Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-07
FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS.
The Story of How Jeffries Be-
 came a Fighter

bllly Delaney | lrSC DlSCOVereQ dlu
 Whipping a Bully of Ills Town-
 CorueIt ,oulu Not i,uIt linn W me
 Framing tor lis Blg r1 r1sut-sAarkey
 and McCoNs Matcueu to t1gnt-Gus
 RunIin Long Reach.
 The re-engagem of William De fancy to LI;i,n LnaInpion JaMes J. Jenrles pr4nSs to Asuu d story that IS new to the puSlilsuc world. Delan- ey, it will be remembered, discovered JenrieS. The blg fellow was pIaln, every day boilernaker of gigantic build and maryeious physique, but ef no ring experience. The champion whipped Q bully one day in a street row in Los Angeles, and Delaney hap pened to see how well Jim did the job. The veteran trainer. who brought Cor Dett to the front, was confident that in Jeffries he had discovered world Geater. so he had a confab with the muscular Californian, with the result that Jetfries decided to go with Delan- ey on 9 boxing tour. JeffrieS knew nothing about the art of fSticuffs, but he was an adept pupil and soon had picked up enough pointers to enable him to beat several lesser lights !n oD- scurc California towns. When Delan- cy began to boom the boilermaker as q coming man he was laughed at, but that did not weaken the confidence the veteran trainer felt ill the young slug ger. It was when Corhett had asked Delaney to prepare him for his mill with Fitzsimmons at Carson City that Delaney saw d chance to bring lief frin nfn I i1ntipp CnrEptt wanted hard course of training, and .Jeffries was promptly engaged to come to Carson City. where he was to box and rough it daily with "Gentlem2n Jim'' Jeffries was good naturcd and such an easy mark, so far as science went. that Corbett took a fancy to him. .Jcffries was also game, and received hard knocks from the man who had won the heavlywcisht championship from John l.. Sullivan. One day when Corbett was feeling good he cut loose at Jcffries and punched him severely The latter merely laugh-d as the blows were shcwered upon him. That made "Pompadom Jim' angry for the first time since the men had come together
 "Doesn't it hurt?' asker Corbett, testify.
 Not on your life"' laughed the boilermaker.
 Honestly, now, don't my blows hurt?' repeated the great boxer.
 T tell you, no.' replied Jefries, coolly.
 'Then. you big dub," exclaimed Cor bett, I'll knock you out!' With that the champion rushed in pell-mell. He landed jabs and hooks on Jeff's jaw. He piled in stomach blows and smash rt nd Ei1nnvS 11nti1 he was weary But still Jeffries refused to even wabble. When Corbett let up the boilermaker was laughing heartily at him. After the days work Delaney went to .Teffl.ies and said:
 Jeff, those punches must have hurt you!'
 "On my honor. Bill, I hardly felt them.'' was the response.
 "Why. Jeff said the trainer, 'he is punching you as hard as he can and he may hurt you. The next time he asks if his punches hurt say 'yes'
 'I'll do nothing of the kind." retort- ed the big Californian. 'Let him keep on trying to knock me out and some of these days I'll take a hand in the game myself''
 The next day Corbett again tried to put Jeffries to sleep. The former used all of his cleverness and strength, but 1 the boilcrmaler always was Of deck with the same old smile. Finally Cor bett. white with rage, yelled:
 Damn it. own up that the blows hurt! Now. don't they?'
 No. they dont.' persisted Jeffries. l Then Corbett started in again to whip 1 the youthful pu@ilst. This time lief 1 fries was worked up and fought back. | nesscs say that if it had not been for Delaney. who interfered. Corbett might have been knocked out. After it was all over Jeffries had a talk with Delan- ey. Among other things, the boiler maker said:
 If that man is champion of the world and can't hit any harder than that 1 can whip him or any other man and I'll prove it. You match me with him and if I don't win I'll not ask foI cent
 Delaney. however. was too busy witi | CorbettS training to bother with such talk, but .Jeffries meant business. jus! the same, for as soon as COrbett had been beaten by Fitzsimmons Jeff said to Delaney. as the latter was leaving COrbett'S dressing room:
 Billy, can whip both of these fel lows!'
 q believe you can. Jim," unused the trainer. "and I'll match you with one CT the other as soon as possible" Delaney informed w. A. Brady what he thought Jeffries could do, and Bra dy caught on. Delaney made matches With Sharkey. Peter Jackson ant others. over whom Jeffries showed his superiority. and then brought the big fellow east, where he won the cham pionship and became noted the world over. It was not at all strange. there fore, that Delaney was heartbraker when he was supplanted by Tommy Ryan at Syracuse as Jeffries's train CT for the battle with Corhett De | lanev felt that he was entitled to bet ter treatman. The big cbamnion saw 1 it in that light. too. after Delaney haf | gone back to California with q cnn fHl | of sorrow Having dismissed Rvar he extended the hand Of friendshin nni gratitude to the veteran who was chief lv Instrumental in making Jeffries l what hn is