Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Banks of the Boneyard (Charles Kiler) [PAGE 34]

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On the Banks of the Bonryard

and George Pasfield. Tommy roomed on Fourth Street between University Avenue and Clark Street. There were no pavements in those far-off days, but nevertheless we hired a carriage in which to convey him to the Fairgrounds after the capture; Tommy was a short stocky man, a good orator, and we thought a committee of three Sophomores full of venomous hate should be able to handle him easily. Going up a narrow stairway to Tommy's room we encountered his roommate, John Christie, who was a classmate of ours, and we hurried him downstairs. Stepping into Tommy's room we advised him to put on his coat and hat and come along peacefully. He could see that we meant business and that we outnumbered him three to one. But what did that little tomcat do but pick up a heavy soap dish and fire it at my head; a fortunate duck saved my head and maybe my life, for Tommy had put all of his heart and soul into that heave, and when I ducked it struck Robert Forbes on his manly chest. Being strong and husky all he did was to grunt and to go after Tommy; but Tommy had other ideas— he raised a window and jumped out of the second story of that house. Landing on the frozen earth he ran east toward the East Side schoolhouse very much to the glee of the children; they stopped playing and yelled, "Hey, a scrap; a scrap." Forbes overtook Tommy and brought him down with a flying tackle; he was yelling for help and when Pasfield put his gloved hand over Tommy's mouth, that worthy young orator bit him; I got several kicks on the shins, Forbes had been hit in the chest with a heavy soap dish, and when our carriage came bumping over the unpaved and frozen ruts we found that all the neighbors who had come out to see the fight were on Tommy's side. It was just after the noon meal had been served and one lady, with a desire to help the underdog, threw a dish pan of hot water on us. The crowd increased to alarming proportions, and our committee decided to seize the opportunity to escape—that is, if Tommy would let us go. I still think some good little man like Tommy Haworth will lick Joe Louis and become the champion of the world. He went back to his room, changed his clothes, then went over to his Junior Ex and his oration. John Powell was another star number on that program and a committee called on him, clothed his wrists with a pair of handcuffs, and was taking him to the Fairgrounds when Lieutenant Hoppin,'