Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1915 — CHAMPION IN DEMAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHAMPION IN DEMAND

Three Years Ago Jess Willard Was Almost Down and Out But Now Things Are Considerably Different —Fighter Faces Possibility of Becoming Immensely Wealthy in Short Time. Fate plays peculiar pranks with, some individuals. Take the case of Jess Willard, that mammoth cluster of bone and muscle, who now has the attention of a great portion of the world centered upon him. Three years ago Willard was a rudderless bark on the pugilistic sea. Even then he was a fighter, but oddly he was the only one who acknowledged the fact He had no manager. Promoters frequently like to deal with huge bulks of humanity, but in their dealings they adopt the Missouri attitude and insist that the hulk must show something more than a gigantic frame. Willard had nothing more than the frame to recommend him and promoters steered clear of him. He drifted into Buffalo, virtually broke. A few simoleons separated him from the necessity of making an attack on free-lunch counters to keep his huge body filled out. Attempts to get bouts merely drew a shake of the head. Willard’s size rendered him immune from receiving the merry “ha ha.” Danny Dunn, who was in Buffalo at the time, took Jess in tow and led him to the house where Dan was boarding.

Dan with his 5 feet 4 inches and Jesd with his 6 feet 6 inches made a novel combination. Jess and Dan chummed around the Bison city until Jess finally decided that the field for his activities was bare there. Dan doesn’f remember how Jess got out of Buffalo—whether by freight or Pullman—but he does remember that Jess was on the verge of bankruptcy. Mind you that was only three years ago. Today Willard faces the possibility of becoming immensely wealthy. His earning power surpasses that of the president of the United States.

Jess Willard.