New-York tribune., July 03, 1910, Page 8, Image 8

About New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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8
RENO WAITING FOR GONG
Fighters, in High Spirits. Loll
About Their Camps.
BOTH MEM EXPECT TO WIN
Desert City Full to Overflowing
for the Big Battle
To-morrow.
•OW THE TWO FIGHTERS COM
PARE IN MEASUREMENTS.
Jeffrie* Johnson.
V?e - - 85 32
Vei|ght .. 220 20fl
kifttil 6 ft. m 18. 6 ft. »i in.
Week 18*4 iT'-i
be*? (normal) ... 45 38Vi
!■-•' <eipanded) . . M 42
bleeps 15 16
!"rsr«-arTTi 13 14*4
■MM . * in^i
Xes<h "5 II
•v*i«.« M S5
rhisb KSH 23
EH i" 5 13
lisluf ......... 10 9%
richts 20 71
•joft . . . 0 4
Re~.o. N>v.. July 2. — Reno Is Just -wait
ir.e now for the moment when Billy Jor
dan, the nnnounoer. will climb out of the
ring with all the epeea that hi? fat lejrs
can carry him, crying, "Let 'er go ■•• An
other languid luaet in these brown hil!9
and I^e great Jeffries-Johnson battle wHI
be on.
In the mean time, the desert city is tak
ing: aa the appearance of ■ national con
vention. The delegates from the world's
fportir.g centres are arriving on every tram.
The streets and hotels are filled with a
■hlfting mob of men from all the walks of
life. The hum of conversation on the
ftreet i.« punctuated with the 'click of the
roulette waec-ls and with the cry of sou
venir hawker?. And all are awaiting the
fight that nothing but an earthquake, fire
or death car. now prevent.
The camps of the fighters are quiet, with
the quiet of sn«r!!»e Th* arena fully
completed. $« waiting out in the white duft,
an ugly skeleton that in ■ few hours will
be palpitating- with life and thrills that run
down iron's spines in moments of physical
strife. Pr.-.bai>ly not another stick will
have to be touched.
The parse money is vp — all of — the
rum of $101,000 which the fight lovers will
pay Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson to
measure their sinews, their brains aril
their fighting hearts. The only movement
from the rival camps to-day was in the
way of pleasure and: thought killing. Both
Jeffries and Johnson made automobile trips
into town. Tllllßlallll just for fun and to have
the crowd to «tare at him. and Jeffries be
cause he had to, in order to get 4o the fish
ing grounds that he decided to visit late in
The afternoon.
The critical time of waiting is being
•watched closely by fight experts. Jeffries
has surprised them all by his apparent un
concern on the eve of the greatest battle
of his life. Nothing elac was expected
from the nt-gro, who thinks only of the mo
ment.
To the sporting men who Blade the trip
to ■aana Springs in the early afternoon, a
restful scene was presented. On the lawn
at the side of the white cottage Fat Jef
fries and his cronies around a small table.
The fighter had on a pott shirt, and a eoft
cap rested carelessly on the back of his
head. He was leaning over a hand of card?
ficrurine how to win a few rents from his
opponents. "When be succeeded be was
lv.pry. and hi? laugh rang out bo that the
crowds hanging over * the fence marked
"private" smiled in sympathy.
Over the group a great willow tree spread
in reel i branches. From a branch hung
a cage - :-r. two pigeons. On the grf-en
lawn a tiny white dog played, running oc
casionally to lick the hand of Jeffries.
Around aJ! swung the great bare hills and
the green meadows.
Of the thoughts that passed through
Jfffries's mmd — between hands — he
xrlarred past the group out Into the
l.rilliant sunshine and the blue sky no one
of his Intimate friends pretended to say.
Sometimes his eyes would take on a deep.
fombre look and he would scowl. Again
his c-yes would flash in fun. a dimple
would show and a.l would be as merry as
a wedding- morning.
To those who braved the sunshine and
the <\ .* and the bumps in the road and
made their way to Rick's roadhouse. on
th«» other side of town, another scene of
rest v.-.is shown, but it was rest of a
different kind. The** was much hilarity
r.r.d load merriment, and The sound of
BBBKfns and Instrumental music breaking
out at odd times proved' that th* negro
champion and h!s crew -were amusing
themselves as though th« fight were al
ready over.
