The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30
JEFPRIES A KING IN RENO.
COWBOYS AND MINERS GAZED
IN AWE on THE EX.CHAMP.
Everything Was His Until He Get Up Against
aCrap Game-.Hs Losses at Gambling
May F0rco Him Back Into the Aing
A Mulish Card Player. they Say.


aCrap Game-.Hs Losses ut Gambling
May FOrco Him Back Into the Ming
A Mulish Card Player. they Say.
SAN Francisco, July 2s.-since the fin
ish fight at Reno, New, between Jack Root
and Marvin Hart there has been much
gossip about ex-champion Jeffries and the
possibility Of his return to the ring in the
near future. JEFF himself says that this
day will be very remote. In fact he gives
the impression that with his mine and his
ranch near Los Angeles he hos enough
enterprises to keep him active; but many
Of his friends believe he will not be content
with this humdrum business life, after
tasting Of the pleasures Of the semitic
atrical existence OF his last year az public
character.
Besides. they say that though JEFF has
none Of the ordinary vices of tho prize
fighter, yet he has passion for gambling,
which. il INDUCED as he has INDUCED It
recently, will cut hole in very much
larger fortune than he has laid aside. These
persons point to his bucking the skin crap
games in Reno and to his losses in stud
poker in Los Angeles.
JEFF went up to Reno after he had re.
ceived a check for 81 900 for his services
as referee. He hired a suite of six rooms
In the best hotel and he practically kept
open house for his friends for three days.
Any big sport who failed to get a good
room was invited by jeff to make his head
quarters with him, and he soon had his
suite as full as it would hold. He must
have blown in half the amount OF his ref
eree's fee at this hotel and in setting up
drinks for his admirers.
1t was amusing to see the awe with which
the cowboys and miners Of the sagebrush
districts regarded JEFF. They crowded
around the big windows in the hotel through
which they could get a glimpse OF the ex-
champion. until the proprietor came in and
begged Jeifries to 60 upstairs to another
room or to 60 out on the veranda and let
the crowd see him, as he feared the mob
would break in his windows. Whenever
JEFF appeared on the street he was fairly
mobbed. One old fellow. with 40 beard,
insisted on shaking hands with jeff. and
when the champion goodnaturedly squeezed
his paw until the aged citizen WINGED with
pain the veteran cackled out:
well, I'm In $40. My pard bet mo I
Wouldn't have the nerve to ask you for q
shakei"
jeii had given notice that he would c ON
pei Hart and Root to break at the word,
but after a few rounds JEFF had to get In
and break the men. and he did loneshore-
mans work from that time on and certainly
earned . part Of is fee. JET didn't return
10 this city with the gang but said he wanted
TO see something Of Reno. Well. he saw it,
# Battling Nelson and others who remained
behind are to be believed.
Reno IL about tho toughest Of the wide
open towns Of the Far West. Everything
goes in the way Of games and dives and
saloons six days in the week. On the
seventh the town Is shut tight as a drum
as far as gambling is concerned, all tables
being piled In the corner. Even tho Sheriff
frowns on any levity on the seventh day.
The newspaper men who went up to Reno
from this city to see the fight had taste
Of the So bbatarian regulations Of this wild
and wcally town. Two Of them with
rhotogo ,pher went down on Sunday morn
ing to ss:some pictures and material for
oescripti.n at Marvin Harris headquarters.
The photographer had Marvin come out in
front Of his gym and pose for a picture
in fighting rig. As the artist finished taking
a good series Of photos, up came the Sheriff
with big gun siung to mis- belt on each
side. He was greatly excited and asked:
What are you fellows doing here? Don't
you know it's Sunday?' Hart had gone
Into his quarters. but the Sheriff continued:
you ought to know better than to let
nearly naked man pose in the street. Sup
pose some ladies had passed on the way to
church,"
The reporters placated his wrath with big
cigar and calmly advised him to 60 in and
make his kick to the big Kentuckian. He
It's singular contradiction that any
one may float In booze in Reno on Sunday,
hut he must not play q card or twirl a
roulette wheel or throw craps. 1t Ia q
Nevada State law. and 1t Is enforced with
districts.
Reno has a very finely fitted up gambling
joint on the main street, which keeps open
day and night. 1t was in this place that
jeff is said to have become enamored Of
this f soathern diversion until he had given
"a markers for $780, Je1 denies that he
blew IL go much money, but Battling Nelson
says it is a fact that his friends tried to
get him to break away when they found
refused. When the big fellow returned
TO this city his friends advised him to let
the markers lie in Reno, a. he was not
obliged to pay money to men who run
crooked game; but the chances are that
jeff will pay up, as he fears that he will be
accused Of pleading the baby act.
Since the story Of this escapade came out
It Is said by persons who have followed JEFF q
course lately that he has lost very heavily in
gambling, blowing in 100 at stud poker
In Los Angeles. Jef Is not q clever card
player, but he Is very mulish and ugly when
he starts in to play and loses, and he is
always sure to stay with q game In the
vain hope OF recouping his losses.
As JET spends money very literally on
himself and his wife, his savings will not
last long should he carry on gambling az
diversion. Unless his mine proves to be
uncommonly rich JEFF may be expected to
dnft back into the ring In few months.
about the time when Marvin Hart or Jim
Mccormick gets ready to meet champ.
THE EOSTGE BAG EVIL.