if
CURRENT GOSSIP IN THE ATHLETIC FIELD
John L. Sullivan's Desire to Re-Enter Ring Is Press Agent
' Device Champion Woman Sculler to Row at Fair,
PRESS AGENT BOOST
What the Sullivan - Mitchell
Match Means.
DATE. IS SET WELL AHEAD
Famous John It. Now Just Three
Hundred Pounds of Putty, and
to Gall the Bout a Fight
Is Ridiculous.
So poor old John I. Sullivan and Char
ley Mitchell are going to box 15 rounds!
Tou will have to call this meeting between
these two old ring jewels a boxing match,
lor it would give the imagination a tre
mendous jolt to think of it as a fight The
skillful press agent who nas been booming
the ancient champion finally got to the
point where he had to make good. He
was very careful to set the date of the
contest for some time in September, a
date that will be satisfactory for both of
the contestants and the public at large.
2t will give the public a chance to forget
that they are to meet and a cnance for
both principals to go home and behave
themselves.
Frank Hall has certainly worked his
Sullivan-Mitchell fight talk to a frazzle.
Heams of stuff have been printed about
this match, not alone by the gullible sport
ing writers, but by the space-killers as
well. Some bf the writers have grabbed
Hall's dope without experience, but there
"is one writer who evidently got the colic
in his effort to digest the Sulllvan-Mltch-ell
notices. He Is the San Francisco Bul
letin man. Just read what he has to
liand out:
It has been wisely said In the right quar
ters that a good press agent Is more than
half the battle. We have grot to hand It to
the publicity promoter In tow of old John
Lawrence Sullivan for his continuous and
earnest efforts to keep the poor' old has-been
In the print of the country. At that, his
work Is very, very raw, and looks like about
time he was suppressed.
Just at pesent Sullivan is barnstorming up
in the Northwest with an Uncle Tom's
Cabin company or some other equally atro
cious Infliction on a foolish and overcredu
Joua public Of eourse it Is the business of
the aforesaid publicity promoter. to set the
riame of Sullivan in type as often as possible.
It Is hard to say just what brand Is being
smoked by the party, for some weird efforts
ore made from every stop.
Since Charley Mitchell has come Into the
public eye here on the Coast, the Irre
pressible press agent person has been hurling
challenges, which may possibly, but hardly
probably, be taken seriously by the pro
vincials. Wouldn't that jar you, to imagine the old
tub trying t oput up a fight? Anyway, It
would if you got a peek at the 300 pounds of
mush that Is talking, or Is supposed . to be
talking through his press agent about fight
ing. It Is too silly to think of. much less to no
tice. Sullivan has been free lunching off the
public and his friend? so long that he has
become a public nuisance. He has been
staked -more times than he has hairs in his
head, aad has had more benefits than X'attl
bad farewell performances! No one has
been kinder to Sullivan than Charley
Mitchell, who does not even now speak the
contempt that he undoubtedly feels.
When Sullivan had a big benefit in Boston
a couple of years ago Mitchell went all the
way from New York: to Boston at his own
expense and boxed three or four rounds with
Jack McAullffe, who is now in the heavy
weight class of size, and in addition to that,
both McAullffe and Mitchell subscribed
money to the benefit fund.
Mitchell Is stronger and harder than the
majority of men half his age. and could put
tip a good bout with some good ones, if he
wanted to do such a foolish thing as to get
Into a ring again. Sullivan Is nothing more
than something like 300 pounds of putty
and is liable to topple over from apoplexy
at any time. If Jimmy Britt were to land
one punch the old man would be out.
It may not sound good-natured to kill the
press agent work of Sullivan, but neverthe
less It should be suppressed.
Sullivan himself is not a bad sort. He
has been always a popular idol and he
has done thinga that would have caused
the populace to drive him out of the
country. Because it was the once mighty
John L. who did these things they were
promptly forgiven. Sullivan has always
been a good, consistent booze-fighter.
