Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-08-11
JACK JOHNSON CANNOT DODGE
Will Be Compelled to Give Jeffries
an Answer to Statement Claim
ing Worlds Title.

anything to do with prize fighting
James ]. Jcffries has done as mucf
as he can to get Johnson to meet hin
in the ring.
Five one thousand dollar bills, pre-
sent vintage, as yellow as saffron, and
as well engraved as any bills that
ever were turned out by a govern
ment artist, have been hung in the
gallery to await the pleasure OF the
negro who holds the championship.
The money has been posted with a
stipulation that may make Johnson
dance. Not only is he to meet this
$4,000 with a similar amount to dn'
sure the match, but he must put uI
another $4,000 as side bet in order
to make the trouble of training worth
the time. of the big fellow.
That will make a total purse Of
$4,000, winner to take all. There
are some who believe that Johnson
will come cropper trying to meet
these conditions. He has some
money of his own. . How much no
one knows. He earned quite little
by his fights abroad, and since he has
been home he has possessed himself
of that inailenable right which be-
long to fghters-to get rid Of 1t as
quickly as possible. From all ac-
counts he has been faithful and per-
severing in his energy to separate
himself from anything which he may
have deposited in the bank. He
may have a larger sinking fund than
any one knows.
Another question is whether John
SOL can induce any backer of prize
fighters to put up the money for him
+. he doesn't happen to have the loose
change in his trousers, pocket.
OF course, if the champion can't
get the, necessary sum together jeff
lries will not feel 1t incumbent to
wait more than four months to close
the match. He can gracefully de-
cline to continue negotiations and
Johnson will suffer accordingly.
Meanwhile Jeffries has made up his
ming to go to Europe. That's set
tied for the time being. He will
travel to Carlsbad to try the springs.
There are great many distinguished
persons in Carlsbad and on their way
to Carlsbad for the same purpose.
Some of the members Of the most
noted families of Europe are going to
be present at the springs shortly.
Take a brief glance over this JEFF
ries matter and note how he has
been forced to become fighter again.
practically against his will. While
he was out in California, enjoying
himself and making what money he
could in the business which he has
established in Los Angeles, smart
theatrical man in Eew York suddenly
conceived the notion that it would be
good business venture to put Jeff-
ries on the stage again.
A dispatch was sent to the former
champion that he would be paid $4,000
a week, or something of that sort, if
he would agree to three months
Of work before the public. That look
ed like such easy money that Jeffries
stopped to think it over, especially as
It provided an opportunity to get
back to the east and see old friends.
In few days the preliminaries
were arranged, and with smart re-
compense for every day that he was
away from home the once champion
started away from the folks and came
east. Of course, the moment that he
got east it wasn't like the theatrical
folk who had engaged him to per-
nit the ', lic to forget for a minute
that the: light be q chance that he
would tale to the ring again, and
through the cheerful art of the inter-
viewer Jeffries was advertised every
five or six. minutes.
BY and by it began to look as If
he would not make it his object to
meet Johnson. Then there was an
other turn OF the adventurous press
agents mimeograph and Jeffries
bounded back to the center of the
stage.
Between stories which were and
stories which were not denied, the big
fellow, little by little, was forced in
to the position that he is found to-
day, in spite Of the fact that there
Is reason to believe that he would pre-
fer to be left to comfort, and that he
did mean it when he said he was tired
Of lighting for the benefit of the pub
lie or for the benefit Of Jeffries.
Johnson must make some kind OF
a reply to Jeffries. What it will be
remains to be seen. He can't ig-
more this formal announcement by a
man who, in his prime, could have
whaled Johnson around the ring and
back again.
The chances are about as good that
he may do it now if it ever b ecomes
necessary. The difference between
fight now and one when Jeffries
was at his best is just the difference
that age insists the human being must
pay when the mind that controls it
insists that it shall undertake physic-
al efforts that were once matters of
easy achievement.
Jeffries is not in anything like the
condition that he was when he fought
those famous encounters at Coney ISL
and in this city. Perhaps he is
lighter and some harder in flesh than
when he first came east.
In his present condition he would
dispose of Johnson quickly If the
negro takes no better care of himself
than he has in the last two months.
Those who have seen him in the west
say he is showing plenty of signs of
easy living and that he will not be
able to train himself thoroughly as
quickly as he imagines.
Pittsburg will probably he the first
team in the major league to reach the
400 mark in runs. Up to Friday the
Pirates had scored 391 times in 81
games, an average of more than four
runs per game. They had made TT