HOMEWARDI

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 11

HOMEWARDI

In Wyoming, Sam Langford, the “Boston Tar Baby,” sat in his dressing-room. His black, goodnatured face was wreathed in smiles for his campaign in the West was nearly finished. “In de mawnin’,” he chuckled, “Ah’s a-goin’ home. Say boy, is you awa-ah dat Ah is de daddy of a bran’-new pickaninny, what Ah ain’t nevali seen, yit?” “Not to-morrow morning, Sam,” his trainer replied. “There’s no train that we can catch until to-morrow night, at 8.45.” “Whut?” Sam exclaimed. “Does yoall think Ah’m gonna wait twentyfoah houahs to staht fo’ home, to see mah kid? Say, boy! Ah ain’t gonna stop no twenty-foah houahs—no place. We gits dat train, tonight!” “We can’t do it, Sam. The fight doesn’t start until 5.30 and the train leaves at 8.45.” “Shut up, boy! Pack up mah togs! Leave me mah bath-robe. Hurry up! Git goin’!” “Aren’t you going to fight?” “Ah shuah am, boy. Hurry on! Don’t wait fo’ me! You. git on dat train! ” “Don’t be silly, Sam! Who will second you?” “Ah ain’t gonna need no second. Go on! Away you git!” Reluctantly, the trainer departed. Sam was to fight Nat Dewey. Except for the near-champions, Dewey was perhaps the best of the Western heavyweights. This was just a few months before the Jeffries-Johnson fight, and Dewey was a prominent “white hope.” He outweighed Sam by a few stones, and was younger. The question was whether or not his size, weight, strength, and youthfulness could offset Langford’s phenomenal punching-power, and superb ringcraft. There was a big crowd of spectators, for it was a national holiday— Washington’s birthday—February 2 1910. Promptly on time the fight started. There was no time for finessing Sam whipped across the ring. Swish! Smack! Thud! Dewey was “knocked cold.” Sam flew to his corner, grabbed his bath-robe, and fled. “Hey, Sam!” cried the promoter. “What about your money?” “Thend it on—to Bothton!” “Here, it’s all ready for you. Better take it with you.” “Go to hell!” yelled the fleeing Langford. “Boy! Ah’m goin’ home!” Sam caught the train.