On the outside there was absolute cer
tainty of the outcome In eaßikricsmp. Noth
ing has arisen to add or detract from the
arguments pro and con that have been
agitating th* 1 fl^ht 'fan;?" of the country
for a year.
In the Jeffries camp the hangers-on and
trainers are ■wllline to bet their last dollar
that th*» msn whom no man ever hap
brought to his knees by a. blow will make
Johnson look like th*> outside of a storm
cellar after a hurricane. They can ccc
r.othing but the hu^e, flaying arms of
Jeffries mowing down his opponent. They
rr«-dict less than t*»ven rounds after the
■Bat blow Is Rtnick. On the other hand,
there is plain joy : r . the hearts of the
rr.** who follow Johnson. They see the
jiegro astride tha world. They depend on
youth and science— especially that right
BBBOBBBt. The dead level of opinion
among the fic:ht experts is that the fight
•will M a long one and a hard one — in
other words, the greatest ring battle of
the decade.
"We will get our moneys worth," said
an Eastern sporting man. who had looked
the situation over carefully. "This fight
■will re, talked of for twenty ><ars. The
men who stayed at home will be kicking
themselves #1! over when they read the
rounds.*'
From the vantage of the hotel doorway,
however. it looks as thouaji few had stayed
at home. Asnontt the crowds that throng
the barrooms and gambling houses are
the faces of men known around the world.
The state police are doing what they can
to keep the grafters and the thieves away
— everi to the assent of searching; trains at
the border— hut there is many a loophole,
and the light fingered sentry are here In
force.
H:%h noon and four deep around the
roulette and Bare tables— that is the situ
ation in Rtno to-day. it is Impossible for
the visitor from cities where Rambling Is
>;»-r,t under a discreet cover to venture
half a block from his room without stum
hling across a frreen table and a pretty
checkerboard and a man in shirt sleevf«
raking in ail the money in the crowd;
Drifting in and out of the temples of
chance are nail II dressed sporting men.
business men on a vacation, faces from
the under world and the men that belong
to the hills and the desert— quiet and keen,
something of the mystery of the sage
brush distances in their »-yes, skin of
leather and broad hats covered with white
duet. These are the contrasts of the new
metropolis, th« mecca of »-portdom and
th* place of "play Interest" to the aver
age man In every town from coast to
coast to-day.
PRISONERS TO HEAR RETURNS
Chicago, July 2.-Flght news round by
round will be> telegraphed Into the county
Jail here on Monday. A telegraph operator
who is a prisoner will be at the receiving
end of tii* wlra.
JEFFRIES WRESTLJNG WITH 808 ARMSTRONG.
1 JEFFRIES THE FIGHTER
Now Seeking a Title He So Ruth
lessly Gave Away.
HOW HE JUMPED TO FAME
Fitzsimmons and Corbett Among
Those to Go Down Before
the Young- Giant.
James J. Jeffrie?, who will strive at
Reno to-morrow to regain the heavy
weight pugilistic championship, which he
ruthlessly grave away to Marvin Hart
some years ago, is thirty-five years old.
As a boy he was strong and virile, and
he grew up Into a physical giant, being
endowed with everything that goes to
make up a fighter — wonderful strength,
quick perception, tigerish courage and,
better yet, perhaps, remarkable ability to
stand punishment. It is said that for a
time he lacked the ambition to win fame
as a pugilist and learned the trade of
boilermaking. although his father had
hoped that he would study for the minis
try and follow in his footsteps.
When the ambition to be a fighter did
doom it required only two years for him
to vanquish every fighter worthy of con
sideration and to claim the title as his
own. Jeffries was less cunning than Bob
Fiusimmons. less scientific than Jim Cor
bett. less aggressive than John L. Sulli
van, yet he was gifted with these quali
ties to a marked degree. Furthermore, he
was capable of delivering a blow against
which no man as yet has been found to
stand, and, as said before, he can accept
punishment without — punishment
that would mean quick death to a man of
less vitality.
Having found that he was a born fight
er and having earned a fortune and the
right to be called the undefeated cham
pion of the world, Jeffries decided to re
tire, and the only way he could find to rid
himself of the burdens that the title im
posed was to throw them off. He looked
over the field of worthy heavyweights with
a view to adopting one of them as his heir.
Eight years after his first fight he decid
ed that Marvin Hart was the heir appar
ent, and abdicated in Hart's favor.
