The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-24
Jeffries Acts Like a Man Who
Feared to Fight.
He ScOrns the Tempting Offer
From Cincinnati.
CORBETT WAS WILLING
Champion Insists Upon ImpOs-
sibIe Terms.
Nothing But a Finish Fight and
Larger Purse.

New York, Nov 24.-Champion Jim JEFF
fries, 1nightiest fighter of them all, has
some wonderful ideas of his own value
as a drawing card. He showed this when
he declined an offer of purse Of Sl5,0oo
to fight Jim Corbett. ex-champion, twenty
rounds in Cincinnati before the 18th or
next February. Jeffries did not like the
tweuty-round limit to begin with and af-
terward demanded that the purse be not
less than $4,000 and that the fight be TO
a finish. Both stipulations are as lmpos-
sible as they are ridiculous, and for a time
all chances of a fight are at rest
The offer from Cincinnati appears TO De
battle. which. by the way. is about the
only one al the present time In which the
public seems to be interested. The offer
was made to the champion and the ex-
champion The latter accepted it eagerly.
But Jefries remained as cold as ice when
a Cincinnati lawyer. is the man who is
with the big fighters. He has plenty Of
money, Is patient 10 a degree, and last
night, after a most discouraging after
noon, said he still thought there was
chance of his being successful in getting
this light He is simply waiting for JET
fries to come to his senses, he says
ELEPHANT ON THEIR HANDS.
neFs i She nni2gs story b 20 ies eee
building called the Sangerfest hall there
a1d q now Ven mastered vtS debts The
stockholders want to get rid of the incun-
,,,ss-ls - 49,, bs,,es - fis-5t n ne
big structures This the MAYOR consented
10 do when he saw the caliber of the men
who we're making the appeal. So the first
thought of the promoters was to get Cor
bett and Jeffries. since the Chicago offer
for the same fight had created a lot Of
talk and considerable interest was aroused
in the affair.
Cincinnati had given them permission to
have one fight and that TO be decided be-
scented the Business Mems assoeia ton Of
Cincinnati and was prepared TO make an
offer of $4,000 TOR the fight, guaranteed,
or 50 per cent Of the gross receipts It
is hoped by the association that the bal
ing of the debt and allow the holders
TO get out clean when they vacate in Feb
Mr. Witte was introduced to Jefrries
BY the iatter's manager The latter told
write ne could GO the business or the
match direct with Jenries, as 1t appears
Jeffries has not been satisfied lately with
the way his manager Brady, has been
consentlng TO matches and not consulting
with him about them. As soon as Witte
stated his terms Jeffries shifted high IN
the air and said he did not think there
JEFFRIEs BALKs AT OFFER.
chs hs ssked hS any no oTf ong e Eo9nq
Corbett could run like the wind for that
time and might never be able to catch
him in order TO put my right his jaw.
he IS clever as the deuce and I am not
going to take any chances with him in
= short fight. Can't you make it a thirty
I'VE round fight or longer2'
question, as the Cincinnati authorities
would permit but twenty rounds. Jeffries
began to find more fault with the terms.
We are worth purse of at least S25.-
Doo ne said Besides that. if Corbett
wants 70 fight me he VIII have to meet
me TO finish bet me $4,000 on the side
and agree that the winner shall take all
OF the money Those are positively the
only terms on which I will meet him..
Then Mr.. Witte sought the outside air
removed his hat and let the ocean breeze
careSs his locks for a time
After the meeting Jeffries repeated the
terms he had made to Witte and said
that If Corbett wanted TO fight him he
would have to agree to do so inside of
tWenty-four hours or he would forever ie-
more the former pompadOur chap.
CORBETT ACCEPTS PROPOSITION.
Corbett was entirely agreeable to any
thing the Cincinnati promoter wanted to
oner. said he would be delighted to meet
.ieffrles in the Ohio town and further said
he would add 5000 to the purse if JEFF
IEles would agree to sign the articles
Wnen told OF JeffrieS ultimatun Corbett
said 1t was too ridiculous to be discussed
ana then dOnned his heavy OVercoat and
dashed out Into the street for a walk In
the meantime Mr.. White is gsing to STAY
around town for & time and see if he
ran not get the fight.
Two sporting men from Memphis called
on ferries and offered to pull of his fight
with Rubin. but the purse was consfd-
cred BY him too insignificant