When aober he Is a good fellow and
always faithful to his friends. It was this
trait in his character that made friends
and foes forgive him when he would
break loose and rough-house when in his
cups. He has squandered a couple of for
tunes; and he admits himself that the
most of this money went to people who
worked him while he was in his con
vivial, moments. It can never be said of
Sullivan that he ever denied a man a
piece of money who was in want. He
has also always been on the square and
It seems a shame that now, after all the
years that he has been in retirement,
ithat he should spoil his record by trying
to break back into the fighting game.
tKo one, at least not any of the old fight
tfans, will go to 6ce this boxing match
between Sullivan and Mitchell. They
like the old Boston boxer too well to go
"A WORD TO THE
As a matter or business advertising we are giving away a
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niture to the value of $175.00, and have the $75.00 Silver Set
besides. This makes the handsomest present ever offered by
a Portland business house.
OREGON IMPORTING
and see him and take the chances of
seeing him whipped.
Sullivan's mistakes have been many, but
the greatest mistake is allowing Frank
Hall to match him with MltchelL There
is not one chance in a hundred that these
old fighters will ever meet In a 15-round
go. It will be noticed that, in spite of
all the talk Hall was making about put
ting up thousands until they counted
tens, that not a cent was placed as for
feit The sweet-worded sentence that
the reputations of both was sufficient as
& guaranty that they would be on hand
sounds great. The actual money, or a
certified check, would have lent the match
some reality.
Tommy Burns, who recently defeated
Dave Barry at Tacoma, leaves this week
for Detroit, where he goes to fight Hugo
Kelly. Burns will meet Kelly in a ten
round battle June 1. Both Burns and
Kelly were at one time under the same
management and have always wanted a
chance to exchange wallops in the ring.
Kelly's recent victory over Jack O'Brien
has sent his stock up a hundred points.
Burns also fought O'Brien and the Phila
delphlan received a decision over him.
After meeting Kelly, Bums will return to
Portland and train for his fight with
Jack O'Brien at Tacoma, July 4.
Portland Academy Wins.
The Portland Academy defeated Barclay
High School at Oregon City yesterday
afternoon by a score of IS to 2. The game
was very one-sided, owing to the inabil
ity of Todd, the Barclay pitcher, to keep
down the hits. He did not receive good
support, his team making seven errors.
The Academy boys played a steady
game, considering the wet condition of
the field, and proved themselves superior
players. Reed, Troy Myers and Thorne
took turns in the box,xand kept the hits
well scattered.
The Academy showed better form than
It has before this season, while Barclay
did not play as good a game as when It
defeated Hill last week. The score by in
nings: Portland Academy Total.
Runs 4 3 2 31 0 1 2 0-16
Hits 23 251 0 130-17
Barclay High School
Runs 0 010000102
Hits 0 1110200 16
Batteries Portland Academy, Reed. T.
Myers, Thorne and Hlgglns; Barclay High
School, Todd and Young.
Biff Double Today.
Two of the most notable events of the
season in athletic circles will positively
take place at the Twenty-fourth and
Vaughn-street grounds this afternoon,
commencing promptly at 2 P. M. The first
contest to take place will be the baseball
game between the strong Schiller and
University Park clubs for the champion
ship of the city. There has been a 5200
purse hung up for the winners, and the
fans can expect a battle royal. Commenc
ing at 3:15 P. M., the star ecnt of the
day, namely the much-touted lacrosse
game, will take place. This game is very
important, as the winner will represent
this city during the season in the Lewis
and Clark Exposition games. The ball
teams will line up as follows:
Schlllers. University Parks.
Slavin-Bredemler ..C. Brock
Hunter-Llllis P. Moore-Trowbridge
Haynes IB : Williams
Johnson 2B Campbell
Patterson SB Houston
Hlgglnbott SS Gray
It. Parrott LF HInkle
A. Parrott CF Smith
Oliver RF Gaines
On Horseback From Tacoma.
Among the sportsmen of the week Is
Chauncey R. "Wlnslow, the Portland and
San Francisco rubber shoe magnate, who
purposed to ride his new mare Maude
from Tacoma to Portland, and his frlencs
along. Front street have just dlscovcrea
that the most pleasant part or the jour
ney was in the steamer Kellogg, by which
Mr. Winslow and his mare were brought
from Kelso to this city. It is said that
the mare got tired before Mr. Winslow
did. At first Mr. Winslow calculated
that he would ride on horseback from
Tacoma to Portland in about a week's
time, and take in the scenery and rustic
pictures at his leisure. However, his
friends are congratulating him that nt
arrived home several days ahead of time.