One of the striking things about Jef
fries is the fact that it took a great deal
of argument to convince him that he. was
a fighting man at all. Despite nature's
generosity to him In the matter of size
and strength, he had ar strong suspicion
all the time that he was intended to be a
farmer. Through his early life he dis
played great fondness for getting close to
nature via a fishing rod or a gun, and
spent (jnite a bit of time among the moun
tains.
He developed a decided fondness for
country life, and when he resigned as
champion, having enough money through
purses, moving pictures and stage appe.ar-
Biir.^s to do what he pleased, he pur
chased a farm in Southern California with
the indention of ending his days as a. sort
of country squire. If John Arthur John
son and the color question had not inter
fered with his plans, he would. In all
probability, have carried out that deter
mination
Jeffries was born In Carroll, Ohio, in
1575, but his parents went to Calfornla bo
soon after his arrival that he is looked
upon almost as a native of that state.
LttUe is recorded of his doings prior to
1597 beyond the fact that he was a mighty
hunter, a good boilermaker and a rough
and tumble fighter with whom few cared
to mix. He never was an amateur fighter
The first time he entered the ring he did
so on the spur of the moment, accepting
the challenge of a negro fighter named
"Hank" Griffin because of the money he
would get by defeating the challenger. The
fight occurred in Los Angeles, in I«S3, and
Jen* accomplish the defeat of the negro
in fourteen rounds, winding up with an
artistic knockout.
"While this victory did not seem to arouse
Jeff to any ambition as a fighter. It at
tracted the attention of fighterß to him
as a valuable training partner. He sec
onded a middleweight named Billy Gal
lag her in San Francisco two years later,
an«l Gallagher got him a match in 1896
with Dan Long, of Denver. There was a
5: MQ purse up, and Long went to sleep in
the second round when Jeff's left en
countered his nose.
It was shortly after this that Jim Corbett
began to prepare for his fight with Bob
FU2slmmonß. which gave the latter the
championship. Harry Corbett. Jim's bro
ther, who was on the lookout for sparring
partners. sent Jeff up to Carson City, New.
to join Jim's training staff. Corbett ham
mered the big fellow unmercifully, but Jeff
was absorbing knowledge of the fighting
game through every pore. These were his
firjst real boxirfg lessons, and he took them
from a master of the craft. Within three
weeks after Corbett's defeat Jeff was in
the ring again on his own hook, doing 1
away with the aspirations of two promising
heavyweights In quick succession In 1897.
So much had Jeff benefited by Corbett's
training that he was marked as a coming
tighter at once, and a match was arranged
for him with Gus Ruhlin, of Akron, Ohio,
which was fought in San Francisco In 18)7.
The fight went twenty rounds to a draw.
In the same year Jeffries fought Joe
Choynski a twenty-round draw. He recalls
this flght particularly, he says, because
Choynskl landed on his Jaw the hardest
NEW-YORK 71ATLY TltmiNF, r Rn>T>AY. .TILY 3. 3»l°-
JEFFRIES AND JOHNSON WINDING UP THEIR DAYS OF TRAINING.
' blow he ever received. It was a right
har.'ior. and had so much good will behind
it that Jeffries never forgot it. That punch
was one of the things that made Jeffries
call Choynski to his aid when he decided to
return to the ring to fight Johnson.
During the next year Jeffries began to
find out how strong- he really was. He
knocked out Joe Goddard. of Australia, a
hardy fighter, with many victories to his
credit; followed that up by knocking out
old Peter Jackson in three rounds, and
making "Mexican Pete" Everett quit in less
than three. A twenty-round draw with Tom
Sharkey came in the same year, and then
.Teffries oame to New- York, where fye was
matched to fight two men in one evening.
The first of these was Bob Armstrong <,a
negro^ and Jeff damaged his hand against
the big black to such an extent that he
could not meet Steve O'Donnell, the other
man, much to" the delight of O'Donnell's
friends.
During this time Bob Fitzsimmons was
retaining the championship against all
comers. A match was made between Jeff
and Bob at Coney Island, in 1889. It was
looked upon as a joke, as the man who
had gathered Jim Corbett's scalp in de
cisive style was thought to be able t<~>
play with the big green hand, Jeffries, it
was anything but play, and while Fitzsim
mons hit his rival aimost at will in me
opening rounds he could not do any great
amount of damage, whereas the crashing
! blows from the boi;e»maker soon began to
j have their effect. In the tenth round Fitz
! elmmons tired and in the eleventh, being
floored twice for the count, he measured
hi? length on the mat and Jim Jeffries was
' champion of the world.
