Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-18

Are Mere Boys
"Well, 1 told Able to take every
thing that was coming to him. l know
he is a great little fellow. I never
knew him to turn a bad trick in his
| life. l don't know Baker as well.
They tell me he is a fine fellow, and
from what l hear / guess he is.
Anyhow. 1 told Able to laugh and
make the best of it. You saw how he
kept his seat the other night when
Baker went into the ring to be intro
duced. Well, Able is smart boy and
tried to keep in the background. I
venture to say that he will be popular
tomorrow night whether he wins or
not.
The public must remember that
both of these fellows are mere boys
trying to raise themselves. They
haven't had enough experience to know
Just what to do and may make break
at times.
Maybe you think I had an easy
time climbing up. 1 had to go north
in order to get the right sort of money
and they certainly handed me all that
was coming!
Hit the big stiff in the stomach and
he'll quit" that's what they hollered
when l climbed in the ring.
Slept Before Meteing Fitz
you remember when 1 went east to
fight Bob Fitzsimmons. Well, no one
thought that 1 had a chance with Bob.
1 didn't think much, one way or the
other except that he hadn't beat me.
You know it is always we'll to think
you are there until some one beats you
to it. Well, (Jeff named a prominent
sporting MANI liked me all right, but
didn't give me a chance to win.
About an hour before time to get in
the ring l felt sleepy and took a nap.
This fellow happened to get in the room
and nearly fell dead when he saw me
lying there. He made a racket and l
woke up.
"'Jim,' he said. haven't given you
a chance to get Fitz, but now 1 don't
give him a chance to beat you. Any
fellow that can go to sleep an hour
before meeting Bob Fitzsimmons Is
good enough for me-
when we got in the ring Fitz and
talked to Mr.. Siler about the rules.
wanted to find out if it would be all
right for me to throw Fitz away from
an infghting position and then go after
him before he had a chance to recover.
While l was explaining 1 grabbed Fitz
and to show Siler threw him from the
middle of the ring against the ropes.
From the look in Fitz's face l felt that
l had him beat then and there.
Bet Against Himself
81 guess there are not three persons
who know that 1 bet on that fight. /
placed $4,000 even that Fitz would beat
me. Maybe you think that was a bad
thing to do, especially when l knew
| friends who would go broke if I lost.
| Well | knew l was going to fight on the
square and l lost that $4,000"
1t is small wonder that Jeff has a
yearnng to re-enter the ring and no
| wonder at all that he wants big money
for 50 doing. Here is what he said re-
garding coin collected after attain
ing the championship, Jim was talk
! ing directly to McCarey when making
this recital.
II suppose you thought, Mac, that
was going back on my word when you
saw that Billy Delaney had matched
me with Squires." Here Jeff pulled out
the original of telegram that he had
wired Delaney. 1t read to the effect
that Delaney should not bind himself.
81 promised you, Mac, that before
ever signed articles for another fight
that I would talk with you first Well
YOU can depend upon me to do that
After | beat Fitzsimmons | was earn
ing $4,000 a week ON the road. Maybe
YOU don't believe that, but | was. Why
wouldn't hold out for $30,O00?"
On the Square
Everyone is open to their opinion, but
so far as the writer is concerned. jim
Jeffries is as square a man as ever ap'
peared in the limelight He is no
given to talking. but when he does, thC
word comes from his heart Jeff may
receive criticism from these columns
tomorrow should a tWenty-round de-
cision be given tonight that would ap
pear unwarranted
Nevertheless, his honesty will not b'
doubted for a moment He is sensitive
to a degree and objection to the Burns
lOBrien decision still hurts him.
Talk of saving popular money Is al
bosh so far as JEFF is concerned. HI
cares not snap what his best frienC
thinks. If you are banking on wha
Jim Jeffries thinks way down deep IN
his heart, go the limit for he is an hon
est fellow.
Nothing startling developed yester
day regarding the featherweight battl
which occurs tonight A great crow,
is assured from' the advance sale o