IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1669, 8 February 1913, Page 12

IN THE RING.

; (BY Meiiouiiy.) THE BLOT OF J. JOHNSON. 3 " _! 1 r A Scathing Note From "Collier's Weekly." 3 Renders of this column may remember 3 "Mercury's" remark a month or two back • as to the littlo pearl of philosophy that 1 might bo drawn from the now decaying r system of Champion Johnson's carecr. The lollowing from the editorial columns of P "Collier's Weekly" represents tho view ' 'df the case taken by the saner class of J Americans, and who shall doubt its wis-, ' doni? 1 They havo set out to "get" "Jack" .- Johnson, and beyond doubt ho will bo • adequately and expertly "got." This ' will bo a good dead, but it will bo a mere detail in a story that reflects ' less credit upon tho dominant race ' than might havo been possible. It is ' a that exhibits the thoughtless- ' ness of many of us, the coarseness, J greed, and toadyism of others. It will ' bo reoalled that in July 1910, "Jack" Johnson, trained in tho noble craft of prize-fighting, defeated a white man at Iteno, Nevada. Perhaps it will also bo recalled that white men buzzed about him and fawned upon him during his homeward journey; i that he was met by a huge crowd, i half white men, at tho railroad stai tion in Chicago,* ho was the honoured i guest at banquets; that he was deeded . . lands, and stuffed with money, and ; decorated with diamond?. To crown it all, tho city of Chioago permitted him to, open a tough saloon, well knowing that it would be a very . tough saloon. They made him think that he wag above the law.' Crossing ... ■ police .grinned: "Howdy Jack," as he swept by in. liia law-breaking automobile. Well might he now quote Cali- ■ ban's gibe i .. - 1 ! ' When thou earnest first thou etrokedst me and madest much of me. The transition ia all too abrupt from Oh you Jack!" to "Lynch him I" Punish him wo must, but lot us not miss tho point. Could not civilisation havo made a better uso of that huge bulk of muscle? Encountar of Truscott and Hegarty. t The Truscott-Hegarty. battle at Hastings last week was another illustration of the advantage of having the best of -tho weights. Iniscofct, who must bo gettintr on in years, entered the ring not so fit as Hegartv, but finished up almost as fresh, irue, ho had tho greater skill, and Hegarty s' dashing attack was, in consequence, wasted somewhat, but, ' had the weights beon even, instead of Truscott' being some ten pounds tho' heavier, this would not havo availed much. Advantage in weight is advantage in strength in a case like this, and the little Timiiru champion suffered accordingly. ( Details of the battle having already been published, it is not necessary to produce them again. Suffice it to say that Hegarty attacked from- the jump; only jx) bo met by a dcfenco superior to his attack, and a counter-attack when the opportunity occurred, which counter-attack, though-fairly infrequent, was exceedingly well placed. The Crowd and tho '.'Fine Points." , It is not altogether a matter of surprise that tho crowd was not in accord with tho decision,' but the fine points of the game never appeal much to a crowd. Tho.ugh a couplo of hundred miles from the scene of the affair, "Mercury-" is quite content to accept the verdict, as Mr. Sampson Is about the best reiereo we have. , The Pair Meet Here at Easter, ~ In conneotion with Hegarty, it is pleasing to note that, in all probability, we shall seo him in action hero against Porter on Easter Monday Night, tno local association'having agreed. to stago 'this match, if possible, as part of the carnival.' In view of Porter's dissatisfaction with tho verdict givon on the occasion of. their last meeting, thia bout will havo the added zest of curiosity as to how far his dissatisfaction was justified. 'A' better match betweeu two Now Zealandors could not at the present timo bo! made. Giving the a Lift.. Tho W.B.A, is further to be congratulated upon seizing tho opportunity afforded by tho 'Varsity tournament to arrange ■ a few matches between the students. For some years boxing enthusiasts at tho Uni- ■ versity colleges havo been striving unsuccessfully to have boxing included in the regular programme of tho tournament. True, several informal tourneys have been held, but only as side-lines arranged by the various' Varsity boxing clubs, .and not with the direct recognition and approval of the controlling authorities of tho tournament. Possibly this direct recognition by a leading association may make sufficient impression to ensure for tho "noble art" its true position in ?Vareity athletics., . ' Smith,' Mldwood, and a Vague Cable, . Cabled nows of "Davo" Smith's victory over "Keg" Midwood at Sydney last Saturday is delightfully vague, merely conveying the jntimation that Smith won in the tenth round, whether by 0 knock-out or on a foul, or by tho shying of tlie towel, or by any other- of the multitudinous way 9 in which victory in tho ring may bo gained, is not even hinted at. Truly, in the sportsman's toplret tlie cable agent ought to havo a special torture chamber all to himself. Smith's 'Next Antagonist—Private Palmer. "Davo" Smith's next opponent may possibly bo. Private Palmer, tho present Army and Navy middle-weight champion, who is at present on a short holiday to this Dominion. Tho pair wcro to havo met in England, hut an injury to Smith's foot had first claim on our champion, who is now just as eager as the Englishman to "put 'em up." Among his many victories Privato Palmer has one over American Harry Lewis to.his credit. Further, his calibre may ix> gauged by tho fact that English mid-dle-weight champion "Jack" Harrison, ] has always refused to meet hhn. Poor Old Battlc-scarred Hock Keys. "Hock" Keys seems to be on the down ', grado again, not from any falling-off iii the quality of his boxing, but from sheer . lack of strength. In his battle -with Frank Fjcnto ho , showed all his old-time skill jii attack • and defence, fooling tho American time . and time again by dazzling leads, duck- , .ing and footwork. For. the first five , rounds Picato scarcely landed a blow, but. , thereafter, the spectacle was not an edifying one, the old warrior's strength leav- , ing him with every round, till in tlie four- . toenth, tlie towcll mis thrown in. It seems as if tho pitcher will be j useful for but another journey or two. | Alid then—well, a benefit, and i the setting-up of Keys in some line or j other that will keep him in somo sort of comfort, is the least that followers of the game/can do for him. | Interesting Match' In Train. , ] Efforts are being made in -Sydney.; to ' match Harold Ilardwiek and Cagliill, both i ox-nmatour champions'. This 'would bo easily the most sporting professional match arranged in.Austrain for many a long day, but one doubts Ilardwick's iris- ' dom in entft'ing the ring. Apparently he ' has no intention of seriously endeavouring to eoino to tho top as a professional, ' and it would be better for him to fol- 1 low "Snowy" Biker's lead and retire from active public participation in tho : game. , Paris, Palzcr, and Johnson. Latest news from America lends colour - to the rumour that ".Tnek" Johnson will again lie seen in tho riiie, tlie "fight fans" ■ in Now York being inclined to believe in the genuineness of the suggested battle between him and A] Palser in Paris next , June. Enjrlniul, America, and Australia i are opt of the question, but Johnson's ■ escapade's may not have produced much of an impression in France, and, if so, ] the match might bo countenanced there. In Vermont, United States, a bountv of . 30, cents is paid tor every hedgehog killed. ; Some farmers have added considerably to ■ their income by raising hedgehogs, and , the Legislature will probably be asked to | repeal the Hedgehog Bounty Bill. Tlie s bounties paid per year amount to .£OOOO, ] representing the killing of about 100,000 1 hedgehogs. ,