THE SUNDAY OREGONTAN, PORTLAND, JULY 21, 1907.
AGED FIGHTER
LURED INTO BIMG
Venerable Fitzsimmons Is Sac
rificed to Greed of Fight
Promoters.
GAME IS IN DISREPUTE
Following the. Barren Victory ol
Johnson, San Francisco Offers
the Next Fiasco in the
Xelson-Britt Match.
Sporting writers in various Eastern
cities, including Philadelphia, have been
telling the public for some little time
past that the sport of prizefighting was
again being recognized in the effete East.
This statement was taken with a grain
of salt at the time the first reports were
published, and since the recent fiasco at
Philadelphia, which occurred no later
than last Wednesday, the Western critics
and the lovers of the game as well are
more than skeptical, and, It may also be
added, disgusted, with the so-called re
juvenation said to be experienced in that
section of the country.
Universal condemnation is meted out
to the promoters of the sport in Quaker
Town who are repporiRible for the bring
ing of Ruby Robert Fitzsimmons from an
honorable retirement and matching him
against that rankest of all rank fighters,
and a black man at that. Jack Johnson,
of unsavory fame not only in Portland,
but along the entire Pacific Coast.
Johnson is known as the premier faker
of the puglistic game today and in this
respect is not excelled even by the record
of Joe Gans. made while that worthy
was under the management of the late,
but notorious, Al. Herford.
Poor old Bob Fitzsimmons! During his
term of fighting, when he made a host
of staAch admirers, who followed him
even after his defeat at the hands of that
unbeatable of gladiators. James J. Jeff
Ties, he was always rated as a square
man in the ring, and principally on that
account the sports of gambling tendencies
were never loath to wager on the chances
of the Australian in any fight he ever
had. Even on the occasion of his second
meeting with Jeffries there were many
who thought enough of the Ruby One to
wager a bet or two on his chances
against the big Los Angeles man. ' After
his second defeat at the hands of the
champion of all champions, it was be
lieved that Fitzsimmons had retired for
good and all, but this surmise proved in
correct In view of the fact that he later
took on Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, and
in this affair the ex-champion came outw
again loser.
Admirers Want Him to Quit.
His admirers, who still clung to him
in adversity, earnestly Implored him to
quit the game and retire to private life.
Fltz had won enough glory in the ring
for one man, and it was believed that
after the bout with O'Brien he would
adhere to the advice of his friends. But
it was not to be. The career of the one
time great fighter and conqueror of the
supposedly invincible and clever Corbett
was not to end his days, with the .glory
acquired in many hard-fought contests,
for a few greedy promoters from Phila
delphia, the city hitherto known In the
sporting world for its fairness, must
needs come to the front and match the
aged fighter against the youth and brawn
of Johnson. This man has not earned
his disrepute on account of his color, for
negroes like Joe Gans, George Dixon and
others have won the applause of the
fight fans to this day, but he has earned
the contrary through his unsportsman
like demeanor and arrogant attempts at
personal superiority.
Jack Johnson, who has figured in a
number of fights, has yet to show up in
a ring contest where his actions and
tactics are commendable in every re
spect. He Is usually open to be fixed
or, in other words, 1b wiling to lie down
If the promoters or heavy bettors will
make It worth his while.
lis victory over Fitzsimmons is noth
ing to boast of. for even though he won
he failed to put the aged Cornlshman out,
t that Fits was saved by his. seconds
! PRINCIPALS IN THE NEXT FIGHT OFFERED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO FANS
throwing up the sponge, but in spite of
this Johnson is not entitled to any credit
for his easily won victory, and in addi
tion those responsible for the match are
deserving of the strongest censure.
Promoters Should Be Condemned.
Fitzsimmons has been in retirement for
a period of some two years, during
which time he built up a lucrative busi
ness by establishing a physical culture
school, which was liberally patronized.
Why was he not left' to this line of
work? The true sportsmen of Philadel
phia should roundly condemn , the men
responsible for his disgrace and should
be driven out of the fighting game In
Pennsylvania and the country as well.
The memory of the fighting days of
John L. Sullivan still lingers In the .minds
of the fight fans, and such fame as still
clings to the Boston champion of the
olden days would still have been shared
by Robert Fitzsimmons had he been left
in peace.
