The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-09
Theater Packed Each Night by
Brooklyn Audience.
TELLS OF HIS CAREER.
Was Working in a Mine Before
Butte Battle.
Was Hard Up and Wanted Some
Christmas Money.
Got a Hundred Dollars for His
Game Showing.

New York, March 9.-Jacl6 Munroe,
the miner pugilist, who is matched to
fight Jeffries for the heavyweight title,
closed his first theatrical engagement at
Brooklyn theater this week. He has
been received well, and the house has
been packed each night.
Asked to tell of his earlier battles and
his ring career in general, Munroe said:
We'll. I did not think much of the
game or that | would ever fight again
after my battle with Hank Griffin on
the coast. After all my expenses were
paid L was out of pocket just $3.50, and
the battle went twenty rounds at that.
Both of US We're badly bruised. so that
we did not get over the results for
weeks. So / decided to go back to the
mines. asf
1T was coming on Christmas. 1 was
nearly broke, and / wanted to make
some presents. jeff was billed at Butte.
Mont, and there was a standing offer
of $500 to any man that stayed four
rounds was a popular football player,
and nearly every one knew that l could
fight some. So when I went and saw
the Jeffries agent l asked him if he
would give me 800, win or lose, as
knew that l could pack the Butte opera
house to the doors with my friends. The
agent, who also knew me, agreed and
wired Jeffries' manager, who immedi-
ately wired back, Give Munroe 500,
win or lose.'
The day Jeffries came to town I had
worked all the day in the mines. The
work was pretty hard. I took good
bath and refreshed myself as much as
possible after quit my days work.
then went and collected my 800 and
went over to the opera house. which
was damned. Bob Fitzsimmons, who
was then travelling with the Jeffries
very hard proposition, with single
hook blow.
"Fitz and Jeff both grinned and
laughed aloud as L climbed through the
ropes for my share of the entertainment
which followed. They imagined what
positive cinch thew had. After I jump
ed about the ring testing the ropes and
nodding to my friends the smiles on
both Of their faces came slowly off. 1
then went to my corner, after receiving
instructions, but Jeffries stood a little
from the center of the ring. AS we were
called to the center 1 was speaking to.
friends and as turned Jeff was right
on top of me. With a fearful plunge
swung my right and it caught Jeffries
right on the left ear. jeff staggered
back and went after him and we mix
ed 1t up for fair. q ts -s 81
I'm the second round / had Jeffries
stretched out on the ropes, but I did not
knock him out. He f1oored me twice in
the third round In the fourth I put it
all over Jeffries. Any impartial specta-
tor of our bout in that yelling, bowling
mob of Butte citizens will tell you that
1 had the champion going very fast in
that round. Had known as much then
as I have learned since I would have
finished Jeff sure. Jeff told his manager
that the first blow L landed in the bout
in the first round made his ear ring all
through the fight. If I can worry him
with another blow in our championship
fight when we meet in May at Frisco
think my chances will be better and 1
mean to try hard.
"Of course, the Jeffries 1 meet at
Frisco will not be the same Jeffries that
was travelling with a show, but will be
the heavyweight pugilistic champion de-
Tending his title against newcomer.
But neither will I be the same Jack
Munroe that faced the champion in the
Montana mountains, and 1 mean to land
the championship if possible, and
guess my showing with Sharkey lets me
in for a try, and a good try at that"
Kid Mccoy, who trained Munroe for
his battle, said: Jack is the coming
champion: can hit as hard as Jim and
will lead and mix it up just as much as
Jeffries. The men who have fought
Jeffries before always got away from
him, but this man will go at him, and
if he gets to him, as think he will the
championship will be Munroe's for GER
tain.'