After Tacoma, the roads were puzzling, so
much so that at the start. May 13, the
most alluring of them led ultimately Into
sawmills. But the road became better,
and Maud Justified all the good things her
previous owner said about her. Portlana
was reached last Wednesday.
Columbia looses to Willamette.
SALEM. Or.. May 20. (Special.) Wil
lamette University gave Columbia her
first drubbing this season In a fast game
this afternoon. The visitors went up in the
air in the fifth and eighth Innings, and
when they came down the score was 11
to 5. The locals ascended in the sixth and
let in four runs. McKenna sent the ball
over the fence and scored the other in
the fifth.
Both pitchers were in good form, but
Jerman had the better of Mangold and
kept hits well scattered. Neither side
reached ttyird until the fifth inning, and
in the last of the game Jerman fanned
out the visitors as fast as they came up.
striking out three men with nine balls.
Matthews was star sticker for Willa
mette, making three hits out of four
chances and each time scored runs. The
intercollegiate state championship is thus
left in doubt.
TO HOWATTHEFAIR
Champion Woman Sculler Is
Coming.
NOW ON HER WAY TO COAST
Exhibition or 3Iateh Race Is Now
Being Arranged for Mrs. Ed
ward X. Athcrton Under
Exposition Auspices.
Unless some hitch should occur in the
present plans one of the unique features
in the Exposition's calendar of sports will
be the appearance of Mrs. Edward M.
Atherton. of Hartford. Con., champion
oarswoman of the world.
Mrs. Atherton, better known on Eastern
waters under her maiden riame. Miss Til
He Ashley, is now on her way to the
Coast and will remain in Portland during
the Fair. Mr. Atherton. who is in Port
land at present, is arranging with Man
ager of Athletics H. W. Kerrigan for a
race for Mrs. Atherton during the Expo
sition regattas. It Is the hope of all
parties that a contest can be pulled off
between Mrs. Atherton and some other
woman sculler, but failing in this, the
woman -champion will probably row an
exhibition race. It lsvposslble, too, that
since Mrs. Atherton ! anything but
faint-hearted and not at all averse to
meeting any competitor, she may row
against some of Portland's crack men.
Mrs. Atherton's love for the water Is
shown in not only her rowing, but in
swimming as well, being an adept In the
StRS. EDWARD
latter sport. She is easily In the 12:30
class for a mile and a half in rowing and
has made the quarter In 1:35.
Mrs. Atherton was born In Chrlstlanla,
Norway, coming to America with her
father, a fisherman, while a mite of a
girl. She early showed a predilection for
the water and received her first Instruc
tions in pulling an oar in her father's
cumbersome flshlng-boat. Her father
prophesied that by constant work she
would some day be the champion oars
''' jjlll
"jjjl I
X. ATHEKTON', CHAMPIOX WOMAN SINGLE
woman, and this has always been her am
bition. The progrem from the fisherman's mid
get assistant to woman's champion has
been marked by stages represented by so
many different kinds of craft, from the
heavy fishing tub and the llat-bottocicd
skiff to the regulation racing bhell.
In a recent Interview In the East, Mrs.
Atherton said:
"I have been passionately fond of row
ing all my life, and think It far nicer-
WISE"
COMPANY
SCULLER.
than bicycling, horseback riding or even
au'tomobillng. I am always ready for a
race and try to keep In condition through
out the year. The Winter work Is, how
ever, what might be called gymnasium
work, and It Is only during the Summer
that I do hard river work. I first start
my training Un the Spring by taking ex
ercise In a Whitehall boat, and then as
soon as the weather permits I commence
rowing in my paper shell for short, easy
stretches. After two or three weeks of
IS UNNECESSARY
REFERENCES:
this I am ready for work, in the cedar
shelL I take this out in the morning for
a paddle of a mile and return. In the
afternoon I take another row of a mila
and a half and return with spurts at in
tervals. Later I go to the mile and a
half under time, but row only once a day
during this period."
HIT HARDER," SAYS 3IACE
Venerable Pugilist Spars at a Benefit
in London.
During the opening stages of a highly
select, though mixed, variety and boxing
entertainment at the Horns. Kennlngton.
says the London Express, in a recent
issue, there sat in the front row an elder
ly gentleman of such entirely benign and
comfortable and grandfatherly appear
ance that one's gaze was instinctively and
sympathetically turned upon him.
