Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-27
JACK JOHNSON WINS TITLE
Big Negro from Texas Now Champion
Heavyweight Pugilist.
TOMMY BURNS Is oUTCLAssED
Canadian Has No Chance to Win and
Police stOp Bout i'm Fourteenth
Round-DecisiOn Given
on Points.

WuTlu = CnhDlHAOu nCaNN9 WNaeHN
won the title today In the big arena at
Rushcutter Bay, from Tommy Burns, the
French Canadian, who had held II since
James J. Jeffries relinquished 1t, and after
a chase OF Burns that led half way round
the world.
The end came in the fourteenth round,
when the police, seeing Burns totterinS ana
unable TO defend himself from the blows
of his opponents. mercifully stopped the
fight. Previously II had been arranged mat
II the police interferred a decision should De
rendered on points, and Referee Mcintosh
without hesitation. declared the big black
ran a winner for all through the fight ne
had shown himself Burns master In every
style OF fighting.
Burns, In an interview after he had gone
TO his dressing room, said:
81 did the best 1 could and fought hard.
johnson was too big and his reach was
too great"
Burns BADLY O~utcInssed.
johnson appeared fresh after the fight
whils Burns eyes were badly puffed and
his mouth swollen to twice its normal size
The Canadian fought a game battle and
showed indominable pluck. but was no
match for the big Texas black.
Twice only in the annals Of pugilism has
a colored man been permitted to fight for
the title emblematic of worlds champion
heavyweight pugilist. Peter Jackson tried
It with John L. Sullivan, but Sullivan
would not consent to a go. After James ].
Jeffries took the scalp OF Bob F~itssimmons,
ne took on Hank Griffin at Los Angeles
but the colored man was easy for him and
never had a chance to win the honor. He
was knocked out in four rounds. Jeffries
then drew the color line and several years
later retired.
johnson had tried to get on a fight with
him. unavailingly. Then Tommy Burns. or
Noah Brusso, as his name really 10, took
up the mantle of Jeffries. Since then and
until today johnson has endeavored to get
him into the ring, declaring that he was
Burns master.
The fight was for a purse OF $4,000. OF
which Burns received 10000 and Johnson
5000. The ring was a 24-foot one and was
pitched in the center OF a big arena built
especially for the purpose at Bushcutters
Bay. The bout was to nave been for
twenty rounds.
Great Crowd Present.
The day dawned overcast. and cool.
Thousands OF persons from all parts of the
country were attracted to the scene OF
the encounter and many reached there
Christmas night and slept in the open.
They came by street cars. automobiles,
carriages and on horseback and at 10
o'clock this morning. one hour before the
fight was scheduled to start. every seat
was occupied. The prices of seats ranged
from $25 to $3.50.
The crowd was estimated at between
1900 and 10000 persons and 1t kept perfect
order throughout the night. A brass band
enlivened the holiday throng.
Before the contestants entered the ring
"Bill' Sduires. who thrice has been de-
feated by Burns, challenged the winner.
Burns weighed in at 1Ss pounds and
johnson at 1872.
The betting was Z to 4 on Burns at the
start, but II veered after a few rounds
TO 2 to / on johnson. ,
The spectators conceded that Johnson's
victory was due to his physical advantages
over Burns and his superior knowledge of
the fighting game and his unruffled de-
meanor while being tainted by the cham
pion.
The stakes were paid the men while they
were In the ring.
Men Enter the Ring.
. At i0:42 o'clock Johnson entered the Arena,
accompanied by his seconds. Sam Fitz-
patrick. Mullins. Unholz. Lang and Bryant.
VIVID cheers greeted him.. and the big black
man turned and bowed to all four sides of
the ring. Just as johnson took his seat
Burns appeared. He was smiling and the
plaudits Of the spectators were even more
enthusiastic than those accorded Johnson.
Burns took up his position in the western
corner Of the ring. surrounded by his sec
onds, Heating. o'Keefe. o'Donneill. Burke
and Russell. When the cheering had died
down somewhat Johnson crossed over and
shook Burns by the hand. The Canadian
glanced at the big mauleys Of the Texan
and nafIcad that both - oo...oa -4.h
bandages. Fearful that they might not be
OF the soft surgical kind. he scrutinized
them closely, but finding them to his sat
isfaction, he made no objection. The an.
nouncement was made that II during the
contest the police should interfere and STOP
u the referee would Immediately give a
decision based on points scored.
Dispute on BanaaEea.
When Burns stripped II was noticed thai
he wore elastic bandages about his eli.
bows Johnson shouted across the rlne
half angrily. you must take those off,
Then the men met In the center of the
ting. and for a few minutes argued tn,
question. Then they retired to their cor,
aers but Burns did not remove the bands
From Johnson's seconds came the an
npuncement that their man refused to fighl
unless Burns took off the wraps around
Wis elbows. and It looked as though Their,
PAS a possibility OF the fight not taking
place. Tor Burns was stubborn and johnson
insistent on this point. The referee. how
ever, here took a hand in the controversy
and said the wearing OF bandages wal
not against the rules, johnson stil de,
INJURED. nevertheless. and Burns with 4
show OF Impotence had his seconds un,
wind the tape. His action brought forti
from the spectators a tremendous rounl
of applause.
At has o'clock johnson and Burns poseC
for a moving picture machine. and had re
csived final instructions from Referee Nc
Intosh retired to their corners. Then tn,
battle began.
Ftghs by Rounds.
First Round-After a few moments al
preliminary sparring Johnson reached
Burns with a nharp uppercut and the Can.
adam went to the floor, remaining there
FOR the count OF eight. He signalled to his
seconds thai he was all right. however. anC
when he arose, sailed In for JohnsOn'l
body. johnson swung a hard right to In,
head and Burma ataNRerQd bark,Hard naarlx