The San Francisco call., 1905-08-28
CROWDS VISIT
JIMMY BRITT

The demure looking little gymnasium
out at Sheehan's villa on the ocean beach,
where Jimmy Britt is going through the
hnishing-up process for his prolonged ar
gument with Battling Nelson resembled
a department. store on the occasion of a
bargain sale yesterday. OF course, the
friends of Britt read daily in the papers
of his looking as bronzed as a Mexican
bean pot from a trip in the Sierras,, and
harder than a BarbarY Coast rounder,
but they evidently want to see for them
selves. Then, again. betting people these
days like a sample Of the goods. before
making a purchase.
The early arrivals at -Sheehans were
welcomed by Manager Willis Britt, who
announced that Jimmy and his right
bower. ''Tiv' Kreling, had gone for a
horseback ride, but that they would re-
turn in time TO fulfill the 8 clock matt
nee engagement. Shortly after l o'clock
big stir was created around training
quarters, and hundreds made a rush for
the beach as two scantily clad athletes
emerged from the gymnasium and made
squirt for the breakers. Instantly the
striped bath robe of j. Edward Britt was
recognized on one, and ne Immediately
became the cynosure of all eyes. But it
proved a false alarm. Charley Bush, the
well-known restaurant man, who par
leyed an oyster cocktail stand into an
eight-story brick building and more, is a
personal friend of the crack lightweight,
with carte-blanche to use any of the
training paraphernalia. Charley and a
friend were merely taking dip after
some light exercise, entirely innocent Of
the sensation they had created.
Jimmy Britt and "Tiv' Kreling re-
turned from their jaunt shortly before 8
o o'clock, and at so cents a throw all avail
able space in the gymnasium was quick
ly taken up. At ten. twent and thirt "
the main tent of the biggest show on
earth could not have accommodated the
crowd assailing the windows and picking
choice cracks in the sides of the struc-
ture. All agree that the plumber boy
looks like a freshly minted copper cent.
He lacks nothing-but the long end of the
purse. and Jimmy assures his friends that
this will surely be added to his menu.
Some disappointment was evoked because
boxing was eliminated from the pro-
gramme yesterday, a slightly lame
knuckle being given as the excuse. Spider
Kelly said why, sure; cut out the
mitts," and, of course, that settled 1T.
For more than an hour Britt kept
things humming, at the expiration Of
which the perspiratien was leaking
from him like rain through the roof
of an Dragon hotel. Skipping the rope
nearly thousand times he then laTu-
basted the punching bag. After seven
minutes fast play the cord attached to
the leather spheroid parted, nearly
running the new $40 autumn bonnet of
a fair lady spectator in its flight.
Jimmy and Kreling then, took the CEN
ter of the ring for fifteen minutes Of
Juggling and wrestling. The work IS
rough and fatiguing enough to make
a rhinoceros sweat purple ink for Jim
the Penman, still neither of the men
appeared distressed at the close. Pol
ishing of with turn at the pulleys,
wrist machine and medicine ball,
Jimmy and Kreling donned bathing
suits and for the next quarter of an
hour disported themselves in the break
ers TO the thorough edifcation of a
vast throng J. Edward Britt takes to
the water with the same avidity with
which "Scooting'' Scotty, the Croesus
of Death Valley. does to imported grape
juice and hard boiled eggs. Unless too
reckless toying with the waves does
not cause the undertow to land him on
the shores Of the Philippines one Of
these mornings, he should be able to
keep his en- cement with the "Battler"
on September 9.
A delegation from the Olympic Club,
among whom were John ]. Gleason,
Tom Craig, Al Hampton, Louis Levy.
Sam Josephs. Billy Arnold and Joe
Coffey, paid their respects to Nelson's
coming opponent