Snow-white curls rippled from beneath
his glossy silk hat, and a diamond pin of
dazzling splendor illuminated even the
brightness of his crimson tie. A long
fawn overcoat covered a pair of massive
shoulders and half-concealed his immacu
late white flannel trousers. The elderly
gentleman seemed to have no object in
life but to smile in a kindly way upon
the world.
Presently he arose and walked with
.somewhat aged footsteps onto the stage
and passed through a little door. Anon
he reappeared, and so changed was he
that one could scarcely recognize him.
Like the old blacksmith in Conan
Doyle's famous pugilistic tale. "Rodney
Stone," the elderly gentleman stood forth,
stripped, with a gnarled neck and long,
strong arms upon which the muscles stood
out like whipcord. But he still smiled in
a most benign and grandfatherly way.
As a matter of fact, the elderly gentle
man was Jem Mace, who, after nearly 50
years of peaceful and secluded life,
stepped again Into the prize ring at the
age of 74- Not that Jem Mace Is 74 years
old In spirit. He Is still a boy at heart,
and his youngest daughter was born only
a few weeks ajo.
Nearly half a century ago the name of,
Jem Mace struck awe into the hearts of
average men. Tom Sayers, perhaps the ,
best-Tcnown prize-fighter In the history of
the ring, gave up his belt to Jem Mace '
sooner than meet him. J
Jem Mace sparred April 4 last at the
benefit organized on his behalf with Wolfe
Bendoff, who some years ago. backed by
Barney Barnato. fought In South Africa
for the biggest stakes on record 4300 a
side.
The smiling and white-haired old gen
tleman led off with a lusty left, and then
skipped nimbly out of punishment upon
a pair of feet that once were the pioneers
of "leg work" in the prize ring. The first
round was brisk and full of hitting. But
It was not brisk enough to suit the sep
tuagenarian, who between his smiling lips
was murmuring: "Hit harder, boy! Hit
harder! I've a hard old nut and a hard
old heart. Hit harder!"
So In the next round big Wolfe Bendoff
hit harder, and the sprightly, slippery
youth of 74 hit harder still. The assem
bled sportsmen of Kennlngton and Cam
berwell cheered loudly.
At the beginning of the third round the
boxing grandfather came up gamely and
smiling more benignly than ever. The
gnarled bid arms flashed and twinkled,
and bit and parried and countered with
the swiftness of a motor car and the
strength of a traction engine. Blows fell
upon the grand old arched chest, but Jem
Mace did not seem to feel them, and at
the end of the final round he shook hands
with his opponent, blew kisses with his
gloved hands, and then skipped off the
stage with the air of a kitten that has
been toying with a mouse
Afterward, amid an admiring circle of
pugilists at least three -generations
younger than himself, he said he did not
want to fight any more, but, by Jingo! If
he did. And he threw out a challenge to
the whole world. He was prepared to
meet any man of any weight 30 years his
junior.
Fortunately for Jem. his exhibition was
given early In the evening, for after his
rounds with Bendoff the police Interfered.
The management had brought down a
real boxing ring, with the orthodox crlm-son-colorea
posts and ropes, but for rea
sons of policy this had to be hidden away
behind the grand piano. A batch of well
known boxing champions had gathered to
demmstrato on sparring. They stripped,
but the police would not allow them to
put up their hands.
Ther-j was George Bowker. who the oth
er day knocked out "Pedlar" Palmer:
Dixon, "the colored wonder," who has
foughr more fights than any man In the
world." and Stanley, the eight-stone two
pound champion.
Shivering in their boxing kit they were
paraded qn ;he stage, when the manager
of the establishment announced that the
police would not allow the sport to pro
ceed. Upon this there were some cries of
"Give us our money back!" from gentle
men in the gallery of the hall, but
the resourceful management immediately
launched upon the stage a young and
beautiful damsel In pink tights, who
danced the objectors into a softer mood.
Thereupon Jem Mace went below to
quaff a humble glass of ale and issue bis
challenge to the 54-year-old manhood of
the globe.
MacLeay Wins Blyth Trophy.
The scratch medal of the Waverly
Golf Club, the Blyth trophy, was won
on the links yesterday "by Roderick L.
MacLeay with a score of 82.
