The Topeka state journal., 1899-06-27
JEFFRIES' FATHER
Meets Tom Sharkey on g Train and
Gives Him Advice

San Francisco, June 27.-PugiIist Tom
Sharkey shook hands the other day
! with the Rev c. Jsnries. the father
Of Champion Jim, and they had an in
teresting chat
The meeting occurred on the train
which left Salinas at noon for the Oak
land mole Sharkey, who had boxed
four rounds in that place the night be
fore with Spider Kelly, was enscOnced
on a seat with that lively lightweight
In another car was Jim Je1rtes' father.
who had taken the train at San Luis
Obispo, bent on an evangelZing tour in
san Francisco
Neither man was aware of the prox-
unity of the other An enterprLS1ug
news agent, Artte Glass, brought than
together
Say. Tom he said, Jim Jenries'
father is in the next coach Wouldn't
you like to meet him2"
SURE" said Sharkey Jumping up
Cert exclaimed the Spider"
Glass headed in the direction OF the
elder Jefries. whom the two found
turning over the leaves Of d New TesrA-
ment he held in his hand
Introduce me first whispered Kelly
TO Glass. and III do the honors for
Sharkey-''
Glass did as he was requested and
side-stepped to allow the meeting Of the
father OF the champion and the sailor.
who expects to make the son has
been.
Mr.. Jeffries,'' said the Spider using
his most persuasive feinr, this is Mr..
Sharkey, who has just been matched to
fight your son Jim for $50 900
Both men tOed the scratch in fine
style extending their rights and fndulg-
ing in a very cordial handshake- Each
said he was glad TO see the other. and
smiled pleasantly as If he meant it,
At the invitation Of the preacher the
pugiIists took seats with him
According TO the chronicIer Of the
meeting, the elder Jeffries took good
look at his sons only rival before open
inc ~ sra1~ ion = .rta N7rn
was looking his preCtieSt and dressed re-
gardless, bore up well under the scru-
tiny
Hes a fine looking fellow" said JEFF
fries ST. half to Spider Kelly and half
70 himself. hut he's not as big as Jim.
They say" he continued, turning TO
Sharkey, that you're q good fighter"
That's what they tell me-" said the
ex-sailor. bIushing fmmOderately.
Well said the other, I don't ap-
prove Of fighting but I guess if it's
n & man it's bound to come out IF my
son is bound 70 fight I suppose he'll
fight till he gets licked, and then he'll
quit I'd just as soon see him thump
4 prize fighter as 10 thump iron"
Here was the opportunity for which
the Spider had been waiting. By this
time he had come 10 the conclusion that
the elder Jeffries was a pretty plain
spoken man. and he concluded to ask
MIN z straight question or two
W nat kind of a man are you. any
way ne asked to say you would like
% see your son whipped It don't
sound natural Ny father came from
ireland. and you can bet your sweet
NE II 1 was a big boy and a chamuion
Ne Wouldn't want to see me licked"
never said" replied Jeffries sr
that 7 would like 10 see Jim whipped
! said thought he would be whipped
N fact, 1 could prOphesy that he will
Snarkey was guipiug in all this with
out saying word. satisfied TO let Kelly
DO the leading The last remark Of the
elder JenrieS seemed TO hit the light
weight in a. sensitive spot
Can you prophesy when he will be
HcksdF'' he asked. excttedIy.
7 think So
Thsn-" said Kelly in q stage whisper
EFl4-yo0 kindly gtTs-Ue aruD when it's