While calling attention to the Fltzslm-mons-Johnson
fiasco of the past week,
it may as well be stated that another
contest of the same character is about
to be foisted upon the sporting public of
San Francisco. This bout is none other
than the coming affray of fisticuffs
scheduled for Colma between Jimmy
Brltt, hero of several fake performances
in the past, and Battling Nelson of un
savory connection with one Billy Nolan,
also a faker pure and simple.
Fake of Rankest Sort.
This gigantic fake about to be per
petrated on the San Francisco sports
Is the yellowest deal they have had
rung in on them formany a day, and is
purely a money-getting proposition
hatched by the principals.
Brltt Is anxious to recoup some of his
losses sustained during the Ean Fran
cisco fire, and Nelson desires to replen
ish his exchequer, which has been sadly
depleted by Investments In little bits
of pasteboards known in turf parlance
as "tear-ups." Both re anxious to
place their hands In the pockets of
the-public and relieve the feeling of
emptiness noticeable in their money
bags.
San Francisco, being hungry for sport
after almost two years of abstinence,
and also by reason of the small sat
isfaction furnished by the puncture
placed In Bill Squires' balloon by
Tommy Burns recently, is willing to
pay for anything In the line of a box
ing exhibition, as the promoters now
bill the game. ,
A few fights of the Squires-Burns and
Brltt-Nelson kind, and the great boxing
center will become infected with "lid
itis" of a more virulent type than the
kind now spreading over Portland by
Dr. Manning.
NEGROES, AND THE COLOR LINE
Degrees and Shades May Appeal to
Colored Pugilists.
A recent news item says that when
John C. Daney, Washington's Recorder
of Deeds, passed slips of paper about in
his office to gather statistics concerning
the force and asked that they ba filled
out, there was a strenuous objection to
the color question by several negro em
ployes. One negro woman absolutely re
fused to write "colored" after her name,
and finally compromised by putting down
"tan."
This opens the way, to the negro pugil
ists that the white fighters are so assid
uously sidestepping. Jack Johnson, whose H
skin is a rich blue-black in color, might
claim to be "violet." Joa Jeannette could
easily get away with the "tan" claim,
while other great negro fighters could
grade themselves off from blue to purple.
If some of the negro fighters would
follow the example of their country
woman and "draw th color line." maybe
the white fighters who refuse to battle
with them now will change their minds
and seek- matches. Suppose Joe Gans
should draw the color line and fight only
blacks! Wouldn't the white lightweights
make an awful howl?
Cricket Matches Next Month.
The Portland Cricket Club will play the
Vancouver, B. C, team on the club's
grounds August 3. It will probably be an
all-day match, beginning at 10:30 in the
morning. Arrangements have been com
pleted for the big cricket tournament,
which will be held in Vancouver, August
19 to 24. Two teams from Vancouver, two
from Victoria, one each from Nelson,
Vernon, New Westminster and the All
Washington and Portland teams have
been entered. This will be a very Impor
tant week for cricket, and after the tour
ney, this season will probably close. Port
land will play against Seattle In Seattle,
August 17.
DAD"TRINEWAS
TRUE SPORTSMAN
Oregon Man Who Won Success
as Sprinter and Trainer
of Athletes.
WIDELY KNOWN ON COAST
Turned Out Winning Track Teams
From University of Oregon and
Agricultural College How He .
Prevented Train Wreck.
William O. ("Dad") Trine, whose death
occurred a few days ago at Corvallis, was
known all over the Pacific Northwest as
a trainer of pronounced ability and as a
clean, upright sportsman. He was a pro-
fesBlonal footracer during his youth, but
afterward he undertook the work of
training college athletes, and met with
unprecedented success.
When Trine was a young man he wore
a luxuriant brown beard and was known
among sporting men as "Whiskers." He
met and defeated some of the fleetest
men in the country before he quit foot
racing, and he also headed a number of
champion hose teams when hose racing
was at Its height In the Pacific North
west. Trine was a native Oregonlan, and
at the time of his death was 43 years of
age. He was reared on a farm near Eu
gene, and during his youth ha took the
measure of many a local celebrity. Later
on . he branched out Into professional
foot-racing and horse training. In both
capacities he was uniformly successful
and was held in high esteem by his fellow-sportsmen.
He was a big, powerful
man, possessed of great strength. He
was notonly a fast man in the sprints,
but he established creditable records in
the middle-distance and in the mile run.
About 12 years ago, when the famous
tratner was living on his farm, near
what Is now Springfield Junction, he
proved himself a real hero by preventing
what might have been ' a terrible wreck.
