I was glad to go, but when I got into the ring,
scarcely trained and absolutely unfitted for anything
approaching strenuous fighting, and saw that the
soldier I was to spar .with was a second edition of
Jess WiUard, I begui to quake, and more so when
the big fellow plainly showed that be was all out
to knock me through the ropes. How his fellows
enjoyed the prospect of his doing so ! At once be
rushed at me, but I side-stepped, and he missed
badly and sadly, and before he knew where he was
I chipped him on the jaw, and he lay sprawling on
the floor of the ring, much to my relief, for had
this American giant got close he would have made
me very sorry.
One of the most enjoyable boxing exhibitions I

had while I was still in the Army was at the Palais

d'Etat, Brussels. General Sir David Watson,

through the Hon. Francis Grosvenor, secured for

me leave from my military school so that I might

appear at a tournament arranged for the amusement

of the officers and men of the 4th Canadian Division,

then stationed in Belgium. The war was then over,

and I was awidting demobilization. Some little time

previously I had signed a contract to fight Dick

Smith at Strasbourg, and also to fight the best-

136



Military Boxing

proved English heavy-weight in Great Britain —
either Bombardier Wells, Frank Goddard, or Joe
Beckett — ^my fee to be £5,000.
