Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-26
On Points in Fourteenth
Round From Burns.
Declared the Victor After
Police Stop the Fight.
Negro Has Best Of Fight Through.
out...How Champion.

sydney. n. s. W., Dec 26.-Jack
johnson, the big negro from Galveston,
Tex, is the worlds champion heavy
weight pugilist He won the title to-
day In the big arena at Rushcutters
Bay from Tommy Burns. the French
Canadian, who had held it since James
J. Jeffries relnquished it, and after
chase of Burns that had led half way
around the world.
The end came in the 14th round,
when the police, seeing Burns tottering
and unable to defend himself from the
savage blows OF his opponent, mercl-
fully stopped the fight. Previously II
had been arranged that If the police
interfered a decision should be render
ed on points, and Referee Mcintosh
without hesitation, declared the Dig
black man the winner, for all through
the fight he had shown himself Burns
master in every style of fighting.
Burns, in an interview after he mad
gone to his dressing room said: -.
II did the best l could and fought
hard. Johnson was too big and his
reach too great
johnson appeared fresh after the
fight. while Burns eyes were badly
pu1fed and his mouth swollen to twice
its normal size. The Canadian fougnt
q game battle and showed lndoml-
natible pluck but he was no match for
the big Texas black.
Twice only in the annals o1 puSli's1n
has colored man been permitted 10 nent
for the title emblematic of worlds chap-
pion heavyweight pugilist. Peter JACK
son tried it with John l.. Sullivan, put
Sullivan would not consent to go. Al
ter James j. Jeffries took the scalp OIL
Roh FitZsimmons he took OH Hank Grl1-
fin at Los Angeles but the colored man
xas easv for hin and never had chance
IN win the honor. He was knocked out
In four rounds. Jeffries then drew the
color line and several years later retired
johnson has tried to get on fight with
hin. unavailinSly
Then Tommy Burns or Noah Brusso.
as his real name is, 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. j,
The fight was for purse OF S59'WV ol
which Burns received $D,oOo ana JonI-
son 5000 The ring was 4-foot one
and was pitched in the center of a DIG
arena built especially for the purpose.
The bout was to have been for ~ ROUNDS
The crowd was estimated at between
1900 anG 10000 people.
BEFORE the contestants entered the ring
sBilr' Squires, who thrice has been de-
feated by Burns, challenged the winner.
Burns weighed in at 1853 pounds and
Johnson at 1872. The betting was TO 4
IN Burns at the start but it veered after
a few rounds to to on Johnson
The spectators conceded that Johnson's
victory was due to his physical advan-
taces over Burns, his superior knowledge
of the fighting game and his unrui1ed de-
meanor while being taunted by the cham
pion.
The stakes were paid the men while
they we're in the ring.
johnson entered the arena at 1912
O'Clock, accompanied by his seconds,
Sam FITZPATRICK. Mullins, Unholzz,
Lang and Bryant. Wild cheers greeted
him and the big black man turned and
bowed to all four sides of the ring
lust 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. sur
rounded by his seconds. keatlng.
C'Kcefe. O'Donnell. Burke and Russell
When the cheering had died down
somewhat johnson crossed over and
shook Burns by the hand. The Canadi-
an glanced at the big mauleys of the
Texan and noticed that both were COW
cred with bandages. Fearful that per-
haps they might not be of the soft, sur
gical kind. he scrutinized them close
ly, but, finding them to his satisfac-
tion, he made no objection.
The announcement was made that If
during the contest the police should
interfere and stop 1t. the referee would
Immediately give q decision based on
points scored.
When Burns stripped it was noticed
that he wore elastic bandages about his
elbows. Johnson shouted across the
ring half angrily: you must take
those off," Then the men met in the
center of the ring and for a few min
utes argued the question. Then they
retired again to their corners. but
Burns did not remove the bandages.
From Johnson's seconds came the an
nouncement that their man refused to
fight unless Burns took off the wraps
around his elbows and it locked as
though there was possibility of the
hight not taking place. for Burns was
stubborn and johnson insisted on his
point. The referee however, here took
q hand in the controversy and said
wearing of bandages was not against
the rules johnson still demurred, new
ertheless and Burns, with a show of
impatience. had his seconds unwind
the tape. His action brought forth from
the spectators a tremendous round of
applause.
At Ills o'clock johnson and Burns
posed for moving picture machine.
and, having received final instructions
from Referee Mcintosh. retired to their
corners.
Then the battle began.
First round-After few moments of
preliminary sparring Johnson reached
Burns with a sharp upper cut and the
Canadian went to the floor, remaining
there for the count of eight. He sig
nailed to his seconds that he was all
right. however. and when he arose sail
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