Five months later Jeffries met Tom
Bharkey again in a twenty-five round fight
at Coney Island. Jeff got a decision over
the sailor, but he declares that Bharkey
is the garr.est man who ever entered the
ring.
Corbett. by this time, was eager to get
a match with his former sparring partner.
The fieht was arranged, and for twenty
rounds Jeffries took a terrific amount of
punishment. He utterly failed to reach
Corbett with his gloves, although Corbett
battered him around so freely that the big
fellow looked foolish. Jeffs seconds told
Ota that he was an ex-champion beyond
doubt unless he did something, and Jeff
went out to do it the next round.
He tore after Corbett, minding the storm
or blows that met him no more than he
would mind so many raindrops. His left
reached Corbett's mid-section In tht- twen
ty-third round, and a moment later his
right ended th^ fight with a short-arm Jolt
to the jaw.
Jeff's" next fight of any importance was
with his old opponent. Ruhlin. Alter five
rounds Ruhlln quit. Jeff had learned too
much fcr Ruhlin between their meetings.
Probably the greatest amount of punish
ment Jeff ever took— and he took a lot of
it first and last— waa in hiß second flght
with Fltz6immons. The fight took place
in 1902. and Fitz threw all his cleverness
and strength Into the first three rounds.
Jeff's face was badly cut by his blows, and
while Fitz was fresh, the champion looked
like a novice beside him. But he could not
keep it up. and he could not geem to worry
Jeff to any extent. In tho eighth Jeffs
right caught the old champion in the stom
acn, his left went to the jaw. and Fitzsim
mons was classed among the has-beens for
good.
The second fight with Jim Corbett was
Jeffs last important fight. In that fight
Jeff showed that he had at last learned the
boxing game. He outfought Corbett. the
admitted master of glove work and foot
work, at every point of the game, and in
the eleventh Corbett went down for the
count. This wag Corbett's last appearance
in the ring.
Just prior to his retirement Jeff fought a
four-round draw with Jack Munroa at
Butte. It was a stay-four-rounds offer, and
Munroe stayed by clinging to Jetff all the
time. Munroe. after the fight, claimed he
had knocked Jeff down. As a matter of
fact, the big man slipped and foil; but
Munroe boasted of his alleged triumph
until Jeff's anger was roused, and another
fight arranged. They met In San Fran
cisco, and Munroe went down and out In
the second round
BRITONS VICTORS ON RANGE
"Outlanders Defeated in Chal
lenge Trophy Target Match.
Blsfey. England, July 2.-The challenge
trophy match for teams representing
different parts of the British Empire re
sulted in a victory fnr tho British team to
day. Its aggregate ecor« for six ranges
was 2.177 out of a possible 2,400. Canada
was Beoond with a *■:■ ore of 2,10 ft. Australia
third with 2.045, India fourth with 1,973 and
Singapore fifth with 1.972.
Gate 'Receipts of Big Fights of' Vast.
Winner. Loser. Place. Gat* Receipts. Pate.
Can* . -NrlMin Coldfleld .. . $C 9,715 Sept. 3. 1000
Johiiivnn Burns Sydney, Australia... «7.500 Dec. 26,1908
Jeffries Hharkey yew York. 66,300 Nov. 9, 180*
Jeffries tori. &an FranHtx-o «3,34(> Augr. I*. 1903
Corbett. McCoy . . New York 60,350 Aug. 50. 1900
Xrlson Uritt Colraa, Cal 48,311 Dec. SO. 1004
Corbet* (Sullivan New Orleans 49,000 Sept. 7, 188*
JKitzMniinoiiA Hall ... New Orleans . 40,000 Mar. 8, 1893
Johnson Ken he 1 San 1 rauciwo 32,300 Oct. 16. 190»
Britt Young Corhett Sun Francisco ■ 38.2411 Mar. it, li»04
.unii*— l-itzM!!un<uiN . . Kan rrancl&co 81,800 July 23,11*08
Jeffrie* Uultlin ... .. Wan Francisco 30,800 Nor. 15, lUOI
Nelson llrltt Nan Frtmoiwo 27,770 Sept. «, I" 0
Fitzsinmton* Corbett. » < urs-ou City 22,000 Mar. 17.1897
llritt . Ganß .-Sou Francisco 21,705 Oct. 31, 1004
Jeffries Monroe San Fruneluco 21.761 Aug. 20. 1004
Sliarkey FltzMmznons Sail Franc lko 21,000 Dec. 0, 181»0
Young Corbett MtGovern . baji Francliioa . 20,880 Mar. 31,1003
Estimated !•<•< <-iits for Jeffrie*- Johnson fight on basis of full '< ■<>■'• ■'•>• •- at quoted
prices for seat*. $3G0,000.
