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Show OLD VETERAN IS TO SEE THE FIGHT. One of Uncle Sam's Defenders Will Watch Johnson and Jeff. San Francisco, April 7. When a man Jumps Into the center of the stane of sportdom hla lame becomes widespread and everybody boglns to talk about him. This is the way "Tex" Ulckard looks upon It anyhow, for ho Is coming in contact with more people peo-ple in every walk of life than ho ever dreamed of. The latest to get a lino ou Tex Is an old Civil wur veteran who fought with his father at the battle bat-tle of Bull Ruu. Tho battle scarred warrior thought that the Rlckard family fam-ily was extinct till he heard of Tex and now he's so tickled to death that he will take a brace and come out to see the big fight. Tho vetferau's name Is J. D. English and he lives In Renfrow. Okla. Rlckard Rlck-ard received a long letter from him the other day and as ho perused it the tears came to his eyes, for the old soldier brought back to the promoter the tender memories of his father and mother and the friends of his youth, many of whom have long since departed-English refers to the days when he and lllckard's father were young fellows, fel-lows, working together ou a farm In central Illinois. In stirring words he brings back to memory the battle cry that sounded the death knoll of so many brave wearers of tho blue and the pray. He tells how he and Rlckard. Rlck-ard. Sr., responded to the tall and fought side by side at the battle of Bull Run. English thought that Rlckard Rlck-ard was killed anJ burled on the bloody battleflttld, for he never heard of his comrade again. But he did hear about Tex and bis curiosity was-aroused. He started an Investigation and bo gathered several clews which led him to believe that l thi far-famed flht promoter was the i son of his old-time friend whom he believed be-lieved gave p his life for his country coun-try In one of the first great battles of the war between the North and the South. "I am glad, ray hoy, that you are doing do-ing so well Bnd upholding the name of your brave father." writes tbo old soldier. sol-dier. "From what I can learn you arc a chip of the old block. I know that you will succeed In this great undertaking, under-taking, for you have the fighting blood In your veins and you are not afraid to go ahead and take a chance with any of thsin. "I'm n pretty old man now, but I am going to see that fight If God will spare mo till tho Fourth of July. I want to see Jeffries knock that coon's head off and 1 know that he's going to do it. If JoffrieK Is beaten then I never want to hear of another prlie fight. But he won't bo beaten If he Ik anything any-thing like Ihe man he used to be " Rlckard Is going to put the old soldier sol-dier in u special box seat by tho ringside ring-side and there he may stand up or sit down and cheer for the white man to his heart's content. Tex Intends to pay the old soldier a visit during his trip east and lssuo hlra a special invitation invi-tation to he his guest at tho greatejt of all fights. |