The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-15
ODDS DAMPENED BETTING
MAJORITY OF LOCAL SPORTsMEN
PICKED JEFFRIEs I'd WIN.
Crowds Gathered I'm Hotels and Sa-
looms to Hear Returns from the
Big MilI-Few Big Bets.

The Jeffries-Corbet light was a big event
to indianapolis sportsmen. Downtown In
~dianapolis had the appearance of a night
after an important election. From early
In the evening Washington and Illinois
streets, near the betting places and other
centers of information. were crowded with
people who waited anxiously until midnight
to hear the news. The light did not begin
until 10 o'clock, and as San Francisco time
Is TWO hours slower than Indianapolis time
the first news of the fight did not reach
here until midnight.
About 10 o'clock a bulletin was flashed
over the wires that Jeffries said he would
whip Corbett. This news was soon circu-
lating through the crowds, and il added
interest to the situation. Other bits of
news were received from San Francisco
from ume TO time until the fight began.
Ihese only made the thousands of peo-
pie VINO stood in the streets more anxious
10 near that the fight had really begun and
mat IN a lew minutes they would know
what happened in the first round.
But with all their interest the majority of
the Indianapolis people seemed to think
NAT the nght was going to be won by JEFF
IrleS III wasn't a question here whether
"Jen' would be able to whip Corbett- 1rhe
was: How soon will "Jeff, hs
aele TO win How long will it take him to
Jeffries had everything his way in Indian
apois. he was the ~favorite with the H.
annapolis bettegs. Most of the betting took
place at Harry Walkers and the Kingston
AT pretty large odds several thousand dol
lars was wagered on Jeff" as he was
known on the boards But the Indianapoiis
good deal Of JEFF money went a.he.oine
With the exception OF a few bets at 500 70
SlOO-in Jenrfes's favor, of course-and q feuy
others OF 500 to $50 and SEQ. the same way.
IS variety. also on Jeffries, most of the bet-
ing was OF amounts ranging from 81 TO $40.
LOOKED LIKE A INCH.
Inc fact that almost everybody seemed 10
think there was almost no chance for the
nght 10 end but one way-that IL was prac-
tically certain that Jeffries would win-de-
tracted a good deal from the usual interest
OF Indianapolis prize-fght enthusiasts over
a national event.
But even with this condition discouraginC
betting, several thousand dollars were
before the fight began. Most of
the betting interest was exhausted before
inc hrst news came in from Frisco.
Mike ome version of il was. Not
much dom in a bettin' way tonight.
There's plenty of JEFF money, but the trou-
oie is you can't get much of il up. Nobody
seems 10 want To buy any Corbett tickets.
Ineyre not coming this way,
Two to one on JEFF? Is that the best you
can doE' said a man with a roll of bills in
mis- hand.
Yep. two to one," said Mike
Take the commission out of that and IL
isn't worth the trouble of betting" said
the man with the money.
well, I'll tell what i'll do" said Mike.
Ill. not charge any commission"
The man with the morey took $40 worth
OF two to one on "Jef."
a big man, who said he wanted TO bet
$No TO $50 on Jeffries loafed around Harry
walkers ali evening, but didn't find any
body who thought well enough of Corbett
to take the bet.
I'll bet $500 to $50 that Jim Jeffries
knocks Corbett out. the big man called out
several times But no one showed him
$50 and he was still trying to place a bet at
midnight.
All over town. I'm almost every saloon.