T; ~~ '
CHARLEY WHITE. THE ASSOCIATE RBFEREF.
('Copyright by Paul Thompson.)
Some Figures of the Big Fight at Reno
Estimated gross receipts on a basis of 16.000 seats, ranging in price
from $10 to $50 ' $360,000
Estimated profits of "Tex" Ricknrd and Jack Gleason, the promot
ers, including a "share of moving picture privileges 200.0C0
Estimated profit of winner, including lion's share of purse, $75,750,
moving picture privilege, $50,000, and music hall contracts 175,000
Estimated profit of loser, including small end of purse, $25,250,
moving picture privilege. $50,000, and music hall contracts 90,000
Estimated cost of putting fight on and training expenses of the
two men 100.000
Estimated cost to each person who sees battle, including average
price of seat ($22 50) 50 to 300
Guaranteed purse, of which 75 per cent to the winner 101,000
Limit number of rounds 45
Time of figh+. 1:30 o'clock, Pacific time; 4:30 o'clock. New York time.
Officials — Referee, "Tex" Rickard, of Nevada; alternate referee, Charles
White, of New York; timekeeper, George F. Harting. of San Francisco: an
nouncer, Billy Jordan, cf San Francisco; stakeholder, "Big Tim" Sullivan,
of New York; betting commissioner, Tom Corbett, of San Francisco.
JEFFRIES IN HAPpy VEIN
Indulges in Frenzied Finance and
Catches Some Trout.
Moana Springs, Nev , July 2.— Fishing
and card playing occupied' Jim Jeffriea to
day. From early in the morning until mid
aftemoon he sat under the trees beside
his cottage playing hearts and rejoicing
in the rnisiortunes of his opponents.
Jeffriea was In high good humor. Frank
Gotch. his former theatrical associate and
firm friend, spent the entire day with him.
The pair, after several hours playing
hearts, were ahead about $2 each. They
pooled their interests and Invested the s%im
at the roulette wheel across the road. As
a result they went back to the heart game
with $14. and Jeffries was highly delighted
with the outcome of their frenzied finance.
Many visitors of Importance came out to
camp during the day and the challenger
greeted them all pleasantly. He waa more
Interested In the card game than In any
thing else, however, and turned back to
It after a few words with each caller.
Ootch. Phil Campbell, the Renu trout
fisherman, and Jack Wooley accompanied
Jeffries nn the fishing trip. The party
went to Calavada, on the state lino about
twenty miles up In the hills. When they
returned thirty trout were stowed In the
bottom of the cur. Jeffries proudly ex
hibited the»m to everybody who stepp-'d up
to the machine.
The- stfaln of the training days has told
to tome extent on little Mrs. Jeffries. She
■panda her time hovering about her hus
band, watching him and thinking of him
all the time, whether ho Is at work or at
play.
A FLURRY OF WAGEMNG
Local Bets on Fight Beginning
to Heap Up.
With the Jeffries-Johnson fight only hours
off, bettors yesterday were active In plac
ing wagers on the outcome. Heretofore
there has been little speculation In this
city on the championship right, backers of
both men preferring to wait until the last
moment and thoroughly sift the news ema
nating from the two camps before putting
up their money.
A broker yesterday estimated that ap
proximately $110,000 had been placed on the
fight here. But this estimate is probably
less than a quarter of the amount actually
wagered, for there Is no means of arriving
at the amount put up In friendly bets of,
say, from $25 down, and there have been
hundreds of these. In fact, every one In
terested In the fight at all seems to think
that he cannot let the occasion pass with
out putting up some sort of stake Just to
add Interest and show his conviction.
Wall Street has made few bets of size on
the fight. A member of the Stock Exchange
placed $2,500 to $1,400 on Jeffries for a client,
and bo far as known this was the largest
wager made. Another bet of $LOOO to $700
was recorded, and nine* more, of $500 to $400.
