The Saint Paul globe., 1901-11-07
BET TING IS LIGHT
LOCAL SPORTS TAKE LITTLE IN
TEREsT IN COMING JEFFRIES-
RUHLIN CONTEST
THINK CHAMPION WILL WIN
Hermit Fortune Teller Gives Jeffries
the Dumps by Telling
Him He's Going to
Lose.
THINK CHAMPION WILL WIN

1t is surprising how little interest has
been aroused in the coming fight between
Champion jim Jeffries and Gus Runlin.
No fight of equal prominence has ever
been pulled off where there was so little
excitement among the sporting fraternity
concerning it. This is especially true To-
cally. Sporting men in ST. Paul are do
ing little talking concerning the big fight.
There has been absolutely no betting up
to date among the local sports There Is
q general impression that something may
happen in this fight that is not looked
for. While the sports naturally favor
the champion, there is a feeling that
Rubin may prove a very hard nut for
jeff to crack. Rubin is big and strong
and in the pink of condition, and he Is
better than he ever was in the days when
FitzsimmonS disposed of him so handiIy.
While the odds are all on Jeffries in the
betting. the sympathy of the crowd is
with Rubin, and the men who follow
the fortunes of the ring hope that this
fight will give a new champion to the
fistic world
In the East there is very little betting.
what little there is being in Jeffries' IA
vor, but it is worthy of note that such
experts as Wakely, Pat Sheedy and John
Kelly are going to Frisco to wager their
good coin on the burly Akron boy.
There is no indication that local bet
ting will look up any. The gambling fra
ternity will give odds in Jeffries' favor,
and the sporting men will take the Ruh-
lin end of it, but they are free to express
the opinion that they would like to see
Rubin win.
Jack Murphy, boxing instructor at the
Amateur Athletic club, said to L h e
G o b e last night that in his opinion
Jeffries would win the fight. He said:
'I think the fight will be bitter one,
but 1 do not think there is any question
but Jeff will win it, as he has an unusual
amount of endurance. While / think
jeff will win, 1 would like to see Rubin
win if possible, as we want just such
man for champion"
A hermit fortune teller who lives in the
mountains near Jeffries' training quar-
ters dissents from Mr.. Murphy's opinion.
The champion visited the seer one day
recently and was told that he must pre-
pare for defeat. The aged mountaineer
said the lines of his hands indicated
tnat storm was gathering and would
break about 10 o'clock at night. Jeffries
laughed over the incident, but was quite
depressed for a time.
Jeffries Is in splendid form. Delaney
watched the big fellow in the gymnasium
and was greatly pleased with his condi-
ton. The champion showed wonderful
games and won them ALL Jeff next
donned the gloves with Armstrong and
boxed four hot rounds. They did not do
any Overlapping. Jeffries sailed into the
big colored boxer and had the latter
pinned to the wall in every round. bob"
landed some stiff punches to let Jim know
that he was in the game.
Reports from the Rubin camp are most
hopeful. Billy Madden says that Gus is
IL.
fort of his life. Gradual training for a
period of more than two months, coupled
with good foundation of strength and
agility to start on, has brought Rubin to
stage where he will either win or lose
on his merits as a. boxer. From the tip
of his toes to the top of his head, Rubin
is as fine a physical specimen as he will
ever be.
Rubin Has Confidence.
Gus himself says he is in so much finer
fettle than ever he was before that he can
actually feel the Improvement in the
merest trivialities of his preparatory
work. And Gus honestly believes that he
will come out of the mill with flying col
ors Rubin is devoting his attention to
read work.
The advance sale of tickets to the big
fight will begin tomorrow at Harry Cor
belts saloon. The prices range from 81
for admission to the gallery to $40 for
box seat at the ringside. Good seats near
the ring will range from s. to $40. The
demand is enormous and it is certain that
the pavilion's capacity will be taxed.
Special trains will be run from all over
the state, and reservations are being
made from all points as far north as
Seattle and south to Los Angeles. From
far away Cincinnati came an order today
for twenty seats, showing that the sports
of that city are going to see the contest.
despite a 2,3OO-mile railroad journey.