The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17

showed no marks of the contest. and h,
evidently did not care for a return match.
1t may have been this grueling fgh
which took the steam out Of Hart. Mar
win tried desperately to put O'Brein ava,
in their recent battle and was badly Gu
and marked by the Philadelphia fightel
: while SO doing. He claims that the ef
fects told on him in last Wednesdays con.
test and this is borne out by the opinion,
Of some of those who watched the con.
| test. =
Gardeners victory will probably put hin
in line for some of the matches in which
I he has been mentioned as an opponent for
men in the Electromagnetic division. An
other bout with Jack Root will probably
be scheduled, il it can be arranged. O'Brien
has a match pending with Kid Carter in
Philadelphia shortly and this fight has not
yet been called off. In case O'Brien is
unable to go on. Gardner may be secured.
Jack johnson of California stopped Joe
Butler Of Philadelphia in the third round of
a fight at the ~latter's home city last Mon
day. but the winning negro got even worse
handling than did his brother African.
While johnson was walking back to his
dressing room. some sympathizer of Butler
walloped him on the head with a bottle,
sending the victor to the hospital for some
hours.
Partisans Of Butler believed the Phila-
delphia darkey would win and he was quite
heavily backed. Johnson was the larger
man of the two, but Buffers work in the
early stages of the contest drew out much
applause from the spectators. In the be-
ginning of the third round johnson sent a
right-hander to the jaw which put Butler to
sleep.
The assault on the winner followed.
johnson claimed that he was threatened
before the bout and that efforts were made
to have him arrange a deal in some of his
Eastern battles. AS the bottle landed on
his head, his injuries are not serious.
Jimmy Britt and Jack O'Keefe are prac-
tically matched for a return battle. the at
fair being scheduled to take place at Butte,
Mont. June 13. A club in that city an
nounced that It had secured o'Keefe and
Britt sent word that he would be willing
to make the match.
Britt is, especially anxious to fight O'Keefe
again on account of the unsatisfactory ter
mination, of their last battle, fought In Port
land. Ore. In that contest O'Keefe Was
given the verdict or a foul. although Britt
had him all but out towards the close.
Charges and counter charges were made on
the result OF the affair. Britt claiming to be
up against a conspiracy, while O'Keefe
brought back a pair Of gloves which he as
serted Britt had worn in the fight and
which were stuffed with dogs hair. packed
tightly.
o'Keefe claimed that these gloves became
hard when Britt's seconds poured water
over them and that he would have defeated
the San Francisco crack had the bout been
on the level. So much throwing of left
handed compliments followed between the
rival fighters that the true state Of the case
will probably never be known.
The rematching of the men may decide
the matter definitely one way or the other.
Britt Is demanding a $500 forfeit from the
when that is produced.
Although the rumor that Young Corbett
and Benny Jordan will be matched ,to light
at San Francisco next November seems
fairly authentic, sporting men are wonder
ing whether the champion can make the
weight reported as likely to be set IN the
battle. It is said that Jordan will insist
upon 124 pounds at 3 o'clock. and It Ii also
reported that Harry Pollak, Corbett's repre-
sentative, is satisfied with these terms.
That Corbett would have difficulty In
making such a figure Is generally admitted.
he could probably reach the weight readily
enough. but he would not likely be in good
condition for a battle when he tipped the
scales at 50 low a mark. He had trouble
IN making the weight for McGovern and
was quoted then as saying that he would
never sign for another bout at less than
100 pounds.
While Ia pounds at 8 o'clock is practically
eculva.ent to III or 1s at ringside, the
nsure looks 100 low for the champion. I'm
iess ne noids- Jordan very cheaply, 1t seems
naIaiy possible that he will try to get to
So low a limit.
AS far as the battle itself is concerned.
ought to be a cake-walk for corbest