There have also been numerous bets of
$100 to $70
One f-nthuslastlo Johnson advocate put
up J50») cash against a like amount that
Johnson would knock the white man out
within ten rounds, and spent all day yes
terday explaining to his friends that he
was not the original "easy mark." It wa»
rumored on the Curb yesterday that a syn
dicate of flght "fans" had placed $10,000
with a broker to bet against $MO,OCO that
Jeffries would knock his man out Inside of
seven rounds. The bet has not been taken.
At a Broadway hotel $10,000 was left yes
terday to bet In $500 amounts at 10 to 8 on
Jeffries. At the. Hotel Albany It is said
that $10,000 has been placed on Jeffries at
odds of 10 to 4.
Practically little or no betting has been
done In Sharkey's cafe. At other well
known Tenderloin cafss considerable bet
ting In comparatively Hmnll sums has been
done.
From Plttaburg last night came the news
of a bet of $10,000 to $3.<VK). This was the
largest bet recorded, but there were many
made of «mall«?r amounts. The odds ruled
around 10 to S and 10 to 7.
JOHNSON BOXING WITH HIS
SHADOW.
n SURMOUNTS ALL
Opposition of Every Kind Over
come by Promoter.
DIFFICULTIES AT THE START
Big- Fight To-morrow the Result
of His Determination
and Persistency.
The wonderful persistency and tenacity
of Jack Gleason, and more particularly
"Tex" Rickard. the promoters of the Jef
fries-Johnson figrht, will be rewarded with
a fortune as a result of the big battle
which will be fought to-morrow. Over
coming tremendous opposition and almost
insurmountable difficulties, Gleason and
Rickard have never wavered from their
determination to hold the fight on July 4.
as stated In the articles signed last De
cember, although they were forced to movo
almost everything short of heaven and earth
to do it. State officials and public opinion
did their utmost to stop the fight, but the
opposition was without permanent effect.
More than a year ago Jack Johnson, al
though he held the heavyweight title which
had been surrendered by Jeffries when he
retired from the ring, challenged the latter
to meet him in a fight for the champion-*
ship. Neither of the two pugilists had
ever found his master, and the challenge
immediately aroused the keenest interest
among the followers of the boxing game.
The big boilermaker was in a quandary
about his ability to get In condition, and
the situation hung fire for many months.
Johnson questioned Jeffnes's courage, and
the latter made forcible replies until the
sporting- world was thrown into a turmoiL
Just when it looked as though the two
men "^ere going to get together and sign
the articles for the fight difficulties would
arise and the matter would be postponed.
During the litter part of last summer,
however, Jeffries finally made up his mind
to enter the ring, provided he could satisfy
himself that he would be able to get into
condition. Ke took a trip abroad and vis
ited the various watering places in Europe
as a preliminary training period, and when
he was confident that he could take oft
enough weight to enter the ring: he defi
nitely announced that he would meet
Johnson. Jeffries made an authoritative
statement when he was in London on his
way back to the United States.
Bid? for the fight were submitted at a
meeting held in Hoboken, N. J.. on De
cember 1, 1909. The amount of the bids
attracted wide attention at the time The
purses offered the largest In the his
tory of the ring. Jack Gleason and Jimmy
Coffrcth offered a purse of $125.'X»\ with
the bidders to retain all rights to the mov
ing pictures, or a purse of $75,000. with the
fighters to receive 2-3 per cent of the
moving picture receipts. "Tex" Rickard of
fered a purse of $101.CO>. the fighters to
receive 66 2-3 per cent of the moving pict
ure receipts. Many other large bids were
offered.
At a secret meeting held at the hotel on
December 2 a combination was formed and
Jeffries^ and Johnson signed article agree
ing to box fort}"-iivt» rounds or mere on
July 4, 1910, before a club promoted by i
G. L. Rickard and Jack Gleason in either
Nevada, Utah or California. The agree
ment called for the awarding of a purse of
$101,000 and two-thirds of the moving pict
ure receipts to the pugilists. It was decided
to divide the purse en a basis of 75 and 25
per cent. Just what part Coffroth played i
in the proceedings has never been divulged,
but It is supposed that a tacit understand
ing was reached with him M that his part
ner, Gleason, pooled Interests with Rickard.