He was on his way home one night when
he ran across a horse whose legs had
fallen through a cattle guard on the main
line of the Southern Pacific railway. The
animal was helpless and was so situated
that its bulky form would have wrecked
the heaviest train on the road. Trine
began to work with the horse, endeavor
ing to extricate it from its dangerous
position. While doing so he heard the
roar of a passenger train approaching
from the south. The man had neither
lantern nor matches with which to warn
the flying train, and he realized that the
only hope lay in getting the horse out of
the cattle guard. He pulled and tugged
and twisted, but all to no purpose, while
the roar of the approaching train grew
louder and louder.
At last the engine rounded the curve,
not more than a hundred yards away,
and as the rays of the headlight fell
across the cattle guard the engineer saw
the danger and applied the brakes. With
the oncoming train not more than 60
yards away. Trine made an almost su
perhuman effort and rolled the horse out
of the cattle guard and down a steep
embankment, where It landed with only
a few scratches. The train, with Its load
of human freight, dashed by at ft high
rate of speed, but was brought to a
standstill a few hundred yards down the
track.
Trino's heroism undoubtedly pre
vented a terrible wreck, but when
members of the train crew hurried
back and found him lying exhausted
beside the track, he refused to give
his name, but continued his homeward
journey In the darkness. His Identity
was disclosed afterward.
Turned College Trainer In 189 6.
In 1896. Trine was engaged to-train
the track athletes of the University
of Oregon. He turned out a team that
won the state championship, and la
1898 his men won the college champion
ship of Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
He developed winning teams during
the seasons of 1899, 1903 and 1901.
During the two last-named seasons
Oregon won the championship of the
Paclfie Northwest, and individual mem
ber of the team established some
splendid records. Rival colleges be
gan to look upon Trine as an omen of
defeat. It was Impossible to beat him.
Realizing his worth as a trainer of
athletes, the students of the Oregon
Agricultural College secured his serv
ices at the opening of the season of
1903. The Eugene team won from Cor
vallis that year, but Trine was handi
capped by having a lot of unex
perienced men. In 1904 and 1905, how
ever, the "Aggies" showed their heels
to their 'varsity rivals. During the
latter year. Trine developed one of
the bet,t teams in the West and won
the Pacific Northwest championship
without a struggle. In Williams,
Smithson and Greenhow, of O. A. C,
and Payne, Hlggins and Heater, of the
University, Trine developed a bunch
of runners that were good for points
in any meet in the country. He was
a good trainer In all branches of ath
letics, but was especially good In the
runs.
Trine was a modest man. He had lit
tle to say about his own achievements
and those of his men. He went about
his work with a quiet determination
that spoke volumes. When he opened
his mouth his words meant business.
He was not over-severe with his men,
but he insisted upon a rigid observance
of training rules. He made friends
wherever he went and was always
recognized as a "square" sportsman
He was a man of abstenlous habits and
of high ideals. His Influence upon the
athletics of the Pacific Northwest will
live for years to come.
No Team for A. O. XT. Meet.
While no definite announcement has
been made by the board of directors
of the Multnomah Club, there is a tacit
understanding that Multnomah will
not send a team to the A. A. U. games
at Jamestown. There was some talk
about sending a four-man team and it
was also proposed to Bend Dan Kelly
and Trainer Hayward, but both of
these projects have been abandoned.
Relations between Kelly and the club
tire somewhat strained at the present
time, due to the failure of the cham
pion to compete In the Seattle meet.
While it is freely admitted that Kelly
was Injured before the Seattle meet,
the local clubmen do not believe that
the injuries were of such a serious
nature as to keep him on the side lines.
On the other hand, Kelly declares that
the muscles of one of his legs were In
bad condition; and that he was not In
shape to do Justice either to himself
or to the club. The unfortunate con
dition of affairs has caused considerable
Ill-feeling between certain members of
the club and Kelly's more ardent ad
mirers, and it is unlikely that the
champion sprinter will ever again wear
the "winged xM." Word comes from
Eugene that Kelly is in good con
dition and that his admirers In different
parts of the state will raise funds with
which to send him and his trainer to
Jamestown, where Kelly will compete
as a representative of the University
of Oregon.
The Olympic Club will send a team of
12 men to Jamestown and will make a
hard fight for first place. With such
athletes as Plaw, Powell, Clark, Sned
igar, Gllmore, Parsons and Glarner,
the San Francisco clubmen will un
doubtedly make a good showing.
Kerrigan Goes to Berkeley.
