The San Francisco call., 1905-08-29
Britt Wins and Chooses
Retired Champion as
the Third Man.
NOLAN MAKES A
PLEA FOR SILER
Selection of Jeff Is a
Guarantee That All
Is on Square.

James J. Jefries. king of all prize
fighters. viii have a chance TO referee
one of the greatest ring battles in his
tory at Colma on September 9. for last
night he was chosen to be the third
man in the arena when Britt and Nell
son clash. The elaboration was reached
only after the most stormy kind of a
session and was the result of a toss of
the coin in which the luck OF Willie
Britt triumphed
Il looked as il the much heralded
fght would have to be declared off for
want OF a referee. Manager Coffroth
was at his wits ends for a way out Of
the difficulty and gloom overspread the
room when as q last resort II was sug-
gested that Willie Britt and Billy No
Ian toss q coin to determine who should
Judge the great battle. Jeffries was the
foremost choice OF Britt, while Nolan
liked George Siler Of Chicago.
Seeing no other way by which the
tangle could possibly be Strengthened
out the rival managers finally consent
ed 10 take a gamblers chance. Man
ager Coffroth was appointed TO toss the
coin. Britt yelled heads" and heads it
was. The strain was relieved when he
announced Jeffries was his choice.
Possibly never in the history of the
game OF hsticuffs in this city or any
other city in the wide world has so
much difficulty been experienced in the
choice Of g referee. The rival man
ayers had been deadlocked for three
nights running and the chance of their
e agreeing on any one man began to be
lessened as the minutes few rapidly
by. But now that they have selected
Jeff Il is a guarantee that the fight
viii be fought strictly on its merits and
that the best man will win, for Jeff's
reputation surely guarantees all these
things.
The choice will come as a huge surprise
70 the sporting world in general Most of
the wise ones figured eddie Graney would
eventually land the plum. and he would
have had that honor but for Willie Britt's
strenuous objections. The latter, driven
70 desperation, at last declared he would
take any other referee in the wide world
outside Of Graney when il came to
committee n decide.
A delegation. consisting Of five sporting
writers, was appointed to pick a referee
for the fight when it seemed certain the
rival managers could not come to an
agreement. They deliberated but short
time and came back with Eddie Graney
as their choice Willie Britt objected
strenuously, stating he had reasons for
opposing Graney and would not stand for
him.
Then another long and tedious deadlock
=
4 AIRED ND al each other for nearly an
hour. Nolan contended that as long as
the sporting writers had selected Graney
he should be the man to act, and wanted
the decision TO be final. He argued that
he had taken the chance and that Britt
should stand by his guns
But Britt would not consent to Graney
under any circumstances He insisted
that the committee had misunderstood
him and said he would let the fight go by
the wayside. The men argued and plead
ed and foamed at the mouth in vain at
tempt 10 settle their differences, and IT
looked as If the match would surely be
called off when the flip of the coin was
finally suggested.
This idea was conceived by Nolan on
Sunday night, but al that time Britt
would not agree TO IT. When no decision
could be reached early last evening Nolan
again suggested the coin. but Britt again
balked. II was. therefore, a big surprise
when he did decide to take a chance and
toss with Nolan.
II must be said to Nolan's credit that
he took a gamblers chance and lost. He
was game TO the core, and when Jeffries
was chosen he accepted the big fellow
with the best grace in the world. Had
he won the choice he would have picked
George Siler. but that selection would
hardly suit the general public as well as
The great ex-champion.
Ii looks as If Nelson will have as even
break as he ever enjoyed in his life.
Will Jefries as the third man in the
ring. The big fellow is a fighter who
knows naught else He has a great head
and a keen eye, and if. perchance. the
fight does go the limit no man in the
world is better able TO decide IL on its
merits than he.
Then again. Jeff will not interfere with