The first problem encountered by the pro
moters after the men had signed the ar
ticles was that of selecting a site for the
fight. Rickard declared himself in favor of
Salt Lake City, and It looked for a time
as though the match would be st3ged there.
Jack Gleason, however, was determined
that the fight should be h#ld In San Fran
cleco. The differences between Rickard and i
Gleason continued until the Governor of
Utah plainly Intimated that his stand «vould
be against the fight, and Rickard yielded
the point.
"When the promoters decided to take the
fight to the Coast the question of IM ex
act place was still In doubt. It was learned
that the new administration which was
going Into office In San Francisco was will
ing to grant a forty-five round permit,
breaking the twenty-five round limit, but
there was still some friction, and it was
decided to ho.d tho fight in Emeryville,
across the bay Here a strong opposition
developed among the church members and
influential persons of the town, so that the
District Attorney was forced to bow to
publio opinion and tell the promoters that
they would have to go elsewhere to hold
th* fight. The- promoters then began to
gather their forces in San Francisco.
But th» last straw of the opposition was
laid on when Representative Bennet, of New
York. In Washington informed th« Cham
ber of Commerce of San Francisco that
the Congressional committee which was In
charge of arranging for the exposition In
celebration of the opening: of the Panama
Canal would probably aelect New Orleans
Instead of San Francisco for the Bite If
the fight was held In the latter city im
mediate steps were thereupon taken to pre
vent the contest, and the promoters Were
compelled to leave California.
But Rickard and Gleason, although dis
couraged at first, were undaunted and cast
about for another place. Nevada waa tha
UOHNSON REACHES SOI
i^as Been Working iv Years to
Face Jeffries,
FOUGHT HIS WAY TO PROMT
Remarkable Record In Ove*
■ Sixty-Battles Stamps Hi f
a Fighter.
t Tor mix year* or niOT© John ArtJjnr Jala*
eon has been worktaff with one end h|
j view, and that end will be reached who:*
he «tcp» In the- ring with Jim Jeffrtea
Reno to-morrow.
Johnson began to loom up on the po«U,
lstle horizon In 1301- "Jeffries can't toocs)
toe," was his boast even la those days,;
and h*> fretted continually over the «as»
that until he acquired a reputation v-,
prospects for a championship battle wer»
but as gauzy a« th* tail of Haley's coiaev
He cays ho relieved then as confidently is.
his ability to achieve the title as c* 114
clx years later, when at last his oppor
tunity to battle with Tommy Burns ta*
the supreme prize was realized.
"It was not my fights themselves, boa. -
my fight to get those flffhis that prove*
the hardest part of the stru^lc." JohcsjaJ
has said In talking of Mi uphill struggl*.;
"It was ray color. They told me to «4
a *rep.'. but how was I to get a "re;,/ with.'
out meeting fighter* of class? But I mad»
t-^n fight me. I Just kept plugging along;
snapping up what chances to flght I cottid.
grab, until by and by the topnotchere «r.
that sooner or later they'd have to 'alia.
me on. As soon a. I had shown what I
could do the fight public-most of tUo.
•fans.' anyway-took sides with roe. *■■
that helped a -whole lot.-
Johnson asserts that he has never b««o
apprehensive of possible defeat In any cos
test he has engaged In. None of them, hoi
declares, had any terrors for him.
His most Important four battles havoi
been fought within the last year and •
half, dating from his defeat of Tommy.
ißaraa in Australia on December 35, '-*1&
Having wrested the championship iron
Bums, he determined to meet and defend
his title against all comers. His -.^hta
with "Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien. A3
Kaufman and Stanley Ketchel followed is
rapid succession.
On his fights two or three years befor*
that had brought him prominence aa<f
helped him along greatly In his career .v.l*. v .l*
contests with Sam Langford. the Boston*
negro; Joe Jeanette, Sam McVey. "Denver
Ed" Martin. Jim Flynn and others John
son lays no particular stress except to re
gard them as co many rungs of his ladder
of success.
-I'm looking for a fight." Johnson one-*
said, "in which I really can let myself out
and show the public jus: what I can oa
That's one reason why I'm so anxious to*
go up against Jeffries."
