DEATH OF SIKI.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1926, Page 3

DEATH OF SIKI.

FITS CHEQUERED CAREER. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15. Tho tragic passing of Battling Siki, the celebrated Senegalese boxer, in New York, created the greatest surprise throughout the United States, coming as it did during the approach of Christnia.stidc, hut it was proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the famous dusky pugilist was trailed from a “black aiul tan” dance hall on the fringe of Hell’s Kitchen, a notorious resort in New' York’s tenderloin, and shot twice in the hack and killed early in the morning.

His body was found hy a policeman. face down, in the middle of West Forty-first street, in front of his apartment house at the end of a trail of blood leading from a garage. Siki, whose real name was Louis Phail. had been shot at close range, and the police learned that an hour or so before Siki’s body was found he had had an altercation with a man in a resort frequented hy negroes and whites. The slain fighter’s Ikxl.v, which was identified hy his wife, Lillian, was found by Policeman ,1. J. Meehan, who also found near hy a short barrelled .32 calibre .pistol with two bullets fired.

•Siki had only eight cents (fourpence) in his pocket, and wore no jewellery. Police scouted the theory that lie had been murdered by bandits. An enemy who warned him more than a week previously, hy means of a note thrust under his door, that lie was going to “got him” was tlio first upon whom suspicion fell, especially as the man's identity was known hy .Siki’s widow. Another theory was that bootleggers, to whom Siki owed money, had had a hand in the murder. Alter receiving the threatening note Siki vent about with a depressed air, '■'ml told many persons he had enemies wlio were out to “get him.” He complained to the police, as he had often done before, but .scorned to a: cent their

advice that lie carry a gun. “It I can get an even break I can take care of myself with my lists; or. 'f need he. anything handy I can pi'k up” lie went on to say. JESTER OF THE RING. Siki had probably the most colourlul career of any man who adopted the ring as a profession. He was burn in St. Louis, ol Senegali, on September K’tli - 189,. and early in life deserted bis drab job of bottle-washer to do battle in tho roped arena. His exploits were amusing, mid he always entertained the crowd once he was in the ring. He seemed to take his fights as jokes, and often went into battle after having trained on the choicest of wines and liquors. He fought with great success, and achieved his greatest tame when ho won the light heavy-weight ■championship of tho world hy knocking out Georges C'nrpontior. hut lie lost the title later to Mike McTiguc, of Ireland, a St. Patrick’s Day battle in Dublin. Outside the ring he was constantly getting into trouble with individuals, and with the police. He was of a happy-go-lucky nature, and never avoided a battle, no matter how much the odds were against inm. Tn Paris, after his vi: tory over Carpentier, he visited all the well-known American bars, and attempted to pay for drinks all around to strangers, including Americans, many of whom refused. The French resented this action on Siki’s part after he had toppled their idol.

On another occasion, in Havana, lie leaped out of a hotel window and when nicked up by passers-by be smilingly remarked: "I am Siki. the great battler.” Siki was bitten by a lion cub in Marseilles. France, just before lie was to have fought the British middle-weight Moore. It was thought that this would prevent Siki from entering the ring, bift it did not. In flic United States the "singular Senegalese” frequently got into trouble with the police, and was locked up on numerous occasions. He went “broke” a dozen times, only to recoup his fortunes by another fight or two. He was well liked by his friends, hut generally regarded as his own worst enemy. By a singular coincidence Siki last .Tnlv was felled by a knife wound at I the same spot where lie was ultimately foully murdered.