Life in Fast Lane

The Death of Stanley Ketchel

by

Harry Shaffer

Preamble

By the winter of 1910, Stanley Ketchel seemed in a free fall, victim of his life of excess. There were press accounts of opium use, drinking bouts, womanizing and always, always the constant presence of Ketchel's "blue gun", a 45 caliber revolver that he carried everywhere, ate with it on his lap and slept with it under his pillow.,the high speed automobile forays, one ending in a spectacular accident, the rumors of syphllis, the dramatic weight loss...

Stanley Ketchel has settled a $10,000 breach of promise suit out of court. Miss Elizabeth Houman, a Grand Rapids, Mich., fairy, sued him for triffling with her affections.

"The girl's charms intoxicated me," explained Ketchel. " I just couldn't withstand those goo-goo eyes, those rosy lips and that dainty willowy figure.

In a careless moment I asked her to marry me, and now that I have come to my senses I have changed my mind."

-Portand Daily Advertiser. June 28, 1909

Ketchel Now on "Water Wagon"

Hot Springs, Ark. March 13-Stanley Ketchel bet a new suit of clothes with Bat Masterson and a wad of money with another admirer today that he would remain on the water wagon for three months from March 13. Stanley has had a continuous reign of joy since he arrived but he has steadied now, he says, and will train diligently to meet Frank Klaus March 23.

-Milwaukee Free Press. March 14, 1910

Stanley Ketchel vigorously denies the tales of his riotous doings in Hot Springs, Ark. Ketchel says he weights 167 pounds and never felt in better shape.

-Milwaukee Free Press. March 19, 1910

Fighters Under Weight

Klaus and Ketchel box Tonight with McGuigan as Referee

Pittsburgh-March 23-Stanley Ketchel...is to be met at Duquesne Gardens here tonight by Frank Klaus...in a six round bout. The fight was twice postponed by Ketchel on excuse of not being in condition.

...Klaus tipping the scale at 1571/2 pounds and Ketchel at 159. The fight does not involve the title...

-Philadelphia Evening Telegraph. March 23, 1910

Ketchel in Bad Way

Makes Poor Showing with Frank Klaus

Champ's Condition Poor

Rioutous Life Led by the Woverine Is Having Its Effect.

by

W.W. Naughton

Local sporting men were not altogether un-prepared for the news that Frank Klaus, the Pittsburgh middleweight, had fought Stanley Ketchel to a draw.

In Ketchel's last two fights in this city those with Billy Papke and Jack Johnson, he showed the effects of late hours and careless living...

-San Francisco Chronicle. March 25, 1910

Ketchel Signs to Box Langford in West

Stanley Will Get $20,000 and Some Picture Money

-Philadelphia Evening Telegraph. March 26, 1910

Ketchel Fails to Appear

Champion Arrives at Johnstown, but Does Not Visit Theatre

Stanley Ketchel, middleweight champion of the world, was billed to appear at a local theatre last night, but although he reached the city from Greensburg, he failed to appear at the playhouse, where a small audience had gathered.

The manager of the theatre had a warrant sworn out for "Red" Mason, the Pittsburg fight promoter, with whom he had made the contract for Ketchel's appearance.

-Philadelphia Evening Telegraph. March 29, 1910

The Ketchel-Kelly fight for April 10 at New Orleans was called off last night when management of the Royal Athletic club received a wire from Ketchel saying his right hand was broke. Ketchel thinks he sustained the injury in the Johnson fight and the battle with Klaus made it worse.

-Evening Wisconsin. March 30, 1910

Ketchel Knocks Out Porky Flynn

-Milwaukee Free Press. May 18, 1910

Ketchel Knocks Out Lewis

-Milwaukee Free Press. May 28, 1910

Ketchel Has Narrow Escape

New York, May 31. Stanley Ketchel, the boxer, narrowly escaped injury today when his big touring car caught fire and was completely destroyed on the road to Ketchel's headquarters at Woodlawn.

-Evening Wisconsin. May 31, 1910

"There was the day at this Woodlawn training camp when Steve (the name by which Ketchel was known to many of his close associates) lay napping in his room and a telegram arrived. His devoted trainer, Pete "the Goat" Stone, rushed to Ketchel's room and banged on the door. Nobody ever walked in on Steve without an invite.

