Cape Breton's Magazine

that was okay. I'd say. "Hey. I'll look after your back. Don't worry about that." When I said that. I looked after your back. You and him want to go, but there isn't going to be anybody else jump in.... I was in a bar...down the Pier, down the coke ovens, you know. One night there was a fight broke out-- women and men into it and everything, in the joint. This friend, he comes up-- pretty tough guy--he ran the place. "All right," he said, "all you guys want to fight--outside!" Je? sus, they were going out the door fight? ing. I just came off a ship. So I'm sit? ting down, I had a big double of rum. I'm in there all alpne in the bar, eh? They're all fighting --women and guys- - outside the door. So geez, after awhile this (fellow) comes in, you know. I'm the only guy in the joint, you know, sit? ting down! And me, you know, one of the tougher guys around the place. He said, "Jesus, Gordie," he said, "I thought you'd be the first guy out there." I said drink." getting in trouble, that's how I got my mark. (Because you were getting into trou? ble?) Well, I was getting in trouble, and the cops and the Mounties were kind of picking me up and keeping an eye on me. And then the Police Club had a boxing club and Johnny Nemis was there. I was in with Ernie MacKinnon. Of course, the cops told Johnny Nemis about me. He told me, he said, "Look. What I teach you in here, it's in here, and that's as far as it goes." He said, "I don't want to catch you," he said, "or the cops never tell me that you use this stuff on the street. And," he said, "if you do...." And I got to like coming to the gym. You know, this was an outlet, I guess, I don't know. And he said, "If you do." he said, "you're out of this gym." he said, "and don't you come back." Johnny Nemis came from a boxing family. In nearly 300 profession- That guy had an im- al fights, he met and defeated some of the best in the United States pae' on me. That and Canada. He was a famous trainer of such boxers as Richards, -'''' ' good im- MacDougall, MacKinnon, and MacPhail. "Nobody, spilled my But they were part of my experiences, you know.... I loved it. When I was (a kid) pact on me. So then I gave up that kind of life, and then I just strictly stuck to boxing. I was dedi? cated to it. I just gave up that kind of life. All the time I was--for about 8 years, you know, when I was going good, I never bothered anybody. I'd walk away if somebody got smart. Ordinarily. I'd put a Bird Island Tours TOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK June 1-30:10 AM & 1:30 PM • Sept. 1-15:1:30 PM July 1 ?? August 30: 8:30 AM & 10 AM & 1:30 PM A 21/2 hour cruise from MOUNTAIN VIEW BY THE SEA Camping and Cabins 4 miles off Trans-Canada Highway (Route 105) • BIG BRAS D'OR, CAPE BRETON • (902) 674-2384 McCallum's Ceramic Tile & Flooring Ltd. Ceramic Tile • Quarry Tile Carpet & Vinyl Flooring Hardwood Flooring Ceramic Counter Tops Kitchen Cabinets • Vanities VISIT OUR EXPANDED SHOWROOM: K-Mart Plaza, Welton St., Sydney FREE ESTIMATES 562-1291 We Offer Financial & Technical Assistance. For More Information, Please Call Our Office: Oceanside Assistance Group Limited 17 Commercial Street • Glace Bay, NS B1A 389 Tel. 849-0544 91