The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-24
THE JEFFRIES EXHIBITION
INC Big Fellow Favorably Impressed
a Large Crowd Mt tho Metropolitan,
\ IN his Don't With his Brother-Joe
Hopkins Failed 10 Show up ana
Jimmy Gordon Boxed Oscar

III MS 'ont With his BrOIh Joe
Hopkins Failed 10 Show up and
Jimmy Gordon Boxed Oscar
Gardner. !.
James J. Jeffries, "the California
Hercules.",and champion heavyweight,
Of the world was magnet that drew
about 100 people TO the metropolitan
club last night The champion spared
four short rounds with his brother, Jacl
Jeifries, and the exhibition gave Wheel
ineites q line on his abilities. There
was but one verdict and that was thai
nobody has any license to defeat him
and provided he takes care OF himself
Jeffries will hold the championship FOL
several years. ~
The other feature arranged for, the
Oscar Gardner-Joe Hopkins bout. was
not pulled or. owing to the colored
mans fluke late yesterday afternoon
After telegraph!ns from Youngstown
that he would arrlveain the evening
Hopkins manager followed this W
with n dispatch stating that his mar
was too Ill to go on In lieu Of this
event, Oscar Gardner SPARED 81,
friendly rounds with. Prof. James Cor
don, of Washington, Pa. Previous te
this. Eddie Gardner and Chippy Chap.
line went four lively rounds. The fen.
ture of these bouts was the work OF
Referee. "Siler' Horkheimer, whose In.
reference at frequent Intervals re-
suited In his being a target for many q
snap shot from the boxers. highly
amusing to the crowd.
The Jeffries party consisted OF the
champion and his brother. Billy Della.
ney and Ross O'Neill, trainer and act.
Ing manager, respectively. They ar
rived In the afternoon and were Oscar
GARDENERS guests at supper. to which
function local sporting editors were in.
vited. Jeffries' appearance In the ring
was the signal for an ovation, which
was repeated at the close Of the second
round, when an enthusiastic admirel
called for three cheers for the cham.
pion. which were given until the build.
Ing rang with the applause. The four.
round exhibition was all that could be
expected. 1t was interesting and the
big fellow showed more cleverness OF
action. especially footwork, than was
anticipated. Fitzsimmons admirers
We're prone to claim. however, that JET.
ries victory over their idol was due tc
brute strength.
All were struck with the champions
Immense size Over six feet IN height
and weight last night, 2iO pounds, he
reminded one Of baby elephant His
coal black hair and dark complexion
with features carrying out the idea
suggested the Indian. But his big good
natured face and modest manners In
stantly made him friends. Jeifrles has
q magnificent physique md as he is
only twenty-four years old. he bids fail
to hold his title Il long time. In his
bout with HIS brother he frequently re-
sorted to q crouchinG attitude, giving
him disappearance OF n bear. but the
next instant In breaking away smile
stole over his wide cXpanse OF counte.
nance and he looked rs playful as q
kitten.
The champion uses his left hand nice.
~ and has lots Of science. He couldn't
show his speed with his brother, for II
he let. himself loose Knockout would
have followed Jack Jeffr!cs Is only
twenty-five years old and personally q
fine young fellow. lie weighs 10;
pounds, but was small compared to his
giant brother. Jack said to nm Intelli.
gencer reporter that one fighter In the
family was enough. but had Fltz beat
Jim he would have gone Into the game
as professional. For two years he has
spared with his brother. Jack says
his father is clergyman, and that his
brothers, OF whom there are three
younger ones. beside the champion, one
of whom Is partially paralyzed, were
all born In Carroll county, Ohio, and
not In California The family removed
10 California when the children were
small.
Jim declined at first to make u speech
to the crowd. bu!Ilnnlly announced In q
bashful way that lie was prepared tC
meet all corners, first come first served
ani to defend his title ut any time
Ross O'Nelll. who refereed the bout
said that Jcifrles would not follow ths
example of Corbett and FItzsimmons
but would fight frequently. The cham.
plOn left for Louisville AZ midnight
where he shows tonight. He will
give exhibitions at Chicago and St
Louis and one or more cities en- route
to his home In California, where he in.
tends to rest for the summer. He will
be Wheeling favoritc when he fights
Sharkcy.