OUT-OF-TOWN
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Mail us your order. Your money back if
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RIVALS !N LAGRflSSE
Local Teams Will Struggle for
Supremacy.
OPENING OF SEASON TODAY
rortlands Will Meet the Shamrocks.
Teams of Northwest Will Later
Compete for- Cham
pionship Honors.
This Is a red-letter jaj- m Oregon la
crossedom. For Portland believes that
she at last has lacrosse boys who have a
fair chance of landing at the Exposition
games the coveted lacrosse championship
of the Pacific Northwest, Hardy, expe
rienced players have flocked under the
Portland banner from the North, and they
are as good at sttckwork as you will find
anywhere in this country. So why should
not Portland have a chance?
This afternoon at 3:15 o'clock, rain or
shine, the first struggle for lacrosse su
premacy begins at the baseball grounds.
Twenty-fourth and Vaughn streets, when
the Portlands will face their bitter rivals,
the Shamrocks, also of this city. Who
ever wins the match will represent this
city In forthcoming tournaments at the
Exposition. Besides, attack men have old
scores to pay, met with during practice,
and the match is certain to be lively. The
Portlands pin their faith to Stacy, Jack
McDonnell. Marshall, C. A. Stewart,
Shaw, Watson. Walls, Horban, Hague.
McNIcholl. McDougall. Tommy Burns and
others. The Shamrocks are just as con
fident with Jackson. Hyatt, Jennings. Por
ter, Hawes, Campbell. Beckwlth. Hamil
ton, Saunderson. Lawrence, A. McDougall.
Wilson and others. It's a toss-up, and
may the best team win. Both have
worked hard.
From personal observation, there is no
doubt that Portland has very mucn
-stronger teams than last year. Strict at
tention has been given to training. This
Is a great contrast to la3t season, when
In the opening game against Seattle the
one Portland team was tired out at the
end of the first 30-mInute3 play.
Portland this year-13 after championship
honors in lacrosse. There are now tw&
teams in the city, and prospects ot an
other one being formed. Appreciating the
fact that the hardest games will be
against British Columbia -teams, the lo
cals are Instituting a special styte of play,
as used by northern players. This con
sists of short, swift passes, as against the.
long runs used by Eastern teams. This
style was first Introduced by the once
famous New Westminsters, who toured
the country from the Pacific to the At
lantic Coast, sweeping everything before
them. The Westminsters are back In the
league this year. They started the season
by defeating Vancouver. B. C, last Sat
urday, and are captained by George Oddy,
last year's captain of the Portlands. Very
few lacrosse players are better than Oddy.
but Portland this year has a number of
men who are at least the equal of this,
player, and Portland may be a'factsr ,fa
the championship that the northern t-e wag
are overlooking. '
Letters have been senfto all the lead
ing teams of this country 'and Canada,
regarding the world's championship
games to be held at the Lewis and Clark
Exposition. A number of the big clubs
will, no doubt, participate. Vancouver, B.
C. will be welcome here, as during their
California tour two years ago they proved,
themselves good sportsmen and gentle
men In every sense of the word.
American Is Disqualified.
LONDON. May 20. In the International
cycling races at the Crystal Palace today.
F. L. Kramer, American, finished first
in the mile (scratch) event. Schilling, of
Holland, Mayer of Germany and Frivol,
of France, followed in the order named.
Later it was announced that Kramer had
been disqualified for boring, and that
Schilling had been awarded the race.
The time was 2 minutes 12 3-5 seconds.
In the quarter-mile race, Mayer was
first; Kramer second, and Schilling third;
time, 36 3-5 seconds. Kramp won the half
mile; Schilling second and Mayer third;
time, 1:02 2-5.
Johnson and Cove Matched.
TACOMA. Wash.. May 20. (Special.)
Bobby Johnson, the Coast featherweight
who has championship aspirations, has
been matched to meet Percy Cove before
the Tacoma Amateur Athletic Club early
In June. Cove has defeated every man
he has met here. In hollow style, and this
match will be a real tryout for Johnson.
Lowers Auto Record.
NEW YORK. May 20. At an automobile
meet at the .Morris Park track today,
Louis Chevrolet lowered the world's rec
ord for a mile, flying start, by covering
the distance in 52 4-5 seconds. The pre
vious record of 53 seconds was held by
Barney Oldneld.
TRADE
A