The times., 1899-06-12
A PREACHER PROUD OF
HIS PUGILISRIC SON
The Rev. Mr.. Jeffries Talks of
Prize Fighting.
A Novel View of the New Cham
pion's Recent Victory.
DeviImcnt That Must Lead to n Life
of Grnce-Boyhood of the
Big Fighter.

Los Angeles, Cal, June LIT was the
Lords doing" Such is the simple verdict,
inspired by heartfelt faith, that fell from
the lips of the Rev. Jonathan Jeffries yes
terday morning as he listened TO the tale
of his sons prowess. The champions
father stood beneath a broad date palm
on his ranch, near this city. Jeffries, sr.,
is weird but imposing figure. Clad in
quasi-clerical garb, his long locks, still
raven black, curl over his broad shoulders,
his limbs are closely knit; he is sturdy
and erect although he confesses to three
score years.
For forty years he titled the soil in Ohio,
and then, as he says, he had finished the
life of natural man and turned his stten-
tion to the cultivation of the spirit. 1he
energy of this simple but aggressive soul
has found a vent in an almost fanatical re-
ligion. When he is not hoeing his straw
berry beds or irrigating his orange trees
he is standing at the street corner eXhort-
ing sinners to repentance.
Jim is as yet but natural man. he
said, as he stroked his patriarchal beard.
He may as well be following this devil
ment as any other devilment, but in the
fullness of time''-and he heaved a deep
sigh.
Jonathan Jeffries is convinced that OF all
vanities the prize ring is the worst, and
that Jim's championship would be the key
TO the gates of hell were it not that the
Lord has told him it is but stepping
stone for his predestined career to succeed
his father in preaching the word and by
his pugilistic fame to be a stronger arm
on the Lords side in compelling the wick
ed to the narrow path.
And the Rev. Jonathan is much more
certain of this divine intention than he IS
that Fitzsimmons was whipped last night
by the son of his body He affects an in
difference to the Coney Island affair and
prefers to picture Jim's eventual diadems
within the pearly gates.
Lets see,'' began MIR Jeffries-"the old
lady will tell you If I'm wrong-Jim was
rising seven when we left our old home
at Carroll, Fairfield county, Ohio, over
seventeen years ago, and dapper little
fellow he was, the best of the bunch Well
l don't know, eh, mother? The Lord has
given US ten and has taken two. Seven
of the eight are as hale and hearty as
any eyes could look upon, and the otla'
was born and bred right-aye! he would
have been a finer man than Jim till the
doctors spoiled his life, poor lad"
(Referring to Jim's brother John, who
suffers from partial paralysis due, the
parents believe, to an overdose OF calo-
nell
Yes. he comes of a fighting stock,
though I'm a man of peace. Mother
there is just Pennsylvania Dutch. Her
fathers name was Boyer, and he was a
scrapper.'
Now don't tell him that" interrupted
Mrs. Jeffries
But he was so, mother" resumed Pa
Jeffries. And don't they know it in Fair
field county?"
We'll, I'm a plain American of Scotch
descent. The Jeffries came to old Vir-
ginia in the seventeenth century, and lived
in the Shenandoah Valley until my grand
father migrated to Ohio The Jeffries were
heard of in the Revolutionary War, and
let me tell you, though We are quiet and
peace-loving people, they never allowed
| themselves TO be whipped.
Yes, ! suppose Jim got his fighting
qualities from both sides of the house.
| My father has often told me tales OF
grandfather's mixing up in the musters OF
old Virginia, and for a purse, too; and, it S
no use denying it, his grandfather Boyer
fought pitched battles in SchuylBin county,
Pa. My mothers name was Benadoum
plain Pennsylvania Dutch.
He had always been clean, straight
lad till he took up with this devilment.
| He has always worshipped strength, and
some who think they're his friends have
| egged him on, while the Lord delighteth
not in the strength of any mans legs.
| don't just know how he first took to fight
| ing, but he was always crazy TO own pair
| of boxing gloves. He couldn't have been
more than fourteen years old when we
were walking downtown one day and saw
a couple of boys fighting I was about to
/ improve the occasion when Jim said:
/ Father, | don't care if it's only for
I two hours, but l want to wear the belt
What belt?' l asked.
why. the prize ring championship OF
the world Jim answered.
You young rascal; III spank you il
you talk like that. l threatened.
II don't suppose / could do that now,
and the Rev. Jonathan expanded his broad
chest. half covered by his flowing beard
But, then remembering himself, he added:
But the Lord will do it if Jim gets a
proud stomach. I've never seen him fight
! but hope to live to hear him preach the
word. / told him when he began to talk
! of battles You can't be pugilist as long
as you're under my roof. But when he
| came of age he went his way and | couldn
stop him"
.As a lad" said his mother, II never
remember James getting into fight. lie
was always helping me with the little ones
and even now likes nothing better than tc
get on all-fours and romp with my grand
children He has indeed lamblike TEN
per with a lions heart. His tremendous
| strength-for he has always been stronger
than his fellows-has never been tempta-