TALES AND FANCIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 206, 19 November 1927, Page 10

TALES AND FANCIES

f FROM THE PEN j -0,j FRITZ HOLLAND j Coypriffht.—THTZ str>* Feature Service

EXHIBITION!

Er&stus Sims, one of Joe Cans s sparring partners, was rather envious of “The Old Master’s” fame, fistic wizardry, and affluence. Positively, he was not jealous of his benefactor, nor did he wfc?h him anything but well, but still, Rastus, in a small way, had ambitions.

Joe Gans, lightweight champion of the world for 12 years, was a negro, a sportsman, a pastmaster of scientific boxing, and a gentleman. In two ways, Rastus resembled him —colour and weight. Rastus’s duties with Gans were not onerous, for Gans was ever considerate and generous to his sparring partners. Having just finished an arduous campaign. Gans gave each of his staff a substantial sum of money, and went northwards on a holiday.

Finding himself in possession of such unexpected wealth and leisure. Rastus evolved a daring scheme. He travelled westward to Rock River, where he introduced himself as “Gans —Mistah Joey Gans —wo'lds lightweight champeen,”—and announced that for suitable remuneration he would disport himself in an exhibition of boxing with the town’s best boxing attraction, for the edification of the Rock River enthusiasts, in order that they might get a glimpse of championship boxing form. The Rock River fans were delighted, for two reasons. They had always wanted to see the one and only Joe Gans. whom they believed was the greatest all-round lightweight the American ring had ever known, and they also wanted to “try out” their own champion. Tommy Dugan. Little did Rastus know what he had let himself in for: it was unfortunate for him that he had elected to stop at the place, for he could not have chosen a worse one. This fellow Dugan was just about one of the best lightweights in the country. He would have been a formidable opponent for Gans himself.

To minimise the danger of detection, and to keep down expenses, Rastus agreed to fight without delay, and as Dugan was in the pink of condition, the fight was staged a few days later. Rastus’s bead swelled with pride when he was presented to the crowd. “Let me introduce Joe Gans. undefeated, undisputed lightweight champion of the world, who has come to Rock River to meet his many supporters and to give an exhibition.”

No doubt Rastus had got a wrong estimate of his own ability, perhifi because of the lenience of his humane and generous employer, for Ri«. tus figured that if he could box with, out injury every day with the ms-, vellous “Joey,” what chance had the "unknown” Dugan of hurting him? He soon found out.

Before the first round was a minute old. he realised the hopeless magnitude of his task. Rastus was think, ing that It was just as well for Gass that he was not in the pseudo-Gant, position —that Dugan was murdering only his effigy. He found the Rock River sportsmen had proven to 3* good judges of a boxer, and they had not exaggerated Dugan's ability on, iota. Indeed, in acclaiming Dugan i world-beater, they were under-ra'fjj him.

Rastus was not accustomed to sti h rude ring-methods, his employment with the kindly and gentle Gans hat ing been a sinecure. Such roughnesj as this was foreign to all previous experience, for Dugan, realising whst enhancement would accrue to his reputation, should he succeed in stnring a decisive win over Bans . s , “going for the knock.” Rastus tied for his life.

At such times as Dugan overtook him the Rock River man nearly ham mered the life out of the agonised Rastus. Fleeing past the timekeeper. Rastus accidentally or intentional]!kicked the gong a resounding thwack, and hostilities were halted. Dugan and Rastus returning lo their corners - just in time to avoid a complete debacle.

In the excitement and uproar, the timekeeper was the only one to notice the difference, and of what avail were his puny protests in that Bedlam el cheers, jeers, and applause. The Rock River people could see that they had not accorded Dugan tw appreciation that his merit had deserved. They were amazed that he could so overwhelm the great Joe Gans. Why. if only the weights and “the distance” were according te championship regulations. Dugan. <i another two minutes, would be lightweight champion of the world. It was nearly time for gong-souud when Rastus, with great assumption of dignity, arose from his chair, and holding lip his hand for silence announced:—

“Gemp'mum. this exhibition hate ceased! Ah come here meahly foh to give you all a li’l exhibition, and ah awready ex'bitioned far moah'n what I ’spected.”