Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-31
MEANS RINGS MOST
DESPERATE BATTLE
JEFFRIES' HATRED FOR JOHNSON
ASSURES VICIOUS FIGHT If
THEY MEET.
WANTS TO BEAT HIM UP
Ex-champion Says He Will Try to
Batter Negro BadIy-Mentions the
Munroe BattIe-SeveraI Big OF.
fers Made for the Fight.

When Jim Jeffries climbs through
the ropes to fight Jack Johnson for
the worlds heavyweight championship
the spectators at the ringside are
likely to see one of the most vicious
battles ever witnessed in prize
ring.
Jefries hates Johnson and makes
no effort to conceal the fact. 1t was
reported from San Francisco several
years ago that the retired champion
and Johnson met in Tom Corbett's
saloon one day and the big black
asked Jeffries to fight him.
In rage the ex-boiler maker drew
4 purse from his pocket, threw it on
the bar and shouted:
Il have announced that I never
would fight negro, but to stop your
talk, have just this to say: There's
about $4,000 in that bunch of money.
Now you and will 60 down in the
cellar by ourselves. There'll be no
referee and the best man will win.
If you can put me out you can come
up here and take the money. If lick
you it will cost you nothing, except
possibly your life, for I warn you
that I'll try to kill you with my fists
These are the only terms on which
I'll fight a niger"
Johnson refused, so went the story,
which has since been denied. True
or not, it is an indication Of Jeffries'
feeling toward Johnson. When JEFF
fries retired from the game because
there was no one to fight him, Tommy
Burns, by beating Marvin Hart, got
the championship title. Then John
son followed Burns, who was not a
champion Of the class of Jeffries,
Fitzsimmons, Corbett or Sullivan, to
Australia and whipped him in IA
rounds This put different situation
up to Jeffries. He raved to think
that a negro, especially Johnson,
should be called the best fighter in
the business. He couldn't stand the
idea at all. Consequently, having
found that he can get into condition,
he Is going into the ring again with
the sole purpose of putting the white
man back into supremacy in tho
pugilistic world.
Jack Johnson is the only man I
will meet outside of Jack Munroe
that I will 60 into the ring against
feeling that I want to beat him up
badly. And when Jack and I meet
you'll see what will happend," said
Jeffries recently. The big heavy
weight simply scowled when asked
about Johnson and showed that he
was obviously in i'll temper.
I'm in fitst-class shape" he said;
that's the only reason I've hesitated
about this match. I've trained as hard
as any man could do when. he was
abroad. OF course, it's bad to get
back into the harness after four
years of loafing around, but I think
/ can do it.. I have kept away simply
because I wanted to make sure Of
my wind first. ',>' .
j: Its the wind that counts, boys.
You newspaper men don't appreciate
how much depends on mans lasting
qualities. As a general thing, it's
short sprint for you from some. as.
signment to your own Office. But in
the ring it's got to be a fight against
q man who may worry YOU for long
time. ,@ = y 5Ss .$y 5s.2 ys& i
& TITS only once, as / said before, I
went In the ring with hard feeling
against the man was to meet. That
was Munroe. He had been Dragging