The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-24
JOHNSON is NOW AN
UNPOPULAR FIGHTER
(By w. w. Naughton.) }

When Jack Wren, the far-famed
sports promoter of Melbourne. Aus
tralia, cabled the writer that he would
give Jim Jeffries ten thousand
pounds, win, lose or draw" TO box
Jack Johnson In Melbourne next No
vember. he concluded his deep sea dis
patch with the remark. "AusG alian6
are anxious to see Johnson defeated"
1t was thought at the time that Wren
In cabling that way merely wanted to
impress Jeffries with the belief that
he would not feel like stranger in
strange land II he made the trip to
the colonies. A letter just to hand
from Wren makes it plain. however,
that Johnson's victory was anything
but popular In Kangarooland, For that
matter the various accounts of the
fight published in the Australian pa
pers go TO show that there was prac-
tically no rejoicing over Burns down
fall. One paper described the crowd
around the ring as a detected one,
while Melbourne dispatch to Sgd
ney journal says that the throngs who
read the bulletins Of the contest plac-
ed OH the advertising boards In Mel
bourne just melted away In silence
when the result was announced
Wren's letter, which follows, speaks
for itself:
Melbourne, (Australia). December
30. 1908. W, W. Naughton, Esq, E3-
aminer Office, San Francisco:
Dear Sir-Two days ago ! took the
liberty Of cabling you with view of
arranging with j. ]. Jeffries to visit
this state to meet Jack Johnson in No
vember next The reason for men,
toning a date SO far ahead was two
fold / wanted to give Jeffries ample
time TO prepare after her long retire,
ment, and I also desired to select
date for the meeting on which some
big public function would Insure an
influx Of country and Interstate visit
ors to this city, SO selected our cup"
day-that IL. the biggest day of great
racing carnival and the most popular
holiday We know In Australia.
At the time OF cabling | had re-
solved upon limit that | was prepar-
ed to go in order TO obtain his pres
ence here, but l refrained from men
tioning 1t at that time. thinking that
Mr.. Jeffrles might make demand for
a lesser sum than | was prepared to
offer, and IN that case the premature
mentioning Of a sum by me would
have been unwise from a purely busi-
ness viewpoint. On receipt of your
answer, and despite It's discouraging
tone. cabled you an offer for Jeffrles
Of ten thousand pounds, win, lose or
draw" The only condition | would
have imposed In the event OF its ac-
ceptance would have been that he
should satisfy two doctors selected by
you Of his fitness TO enter upon Sc
we're course of training with an aver
age mans chance OF facing the black
sound and we'll
left the boxing game some months
ago. for | found that my connection
with II encroached upon the time that
should be devoted to the management
Of the racetracks and theatrical enter
prlses that / am concerned In, but the
result Of the Johnson-Burns contest
so stirred the very strong party here
who claim that Australia is and must
remain white mans country that |
was waited upon and asked 10 find
white man who could re-establish the
superiority OF the white race. | could
think Of nobody but JEFF for the task.
Failing him, think you'll have to get
one made to order
Burns never had a million 10 one
chance at any part OF the business. He
fought Gamely, but in sullen. doGged,
despairIDg fashion, withoue one SIN
ele fash Of brllliancy or that do-ordic