Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-28
jim JEFFRIEs HERE.
Lack of Time to Train and En-
gagements Prevent Early Fight.
Ho Had $4,000 Posted for Fitzsi,nmons OF
slarkey Ten Days Ago-He Treats FItz-
simmons Proposed Retirement with
Contempt Trainer Cook Says There is
$4,000 Posted for Fight Later.

a reporter for the Virginian- Pilot
called on Mr. Jeffries and showed the
bulletin just received from New York
as follows:
"Fitzsmmons and William A. Brady
manager for Jeffries, met this after.
noon to try and arrange a match be-
tween tne TWO men. Fitzsimmons said
he was in good condition and wished
TO light next Friday night, and Brady
replied that Jeffries was not in trim
Tor light and could not prepare him
SELF IN the few days Intervening. The
men separated without coming to any
agreement except that there would be
no contest on August 81"
Jeffries said in answer that he &c
ready to fight Fitzsimmons. or anv
other man. who will put up the forfeit
money and agree to- the terms. He
looked the part. He says he weighs
ABOUT a, ~ pounds and. although perfect
! ~ strong and healthy, he is NOT In
lighting trim. He said, too. that he
couldn't get ready in SO short a time
as renamed now before the expiration
Oh ,, the Horton law in New York.
ihen speaking emphatically, he ask
eu why did not Fitzsimmons accent
my offer to fight ten DAYS ago FitZ-
simmons and Sharkey both refused IA
put up forfeit of $4,000. He said he
was ready TO fight them, but that since
| then other arrangements had been
niaue, mat ne had engaged n travelling
coiipahy ana employed men whom he
could not discharge now and could NOT
leave TO go into training
men the reporter read the nm
nouncement that Fitzsimmons intended
70 10 ieave the prize-ring Jeffriesr treated
II contemptuously. He asked WIN
titzsimmons had not accepted tbs
chance ten days ago? s
oPeaklns Tor Jeffries, Mr. Cook said
AL. Smith, in New York, has n forfoi,
OIL So.oOO. deposited as an invitation r.
some disputant that Jeffries will fight
All the disputant needs to do Is 10
J Iosfri she amount and he'll get fight
Jeiiries, he continued, will not fight tiI
Fepruary or March. He has contracts
TO fulfill and men engaged on salary
Hence he cannot prepare to fight now
ne is willing to fight at Carson CITY
NeV., provided the Horton law is re-
peaied In New York. FitZsimmons
] might haze had Il fight aff,.-tt11,r,- si,r1
the nth of May. the time of the Jaf.
fries-Corbett fight il he had wanted
one.
Jcffries and party will go from here
TO New York tonight in order to par.
tlcinate in the j. L. Sullivan benefit
at Madison Square Garden. He said
|
II In order that Sullivan might have
the income of it the balance of his
| life. '
Asked about the Corbett- Mccoy
hight Jeffries was candid in expressing
his preference for Mccoy. He said
that he hoped Mccoy would win. hui
that he believes he will be beaten.
Referring to Corbett Mr.. Cook said
he was fancy fighter. He has moi
the strength or the courage of n heavy.
weight. On the contrary, Mccoy. If he
had about 20 pounds more would Inc
a match for the best OF them. He has
Wonderful quickness and can deliver
a short arm blow with tremendous
force. He goes right in and is per-
fcctly fearless.
corhett., on the contrary. dances
| about and keeps out of the way. He
doesn't get in hard blows.
That is the reason, said Jeffries. tho,
Corbett stood so long before me- lie
was afraid
Jeffries doesn't hesitate to speak dis.
paragingly of Corbett. On the con.
trary he has n high opinion OF Inc
fighting qualities of Fitzsimmons. II,
! admits that he Is the hardest flchte,
he ever encountered. Despite all that
he is ready to meet F'itzsimmons
l'aGain. but not on the terms asked
namely an equal division of the re.
ceipts.
Jcffries and Mccormick expressed
surprise at the size and Importance
of Norfolk. and sitting In the delight.
full breezes that blew into the large
dining-room on the fifth floor of the
Monticello, declared. ut is elegant
we shall come back here"