Portland is about to lose an athlete
who has made the name of the Rose
City famous In WeBtern athletics. Bert
Kerrigan, the clever little Jumper of
the Multnomah Club, has announced his
Intention of goirg to Berkeley, Cal.,
where he will engage in business. Ker
rigan has long been identified with the
Multnomah Club, and with the athletic
development of the Pacific Northwest.
He has been doing athletic stunts since
1S94, and has made a number of credit
able records. In 1896, when Mulinoniah
and Olympic held their dual meet in
this city, Kerrigan established a Coast
record for the running high jump (8
feet 2V4 Inches). This record has not
yet been brokan. Kerrigan also made
goods records in the pole-vault and
broad Jump. He was the backbone of
the Multnomah track team for years,
and was always a sure point-winner.
In 1905 Kerrigan was appointed direc
tor of athletics of the Lewis and Clark
Exposition, and in 1906 he was a mem
ber of the American team that Jour
neyed to Athens.
The champion Jumper Is also a crack
man in football, basket-ball and hand
ball. He has served as a director of
the Multnomah Club and has -been
chairman of the outdoor athletic -committee
for some time. Kerrigan will
be missed In the athletic circles of
Portland. His many friends here wish
him the best of success In his new loca
tion. Maccabees Will Move.
DETROIT. Mich., July 20. The trustees
of tle Knights of Maccabees have decided
to move the Pacific Coast Medical Depart
ment headquarters from Oakland. Cal.,
to Salt Lake City, Utah.
POSE AS CHAMPIONS
Pretensions of Second-Rate
Yankee Pugilists Abroad.
"UNKNOWNS" ON THIS SIDE
Profess to Hold Titles to Get Privi
leges of English National Ath
letic Club Decline of Manly (
Art In England.
A lot of second-rate American fighters
who have been in England for some
months hunting the coin which, they could
not get over here, have been hailed as
champions and representative American
boxers, says an Eastern exchange.
The business seems to have reached
such a low ebb in London, due to the
monopoly of the National Sporting Club,
that small-bore boxers are received with
admiration. "Gunner" Moir, the cham
plon of Britain, a big heavyweight, who
Is probably as good as several of the
second-rate heavy men in the united
States, is cock of the walk.
Sam Langford, the Boston negro mid
dleweight, who went there some months
ago, has been followed by Sam McVey,
the big colored heavyweight who recently
went to a draw with Joe Jeannette in
this city. Albert Delmont, of Boston.
who was never more than a third-rater In
the United States, has been put In the
class with champions in London,
Lord Lonsdale, the patron of colored
fighters, has taken McVey in hand on
the assurance of many lovers of the sport
that he would make a hard fight against
Jack Johnson. This week there has been
another acquisition to the American list.
Bob Scanlon, of Alabama, a big negro
who says he is 19 year of age, has
stepped forward as a coming champion,
and the Englishmen have "fallen" for
him. Mr. Scanlon may be the champion
of Alabama, but Alabama Isn't on the
pugllistlo map.
But with the close of the season of the
National Sporting Club the pugilistic busi
ness will end until the Fall. The Amer
icans must lie Idle till then or come home.
Langford is already preparing to return.
He is to meet Geoff Thome, once the
sparring partner of Bob Fitzsimmons. But
that is not a match that arouses Interest
in London, for Langford put away "Ti
ger" Smith so easily that the English
men think him a world-beater.
After the contest Langford will sail
for the United States, where he hopes to
get on fights with Joe Thomas, who
has drawn the color line; Jack Sullivan,
Sailor (Burke., and some others, who
avoided him before he went across the
water.
- The lack of fighters in England has. It
Is believed, been caused by the fact that
at the National Sporting Club alone can
championship matches be. fought out. The
club is a close corporation at which only
members and their friends may see
fights, so that the public is shut out. As
a result the average Briton, who can't
afford to associate with sporting lords,
loses interest In the game. Then the
production of fighters ceases. It has come
so near an end over there that such a
man' as "Gunner" Molr can hold the
heavyweight championship.
JACK STTLLIVAN AFTER BURNS
Posts $1000 Forfeit for Match With
Conqueror of Squires.
Tommy Burns need not go seeking
Jim Jeffries, as there is one fighter who
will accommodate htm, and Jack
(Twin) Sullivan Is the man Burns must
meet before going after any other
championships.
Sullivan beat Burns in a 20-round
bout at Los Angeles, a spot where
Burns stood strong enough to get a
decision if he in any way merited it.
