The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-17
'JEFFRES
 KNOCKED OUT Big Champion Takes the
 Count. NEW YORKER TURNS TRICK Reporter Keeps on Heels of the
 Fighter. ~.. l. Wired sle,sss ts Suppress the Story ee . Fight and Knockout i, Private
 New York Gym

New York Telegram:
 and undisputed champion pugilIst of tho world. was knocked out in less than three rounds by an unknown wonder in . private street gymnasism- TRis startiins. but nsv- ertheless. true.} information b herewith
 Jss asfeas a at ahs sh. ssnd. of ss. unknown will undoubtedly result in his re- sirement from the ring forever. The big of F1atbush and is employed as q reporter on this paper. Following is'a detailed ac- count of the fight and the incidents that
 The young man had been assigned. by his city editor to keep close watch on try to ,nSu Mnse me was in dnis city ana bo to would fight Jack Johnson. the negro claim ant of the heavyweight championship.
 Don't let him out of your sight for q mo- ment and keep asking him until you get an answer" were the instructions given the re- porter by the city editor who did not have
 For a whole day and most of night the young man kept after Jeffrisss but was unable to get q definite statement from hiIn. again tackled the big fellow yesterday af- ternoon and followed him about the city re- ton. Jeffries took it good naturedly at first. but after several hours he became an. noyed and threatened to hand" the per
 Say. kid." the big fellow declared. you cut that or you and will go to the mat.
 This started the. reporter thinking. He thought hard--reai hard. What would hap of the world did clashf It surely would make Q wonderful story If he lived long enough to write it. Then he thought some with the big fellow! Didn't he know a TO. porter that went up in balloon once and msns sSss 'ns That Sa sa for his paper-vhy shouldn't he take chance? Just think what beat" this
 Of course, the reporter knew. that he didn't have much science in the manly art. but he had boxed three rounds once with the champion of Bath Beach. who later fought a preliminary bout in c South Brooklyn ath- letic club and won it in the second round isnes o fTesh shs m.d. up . mind to take the chance. He would fight Jim. Jsffries.
 Walking boldly into. the lobby of the AL bany Hotel about midnight he found Jef- fries bidding goodnight to e group of sports. preparatory to his retiring for the night through the group and. catching hold of Jeff fries by the arm. he said:
 Whether you like it or not. Mir. Jsffries. I'm going to ask you again if you are going
 Jeffries. surprised at first. could say and then, noting the serious look on the re- porter's face he replied in an angry tone:
 .sYou get out of here and stay away from and scatter them ali over Broadway; "I'd like to have you try it," declared the Sssny M and s: in sToa: a: though ready for an attack.
 Three or four of the sports. who by this to ted drag AI the reporter away, but tine young man refused to be quieted and insisted that he knew what he vas . aoins hs nsasMsd hs sSnsd knock Jeffries' head off, champion or no champion" tns %a Ead Morls from whom Jeffries is to receive Seo.ooo, for a twenty weeks engagement. was on thai he could obtain for his star. ended the disturbance by suggesting that the party go to the gymnasium on Forty-second street, where the champion is 10 tFaih' ana tner" settle the argument. -.. .a,
 Jeffries had his sparrtng partner, sam Berger. for his second ana m the uerw seporie ni,s becker and "Ai" Davis. Prof Barker. who owns the gymnasium. acted as referee There and after a few instructions time was call The reporter was a trifle nervous during rai vicious lunges that Jeffries made at him. This seemed to give him confidence and Se Keeping cool, level head-which is the easiest thing in the world for him to do-he managed. to stay the round out and escaped glancinE left that he hardly felt.
 When he came up for the second round he was more confident than ever and made several attempts to reach Jefrs' Jaw. F1no. ing this an impossibiiity he again starsed to clinch as. in the first round, and again he managed to stay until the pen ~i'nout
 inc third round had hardly started when the reporter, suddenly dropping to ms Knees and the big fellow dropped to the floor like a log. He not only stayed down Tor th. full count of the referee, but took nearly half an hour to bring him to his senses. - x. .s xs all witnessed the knockout. none Of the par tv could realize what had happened. Even the young reporter himself seemed dazed. He had knocked out the champion Of ths world, but he could hardly believe 1t him self After the excitement was all over. though attempts were made to hush up the affair and the reporter was offered $l0.00O to suppress the story.
 The reporter indignantly refused the or office Once there he unfolded his almost unheIieyable story to the editor in charge and succeeded in convincing him of It's truth fulness This editor had him write the de- tails of the fight round by round and then slapping the young man on the back in- formed him that his salary would be trip
 The editor in charge slapped 60 hard though that the reporter woke up and round himself all alone on a couch In the lobby or the Hotel Albany. After wiping the per- spiration from hts brow he staggered over to the desk and managed to gasp to tho
 Hasn't MT. Jeffries got back yet'"
 more than three hours" replied the clark. .sIf you come around tomorrow you can
 But the reporter had started Tor his nome in F1atbush.