The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-22
Big Pugilist Arrives Full of
Confidence and Enthusiasm.
Trained Vigorously at Carlsbad
to Meet johnson.
HE is READY NOW.
Sooner Articles Are Signed the
Better Says Big Man.
Will Submit to Operation to
Have Broken Nose Fixed.

New York. Oct. 22.-James J. Jef-
fries has come back from. his Euronean n
trip ready and fit. it is believed. to
tight Jack Johnson for the heavyweight
championship of the world Ip the en-
virons of Carlsbad. Bohemia, the ONE
time boilermaker is asserted to have
trained vigorously for the johnson mill
without giving the slightest hint to his
friends in America of what he was do
ing. When Jeffries walked down the
gang plank of the steamship Lusitania.
which arrived today. he looked as if
he was in fighting trim. His solid hulk
OF frame was Without superfiuous flesh
and his complexion was clear. Sam
Berger, his srarring partner. and a hosl
of admirers at the dock appeared sur
prised at the physical condition of the
retired champion.
Now I'm rea6y to ight johnson to-
morrow, said the big fellow, "and the
sooner the articles are signed the bet
ter. I'll live up to the Berger agree
ment, but as to details they can take
care of themselves
What about Johnson?" was asked
Jeffries' brown eyes snapped as he
re pied:
I care not about johnson. That
negro has made more noise ard done
less than any man I know
JeffrieS told how he had brought
himself into fighting condition, but he
was a little reticent about his weight
Il weighed under 200 pounds at
Carlsbad began Jeffries slowly, land
| the last time 1 jumped on the scales
it was in France tipped the beam
| at 22S pounds but you can't get me on
| the scales now for $40
Has No Extra Fat.
How did get into shape? 1t
seems the newspaper men always
have me with lot of fat on my body.
I didn't have much when I went away
| and haven't any nOW''
| And to emphasize the point Jeffries
seized substantial part of his vest in
| his hand to show how small his
waist line had grown.
Now at Carlsbad 1 did ten miles on
the road every morning" continued
the former champion. '.and in the af-
| ternoon l put in my time in the
! gymnasium. The Germans thought I
was crazy when they saw me running
along the highways.
81 did some more work in France
and trained at a place just out of
| Paris. I had to look at the address
on card every time I went out there
| to work. The French are crazy over
fighting and 1 saw some bouts there.
I also took in some of the exhibitions
at The National Sporting club at Lon
don, but their advertised heavyweight
contests are nothing more than mid
| dleWeight affairs.
ST have done no boxing while
abroad
Will Have Nose Fixed.
Jeffries said he would undergo an
| operation on his nose in few days
| while in this city.
''I would have had it done in Carls-
bad, but they told me that the doc
tors here could do it just as well. and
| again the price they wanted was
something fearful My nose is broken
and it interferes with my breathing" "
Jeffries said he had talked to no
one while abroad about his fight with
Johnson and denied he had said that
he wanted a purse for $3.50, 600 for
the mill.
Mrs. Jeffries accompanied her hus-
band on the trip and spent sometime
at her home in Sake Meiningen.
Jeffries will probably meet Jack
Johnson and his manager in this city
early next week, when the final ar
ticles for the fight will be signed
Need Left Hand to Whip johnson.
Last August in Chicago Sam Berger
for Jeffries signed preliminary
agreement with Johnson for contest
of anywhere from 20 to 100 rounds
before the club offering the largest
purse, which was to be divided on any
terms made by Jeffries. The agree
| ment provided that the fight should
take place within six months after the
signing of articles.
The retired champion said he had
heard in Paris that Sam McVey IN ms
contest with Joe Jeanette in that
city, had really won the fight and
| that it had been fixed for jeanette to
win. Jeffries added that McVey was
only a right handed fighter and would
have little chance with Johnson.
You want a left hand to fight
Johnson" added Jeffries as he walked
away to join an admiring crowd of
friends on the pier.