Dictation

Small boys and girls near White Sulphur Springs on Saratoga Lake, N. Y., stood open-mouthed along the country roads when a hairy giant, scowling thunderously, went rushing by with great strides, followed by three other giants--two of them coal black, shining with perspiration, grinning broadly. It was Luis Angel Firpo, Argentine Bull Man, continuing his training for a fight on Sept. 11 with Harry Wills, black heavyweight, to determine Champion Dempsey's next antagonist.

During the week both Bull Man Firpo and Harry Wills found time to "dictate" statements to New York World reporters. Said Firpo:

"I came to the United States for two reasons. First, to prove to my own people that my defeat at the hands of Jack Dempsey had not made a coward of me. That's what they seemed to think--yes, even said. It broke my heart. I am not a coward. . . . The second reason ... is to take Harry Wills to task--in the ring--for a published statement made by him after seeing me defeat Jess Willard , in which he said . . . that he could have whipped both Willard and myself in the same ring. I resent that now as I resented it when I read it. I am here to prove to Wills that he is slightly mistaken as far as whipping me is concerned. ... I know I will surely whip him. ... It will be a matter of revenge with me. . . .

"I've made a careful study of the colored man's anatomy. I know they can't stand as much body punishment as a white man. I know, too, they can stand more punching about the head than any other race of people. . . .

"In the Brennan fight , I kept looking Brennan over and wondering when he would tire of hitting me. His blows were like big stones raining. I said to myself without feeling any pain: 'When will the big stones raining on me stop?' . . . This time Wills will be the one to feel the big stones raining --lluvia de piedras, I say in my own language--shower of stones."

Said Wills (at Southampton, L. I.) :

"Usually in stories that I have seen written by fighters, they have begun by saying something like this: I'll win sure. I'll knock this fellow out in a round'. . . . This strikes me as the height of folly. I have to laugh every time I read one of those raves. "I NEVER PREDICT."