"Steve!... I got a wire of for you!"

The fighter rolled restlessly in his bed "Get away from the door, Goat, " he growled.

"But Steve, maybe it is important," insisted the Goat.

Without warning a bullet tore through the door and dug into the Goat's thigh. He screamed in pain...

The door flew open and the horrified Ketchel..looked down at the grimacing Goat, a guy he loved. He picked Pete up in his arms and carried him to his big red Lozier racing car for the wild dash to a hospital.

They patched up the Goat and Steve remained by his side through every minute of the operation. He brought candy and flowers to his room and one night even sneaked in a show girl..."(1)

Ketchel Knocks Out (Jim ) Smith In the Fifth

-Milwaukee Free Press. June 11, 1910

Ketchel in Chicago A Physcial Wreck

Middleweight Champion is Pale and Drawn and Mostly Bone

Stanley Ketchel, middleweight champion is on the way to Grand Rapids, where he is going to rest.

"I'm in terrible condition now I must rest up. My nerves are all gone, but rest and the simple life will build me up and then I will fight again."

"Just now I could do 154 pounds ringside, and do it easily, but I wouldn't be able to go a round. I have lost much weight and am but a shadow of my former self..."

"Should I find myself unable to make the middleweight limit of 158 pounds I will turn my title over to Hugo Kelly and along fighting near heavyweights..."

That the champion is only a shadow of his former self is true. He is pale and drawn and is mostly bone, the flesh having fallen away from his bones until there is little left.

-Milwaukee Free Press. August 28, 1910

Rollin P. Dickerson was successful Springfield banker, business man, super patriot, and sports buff. He had been a private in the Spanish-American war, but in Springfield was known by the ...title of "Colonel."

In addition to his Springfield businesses, Pete Dickerson...owned an 860 acre ranch in Webster County, 45 miles from Springfield.

In September, 1910, Dickerson went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a short vacation and fishing trip. From Michigan Colonel Dickerson telegraphed home that on September 15 he would be returning to Springfield on the evening train. He would be bringing with him Stanley Ketchel, whose mother was Julia Kaicel, an old friend from Dickerson's boyhood days in Michigan.

...He (Ketchel) was coming back with Dickerson to spend some time at Dickerson's ranch, where he would train and add weight to his 158 pound frame.

But something happened to change those plans. Ketchel fell in love with Ozarks. Dickerson introduced him to Springfield society, and he joined the Elks Club. He became a well-known figure in Springfield, even taking Dickerson's pet lion cub for walks on a leather leash. Less than a month after he arrived in Springfield, Ketchel wrote a friend..." Springfield, Mo,. is my place now. It is the best country in the world and I have tryed them all and know. "

"I have quit the fiting game and I am gowing into the farming bizness. I have bought 32,000 ackers of timber land and 800 ackers of the best farming land in the world...

The letter was written on stationery of the Missouri Land and Lumber Co., Stanley Ketchel, President.

Kechel intended to fight one more time as a middleweight. He was offered $30,000 to fight Sam McVey in Paris. "Get trunks ready for trip and get reservations ready," he wired...Pete "the Goat" Stone in New York.

For now, Ketchel would gain experience managing Dickerson's ranch in Webster County and get into shape for his upcoming fight.

On Wednesday morning, October 12, Walter Dipley a.k.a. Walter Hurtz and Goldie Smith introduced as Mrs. Dipley met Dickerson at the depot. They boarded the train for Conway, the closest railroad town to the ranch. Walter and Goldie sat in the chair car, Dickerson rode in the smoking car. It was not until they got off the train at Conway that Walter and Goldie were introduced to Ketchel, who had been in the smoking car with Dickerson...Dickerson told them that Ketchel would be the manger of the ranch and their immediate boss. Dickerson rented a carriage from the livery stable and the party drove to the ranch, about seven mile from Conway. The arrived in early afternoon.(2)

The clock was now running. Stanley Ketchel had less than 96 hours to live.

(To be continued)

(1)The Killer Who Became a Champion by Stanley Weston. Boxing Illustrated. October, 1960

(2)An Ozarks Melodrama. The Killing of Stanley Ketchel by Robert K. Gilmore. Ozark Watch. Winter, 1993