Two episodes about Battling Nelson as recollected by Jack Dempsey, each taking place just before Dempsey's fight with Jess Willard on July 4, 1919.


»One of the unforgettables was the former lightweight, Oscar Matthew "Battling" Nelson, who had been assigned by the Chicago Daily News to cover the fight. Instead of staying with the other reporters, Battling Nelson set himself up in a pup tent by the arena, which was a fair distance away from the training activities. It was his big assignment and he didn't want to chance missing the fight. Once, at two o'clock in the morning, someone suggested paying Bat a visit. When they got to the tent he was sleeping soundly. Within seconds the pup tent's pegs had been pulled, leaving poor Bat all tangled up in the tent. By the time he emerged, there was no one in sight.«



»Bat Nelson got up early that morning. Because it was a special occasion, and July 4 as well, he decided to take a bath whether he needed or not. One of the more enterprising concessionaires, obviously anticipating a great rush, had moved several barrels of lemonade into the hogshed located near the arena. As luck would have it, Bat came across the hogshed and mistook the tubs of lemonade for water. He jumped in, cake of soap and all, and had his bath. Because no one and nothing went unnoticed in camp, word spread like a brush fire. No one knew exactly which barrel had been contaminated, so the lemonade went completely untouched by those who knew. Tough luck for those who didn't.«



From: Dempsey by J. Dempsey & B. Piatelli Dempsey, 1977


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