Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-08
BEFORE FIGHT CONG RINGS
How Different Pugilists Act Prior to
Entering Ring
JEFFRns sUItEN AND RESTLESS
Sullivan Brave Rnd PrOud-Ccrbett
Nervous ss a Cat-Dempsey on
EdRe-MySteriOus smiths
Temper-Burns Cool.

pr,zo Nohters who are obilged 20 q
~ uuch ar more courage than great gen.
orais are affected in different ways be-
fore important glove contests which de-
mand' from them personal gameness. a
clear. quick, thinking brain. clever gener-
Rlshipi remarkable physical endurance
Some of the best known fighters, IKE Ma
poleon, rest only a few hours before enter
Ing the ring. while others, X General
Grant: indulge in a peaceful sleep 'petore
the time arrives for hostilities to begin
Big J%effries. the right he won the heavy
ye:ght championship OF the world from
pob fItzsimmons at @Coney island, was
resting for a couple Of hours at a road
house near by before entering the arena.
Billy Delaney. his trainer and manager,
Eat at the bedside IN a dimly lighted room
watching over the boilermaker like a
mother over a sick child.
TRY to tske a nap, JIM" said Delaney
In a low voice. 1T will freshen you UP,
my boy" But the only reply from the
burIy pugiIist was a deep grunt. Jetf
rolled and tossed from side to side for
nearly an hour, refusing to see any friends
and actually unwilling to hold a CONVERSE
tin with his faithful trainer. The big
fellow was trained down pretty fine and
was suffering considerably from thirst, as
most fighters usually do when on edge.
Come. Jim, let's take a STROLL said
Delaney finally, when he found hat his
man could not sleep. JEFF slowly moved
himself to a sitting position on the side OF
the bed and buried his face in his huge
hands. He seemed to be lost In thought
for n few minutes and acted more like a
man goin gto the electric chair than one
man going to the electric chair h one
tic honors in the world.
Come, Jim, let's be off, exclaimed De-
laney. as he held Jefrs coat for him and
placed a short, heavy walking stick in the
big fellows hands,. In a few minutes JEFF
and Delaney passed slowly out Of the road
house and were soon lost in the darkness.
"A few close friends awaited the fighters
return. He came back with his trainer In
the same sullen mood and passed his
friends as II they were wooden Indians
Although he looked husky and strong his
demeanor did not inspire his admirers with
any great amount of confidence, and wher
he entered the. ring he looked gloomieI
than ever. In fact, the stolid expression
on his face did not change until he hat
put Fitz down for the final count. Their
Jeffries' bronzed features were lit up will
a wicked smile.
John L. Sullivan before his battle wa
the personification of confidence and pride
He always believed that he could knocl
out any man on earth. Even the night h
met his Waterloo at the hands of Jim Cor
bett Sullivan was as proud as a peacocl
and as brave as a lion. He was in particu
iarly good humor an he drove over to tn
Olympic club with Charley johnson, hi
hacker, and Jack McAuliffe, one of hi
seconds. Sullivan and McAuHffe sang oil
Irish ballads all the way to the arena an
then cracked jokes as they waited in tn
dressing room.
How long do you think the fight wi
last?" asked johnson gravely.
''oh, Pn knock that dudes head Off !