Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-28

Sydney, n s. w, Dec. 27.-Jack
johnson. the new heavyweight cham
pion of the world, was up betimes this
morning, showing himself to the pop
ulece of Sydney He was dressed in
his newest ana fashiest suit of clothes
and made very striking appearance
as he sailed down the street followed
by all the small boys and some of the
big boys Of the town.
He visited the office of The Referee,
which is the great sporting paper of
Australia, and declared his intentions
Of meeting any man VINO challenged
him for the title. provided his man
ager, Sam Fitzpatrick. was willing.
johnson showed very few marks of
his fierce encounter with Tommy
Burns. There was q scratch here and
there, but on the whole he came out
Of the fight with hardly mark
He was in high feather, but at the
same time the acma of nonchalance.
ut was easier than J really expected.
Burns didn't hit me hard. enough to
make me fell sore when l got out Of
bed this morning I could easily tackle
another champion jast rs an appe-
tier
Johnson Nd5 louG IA HIS praises lOi
the gamtness of BurIl-. He certainly
got some hard wallopS." declared the
dusky champion, 'and many a man
would have quit before the police took
q hand. I am sorry the authorities had
to step in, but it was only a question
of few more Flows. l could nave fin
ished Burns in the 14th round if there
had not been interference
Burns was late in showing hilnself
and he took care not to parade the
streets any more than possible. He
acknow iedged that Johnson was a bet
ter man than he expected to meet.
Austr lila is just beginning TO recover
from the shock. Jack Johnson is tine
hero OF the hour. The first negro
heavyweight champion Of the world is
the Idol 81 the Antipodes. Burns how
ever. has lost little of his splcndor as
the result of the fatal battle. His great
courage retrieved his damaged PROV
ess. Many still believe that the former
title holder is capable of reversing the
decision.
There is almost a universal demand
that the men be re-matched. Johnson
is willing. Burns has not definitely de-
cided whether to retire permanently
from the ring.
Il can lick Burns every day in the
week and twice on Sunday" said the
big negro today. with a broad grin.
"Of all the men 1 have ever met ne is
the easiest. could have knocked him
out much sooner had l wished l want
ed to take a good revenge and had my
satisfaction. Fight him again. Well,
count me in.
Nov that the shoe is on the other
foot l just want to hear that white
man come whining around for another
chance. I'll give him real, live taste
of my match making genius See how
he'll relish the chance of beating for
bare expenses. Ha! Ha."
II have no excuses Burns declared
this morning. johnson beat me and
beat me fairly. will acknowledge did
not think he had such punch or
things might be different. I made up
my mind to rush him from the start
and was somewhat careless.
THAT first punch Won the battle for
him. was not myself at any time after
that. Indeed. I have little recollection
Of what followed Though he beat Inc
and beat me badly I still believe I am
his master.
III Johnson is not too arbitrary
might meet him again. do not have
to fight. But l feel the sting of defeat
doubly because of the fact that my fall
allowed a colored man to win the
title for the first time in ring history
II I am Johnson's master as believe,
I feel it my duty to retrieve my one
unfortunate mistake"