The San Francisco call., 1909-10-30
HEAVY WEIGHTS
QUICKLY AGREE
TO ALL DETAILS
VIII Battle Before July 5, 1910,
for the Club Making the
Best Offer

NEW YORK, Oct. 29.-Jack Johnson
and James J. Jeffries-the negro in
sisted that as present champion his
name should appear frst-signed ar
ticles here late today, binding them to
fight As rounds or more to finish, not
later than July 5, 1910. before the club
offering the best financial inducement,
the winner. to take a side bet Of $4,000
and IS per cent of the purse. the loser
TO take % per cent
Preliminary discussion was. sched-
uled for o'clock at the Hotel Albany.
Jeffries and his manager we're pune
tuaI to the minute, but Johnson ell
bowed his way diffidently through the
crowd 10 minutes late. At the table,
as the men stook their places, sat JEFF
fries, with Bob Vernon at his left
and Sam Berger, his manager. at his
right: johnson sat with George Little,
his manager; George Considine, Hon
est" John Kelly, Sam Harris. Sam Mel
son. Bob Murphy and other well
known sporting men.
CLICKS TWO RED DICE
Jeffries eyed the negro curiously,
but did not meet his glance. John
son was affable. but showed his ner-
vcusness by his frequent grins and his
constant clicking of two red dice.
which he carried half concealed in
the palm of his right hand.
Both principals posed for the pho
tographer, and when the smoke of the
fashlight had cleared, promptly got
down to business. .Jeffries let Berger
do his talking. but Johnson broke in
frequently on his manager with sug-
gestions and objections. Nevertheless,
it was remarked as the articles took
form, that Jeffries was winning nearly
every point for which he contended.
1t was agreed that the men would
box for the heavy weight champion
ship Of the world" AT this point
johnson insisted that the present
champions name should precede the
retired, undefeated champions name
in the written agreement.
To this Jeffries quickly assented
Berger then suggested that the fight
90 to the club making the highest
responsible bid within the next 80
days. Little agreed, but johnson,
shaking his head dubiously, asked that
each bid be accompanied by a $4,000
forfeit as a guarantee of good faith.
Jeffries nodded and Berger gave his
assent.
And have man on the ground
with the coin.' stipulated Johnson.
This was agreed to.
TO WATT FOR REFEREE
So far it had been easy sailing, but
when the question of a referee was
raised. the crowd followed the con-
versation expectantly. Little, for
Johnson, wanted TO name his choice.
For the first time Jeffries broke in.
Let the club that gets the bid have
a word" he ordered. They've as
much at stake as we have. Let it
wait
Little was for arguing the point, but
johnson was all Cancellation.
Well, let it 60" he urged, that's
all right.
The number of rounds was next in
order.
so far as ! go, said JeTries, 4
don't care if it's for six, ten. twenty
or a hundred rounds; but know what
the public viii demand, and 1 am go
ing to see that they get tit means
a finish"
At this the crowd cheered until
Bob Murphy had TO demand order.
But johnson was not satisfied. He
feared a San. Francisco club, where
only 20 round bouts are allowed, might
get the bid, and in that event insisted
20 rounds should be specified.
Then San Francisco won't get the
fight. announced Jeffries. decisively.
Make it 45 rounds or more"
Swallowing his objections, pre-
iousIy voiced, the negro agreed vol
ubly.
SETTLE DIVISION OF PURSE
There was still the rock on which
most agreements split-division of the
purse. To the crowds surprise. both
men protested they ware willing to
fight winner take all. go and 40 per
f, cent, or IS and 25 per cent; and on
the latter basis it was settled.
The side bet caused more difficulty.
Jeffries wanted 10 wager $40, 600.
Johnson, more cautious. offered S.. 600.
Little. his manager, wanted to laysthe
money at ringside odds, as a busi-
ness proposition AS a compromise
they agreed to let the $4,000 already
posted to secure today's meeting stand,
with $1,000 additional to be added
forthwith
All right" assented Jeffries. plain
lively. but | wanted that $4,000"