Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-18
TWO JIMS OPEN
SHOW AT VERNON
cORBETT AND JEFFRIES IN
FRIENDLY TILT
ACTOR BEATS OPPONENT OVER
FlFTY-YARD COURSE
oId-Time Rivals Spend the Day To-
gether and Man Who Lost Two
Battles to Jeff Is Well
Pleased

Jim Jeffries has announced that Mike
would be the opening attraction for the
housewarming of his new Vernon
club. This may be true, but to all ap-
pearances James j. Corbett and JEFF;
fries himself proved to be the initial
performers in the new arena when they
entertained a coterie of friends yes
terday afternoon by facing each other
in the Vernon ring and giving each
other a few friendly taps.
The ex-champion heavyweight fight
er, who is now "a thespian, was the
guest of his old time rival all day yes
terday Although these two exponents
of the fistic art engaged in two of the
fiercest battles ever Waged in the prize
ring. yet they entertain only the best
Of feeling for each other. Together
with Baron Long, mogul extraordinary
of the new organization, and several
newspaper men they chugged- -chugged
out to Vernon on a tour of inspection.
Tt was Corbett's first glimpse of his
erstwhile rivals new fight club, and
he seemed tickled to death after look
ing over Jeffs pavilion.
To the delight Of their assembled
friends, Jeffries and Actor Jim jumped
upon the platform and faced each
other in the ring for the first time in
five years That each of them was in
the pink of condition was attested by
the fact that Jim the Actor was puff
iny laboriously at a choice weed which
protruded from between his rows of
worries, while Jeff clung tenaciously
to his pet cigarette. Then, while the
camera man got ready for business,
jeff and Jim put UP their guard, feinted
a few times, and the round was over.
corbett Beats Jeff
When the two huskies stepped down
from the ring Jim Morely came to the
front and offered to make q bet that
Jeffries could out-run the ex-camp in
fifty-yard foot race. Corbett snapped
him up in a second, and they prepared
to hoof it over the distance. Corbett
got away with flying start and Jeff
never overlook him, the former win
ming by about foot and half. After
Corbett had won the race the pair
chugged over to Jim's ranch, where
they spent the remainder of the after
noon.
When asked his opinion of the new
arena, Corbett said: WELL this beats
them all. I have seen nearly every
fight shed in the country, and you can
take 1t from me that this one comes in
lengths and lengths ahead of any
have ever looked at or fought in. I
can't conceive how it would be possi-
bio to better the conditions which have
been provided for both the public's and
the fighters welfare. That shower
bath stunt In the dressing rooms is one
that will go straight out to the hearts
of the boys after they have gone
through the mill.
I'm fact" continued Actor Jim, this
building is such an improvement over
the old barns wherein we used to give
performances that 1t is almost impos-
sibe to draw a comparison. I particu-
larly like this stunt of having no posts
within the enclosure. for then every
body gets a good view of the ring, and
it does away with the usual grumbling
of the bleacherites
Jimmy Gardner and Mike Twin put
in another hard period of work yester-
day. After his workout Gardner
weighed in and tipped the scales at
143h pounds. He says he could make
the weight tomorrow If it were re-
CURED to do so.
Both boys are preparing to entertain
large crowds of admirers Sunday, when
they will give an exhibition of boxing
with their sparring partners. 1t Is very
likely that large crowd of bluejackets
will visit the boys, and extra seats are
being provided In anticipation of their
arrival.