, but first I want him to know who’s boss.” Mr. Siler arrived. An hour later he was closeted with Mr. Sullivan in one of the back rooms of the trust company offices. The dialogue which ensued was substantially as follows: Mr. Siler. You’ve got me dead wrong, Sullivan. I want to referee this fight, and I want you to withdraw your objections. Mr. Sullivan. Well, I’ve heard from sources which I can’t tell you anything about that you don’t like Gans, and I can’t stand for you. Mr. Siler. I need this fight, and I’ve come all the way from Chicago in the ex- pectation of refereeing it. I couldn’t give Gans the worst of it if I wanted to. He is a clean fighter and I would not have an excuse. Mr. Sullivan. Gans is a clean fighter, but Nelson isn’t; he uses dirty tactics and he is a fouler for fair. Mr. Siler. Té he does any fouling in this fight I’ll-make him quit or declare him out. Mr. Sullivan. What guarantee have I Adventure ,got that you won’t give Gans the worst of it? Mr. Siler. Well, I'll tell you, Sullivan, if you withdraw your objections I’ll guaran- tee you that I’ll be this fair. If Nelson uses foul tactics, or if he don’t, ’ll show my fairness to-Gans by giving him the benefit of every doubt. Now, will that satisfy you? Mr. Sullivan. Yes, it’ll satisfy me, but, remember, if you don’t keep your _ word you'll have just as much chance of getting” out of this town: alive as Gans will have if he lays down! You understand? Mr. Siler. Yes. & 17 ON THE afternoon of the fight the XS} Sullivan Trust Company cast ac- counts and found that it had wa- gered $45,000 on Gans against a total of $32,500 put up on Nelson. Mr. Sullivan, after talking it over with me, had accepted the honorary position of announcer at the ringside. ‘Though not of | aristocratic mien, “Larry” was of fine physique, with a bold, bluff countenance, and I felt confident that*his cordial manner would appeal to the assemblage. Just before the prize-fighters entered the ring, ‘“‘Larry” jumped into the arena. Standing above the mass of moving heads and holding up both hands, he hailed the great crowd thus: “Gentlemen, we are assembled in this. grand areno to witness a square fight. This fight is held under the auspices of ‘Tex’ Rickard, a man of great acclumuations 3 “Larry” did not get much farther. The audience laughed, and then jeered and hooted until it became hoarse. His words were drowned in the tempest of derision. I was informed by friends who were close to the ringside that he went on in the same rambling way for a few minutes more, but I can’t testify to that fact from my own. knowledge because “acclumuations” and enn. ‘‘areno” overcame me and I stopped up - my ears. The fight progressed for twenty rounds or more, when I began to doubt the ability of Gans to win. Mr..Sullivan had a com- missioner at the ringside, who, up to this time, had been betting anybody and every- body all the ro to 6 that was wanted against Nelson. I hailed Mr. Sullivan at the ring- side. you said it-would be,” I whispered. JOO CONMIG SoCO “This doesn’t look like the cinch for Gans