' To prove that he means business,
Sullivan has deposited with the sport
ing editor of the Boston American 11000
as a forfeit to meet Burns at catch
weights for any distance and at any
place in the country. This forfeit shall
also go as a side bet In the match If
Burns wants It.
Sullivan asks no favors of Burns, as
he has a 20-round draw with him and a
20-round decision, and that is- suf
ficient in the ethics of the fighting
world to warrant Burns' recognizing
the Boston fighter.
Reo Automobiles
20 H. P. Touring car with detachable tonneau, can
be transferred in five minutes to high power
nobby runabout. Price 1400
io H. P. runabout with folding seat $725
Ford Automobiles
15 H. P. Four-cylinder runabout, shaft drive, all
parts enclosed from dust and mud, high clear
ance. Price , ...700
The Ford six-forty six cylinder, 40 II. P., winner
of Detroit 24-hour race and holder of 24-hours re
cord, 1 133 miles.
If you-buy a six-cylinder Ford you will not have to
buy another new car next year to have a modern
car. Price .. $3000
Prices F. O. B. Portland
Fred A. Bennett
495 Alder Street, Portland
718 Front Street,' Spokane
One of the Most
Attractive Beach
Resorts on the
North Pacific
Coast Just Now Is
BE
Near the month of the Columbia River, on the WanhlngtOB
side, reached from the City of Portland on the
plemdld excuraloir
Steamer T. J. POTTER
II ABOUT 5 HOURS.
It is upward of 20 miles long, very broad and level and almost as
compact as a composition pavement. It is dotted Its entire length with
towns, cottage settlements, tent cities, villas, fine hotels, and all the
amusement accessories of a popular Summer beach resort. IT'S THE
PLACE TO GO for rest, health and a good time. Thousands go there
for their Bummer outing. Try it.
The Potter Sails Every Day
EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND FRIDAYS. ' ' " f
See published schedules. '
Fare from Portland, round trip, $4.00
Saturday to Monday Tickets, $2.50
Purchase tickets and make reservations at City Ticket Office, Third
and Washington streets, Portland; or inquire of any O. R. & N. agent
elsewhere for Information.
VM. McMURRAY, General Passenger Agent, PORTLAND, OR. '
NEWPORT
YAQUINA BAY
Has One of the Finest Beaches
on the Pacific Coast
and is AN
- IDEAL SUMMER RETREAT
It is easily reached, is not an expensive place to visit, has excel
lent hotel accommodations, affords perfectly safe and delightful surf
bathing and all sorts of beach pastimes, such as clam-bakes, oyster
hunts, fishing, pebble and shell gathering, etc., enjoys a mild and in
viting climate, picturesque scenery, and all the other attractions that
can be desired for recreation and pleasure. '
NEWPORT is reached by way of the Southern Pacific to Albany
or Corvallis, thence Corvallis & Eastern R. R. Train service daily and
the trip a pleasure throughout. Leave Portland 8 A. M.
Rate from Portland $6.00 for the round trip. Tickets on sale
daily, and good for return until October 31. There is also a Satur-day-Mondaywrate
from Portland of $3.00, tickets on sale Saturdays,
good for return Mondays. Correspondingly low rates from all other
points. Call at the city ticket office of the Southern Pacific, Third
and .Washington streets, in Portland, or at any S. P. agency else
where, for complete information.
WM. JUcMURRAY,
General Passenger Agent, Southern Pacific Company, Portland, Or.
RAIN OR SHINE
EVERYONE WANTS '
TO GO TO
Cascade Locks
YOU
SUNDAY, JULY 21
ON THE SPEEDY AND
ROOMY REGULATOR LINE
Steamer Telephone
Leaving Alder Street Dock at 9 A. M.
Returning About 5 P.M.
Fare for Round Trip $1.00. Meals 50c.
If You Don't Take This Trip You Will Regret It.
Old Dr. Grey's Sanitarium
The only reliable place for confinements in Portland. Regular licensed
physicians and professional trained nurses, perfect seclusion, honest dealings.
Infants adopted. The finest equipped sanitarium for the cure of chronis
and rebellious diseases ui the Northwest. Diseases of women a specialty.
Graduate lady physicians in attendance. Terms very reasonable. Address,
Dr. J. D. Grey, 251 Alder street, corner Third, Portland Or, Correspondence
solicited. Telethons Main 270fi,
ACZHI
MAY GO