Johnson's declaration sustains the Judg
ment of numerous sporting writers who;
have maintained for years that tha b:?;
negro seldom. If ever, extended himself
and was capable- of striking harder biow-3:
! than he has ever delivered in --:.- ring. It.
appears to have been a general belief ttatt
Johnson was "holding back." This wa^
particularly noticeable in his recent f.?ht»
with Stanley KetcheL In that bout John-;
son toyed with his man all the way Ha!
seemed to think the tight a joke until i
slip and a timely punch brought him to h:*j
knees and aroused his anger. Just what,
happened next has never been clearljj
known. It was too fast to watch, and la).
an instant's time- Ketche! was on his tack,
and being counted out. He did not seeai
to realize what had struck him, and John-<
son himself seemed astonished at the rej
suit of his sudden exhibition of strength
and speed.
Johnson was bom in Galveston In l?T?.j
his birthday being March 31. and If rtagj
experience counts for anything he has it.,
| In 1901 he fought sis fights, winning all!
except one. which was a draw. The r.exa)
year he went into the ring sixteen times
and from then was almost constar.tlr.
engaged, until at date he has to his credit
more than sixty battles.
While many of his opponents have r.oa
been of the style to test his mettle, hi? frej
quent bouts have served a: lease to kee?j
him always In training, and this is one off
I the strong arguments of his partisans. i
Temperamentally Johnson is an Interest
ing study. His chief characteristic is W
unfailing good nature, a curiously constant;
sort of even temper that nothing seems to
ruffle. His "golden smile" is soldora out ot.
evidence, and not even the coarse and in
sulting jibes that frequently greet hint
from fight spectators seem to have *
power to disturb him. Even when due*
a storm of blows and showing wonderfSlj
skill in evading the onslaughts of his 9m9 m
ponent Johnson never loses his poise n< *
his power of observation.
His eye* tako in and appraise every-
thing that transpires at the rir.gside. H>, "
seems to hear every comment mado br tie
onlookers, and even 1: the midst of a
clinch, when every muscle is tense. "*'&
recognize a witty sally from the audie^c*
: with a flash of his r^-ady smile, ar.d. i:ka
| as not. with an equally witty rejoinder
thrown at the audience over tha " - < - 3 *
shoulder against ■which he> is pressing.
'Why don't you ftsnt. you black rr-isT*
yelled an enthusiast a: the Johnscn-Kauf
rran fight. The men were In a clinch **
the time, but without an Instant's hesita
tion Johnson shouted tack: "Why ?houtf
I fight? I've got your $10 already."
And this cool-headedncss under fire »
another of- the negro's qualities «J« 3
which his backers count, bellevir.g !r s^
possibls to rattle him by •.'■■ knewr. Tins
tactics. That h!s good nature does not *" ,
dicate a low order of Intelligence. fca^
*ver. has been clearly shown by his cle«r
business methods and his rather wei;-do=»
ringside speeches. Men who have watefcea
him say hr» simply has no nerves, •■■*%'&
th* word In the accepted sense.
JOHNSON AGREES TO SETTLE
'
Little to Get Thirty Thousand
, Dollars from Pugilist.
Reno. We* . July 2.— According to *
etatemer.t made to-day by Frank A. * *
Evoy. of Chicago, representing OedS 9
Little, former manager of Jack Johns**
Little will receive iMliil an a!! from t£»
heavyweight champion in sett.Vr.^n: of t2*
financial differences existin? between t! ***
I' had been announced that Little ****
agreed to tako BbUM in liquidation of ■■
his claims against Johnson-
Little stated to-day that he would ** ' : ■
the- ringside re«a3y to ofTer v. Ml a3 ■ 3 '"*
bet In the Interests of Sam Lur.sfori **
a flght with Little's former chars*
whether Johnson yins. loses or it* 1 * •
draw with Jeffries. s»
DELANBY TO BE ON HAND-
Oakland. Cal.. July 2— Billy r>!:in<>v «•
Be In Johnson's corner on the FouitS «•
; July if his physicians win permit Q»> ** I
, act as the champion's second. Tt>!» ***
the substance of a statement aaada *"_B?
night by Delaney. The trainer w"f!l I 9** I
for Renrtvto-night.
last stronghold, and It was only a q ue3tJ^
aa to which city would be chosen. Goli^
at first made a strong bid for th«» mate*
bur accessibility was a point to •■ -"*j
•lojored. and Rickard and his assocU^.
finally came to believe that Reno '' ra **~}.
most suitable place. So Reno it was, **r.
everything was- switched to that *J"_fe
and the hurrled^construction of &° ** g
, begua v