Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-29
JACK JOHNSON
REACHES NEW YORK
Given a Great Reception by
the Co|ored People of
Gotham.
Special DISPATCH to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 29.-Jack johnson,
the champion heavyweight pugilist of
the world, made his first appearance in
this city at $3.50 o'clock this morning
since he acquired the title of premier
pugilist. Johnson arrived from Chicago
on the twentieth century limited this
morning i'm just the same theatrical man
ner that Jim Jeffries came to town March
3: and the same sensational greeting
awaited the negro that was given 10 the
big Californian almost a month ago. For
more than one hour previous to the ar
rival of the train from the west the crowd
had been gathering and, as was the case
when Jeffries appeared, the police had
their hands full I'm controlling the self-ap-
pointed reception committee. which was
estimated at number not far from TO-
90 persons.
| The incoming train platforms. the wait
| ing room aud the streets about Grand
| General station were crowded with a
pushing and cheering thronS when the big
| fellow stepped from the train Despite
the fact that it was a good-natured
crowd, the police detailed about the sta
| ton had all they could do to hold it
| in check. Notwithstanding the rein
forcements that We're placed about the
station just as soon as it was seen that
| the arrival of Johnson was going to at
| tract Just as many spectators as that Of
Jeffries, it was found almost impossible
| to keep open passages through the dense
crows.. Every exit leading to the train
platforms was damned solid. and it was
virtually impossible for the late COM
muters to make any progress against the
tide of humanity which set SO strongly In
/ the opposite direction.
A majority of those who gathered to
greet Johnson were members of his own
| race, and the negro population of the
city left nothing undone TO make his well
| come royal one. "A long line of auto
mobiles and auto sightseeing cars was
headed by an auto truck which staged a
thirty piece brass band. The band en-
| livened the wait by a number of patriotic
and other well known airs, while the occu-
pants of the automobiles kept time with
| the American flags and round after round
of cheering.
| The train rolled into the shed on time,
and from the last car stepped forth Jack
Johnson. \ scramble among the station
porters Immediately c1Sued for the honor
of carrying the champions grip. john
son was dressed in gray mixed suit,
u London smoke" overcoat, black derby
AMI black shoes A large diamond spark
| led from a white scarf. The negro car
ried neat cane, surmounted by silver
| handle. In the party were Mrs. John
! son c. Little, Johnson's hacker; Mrs.
| Little. A. b. Kerns. business manager:
Kid Cutler, sparring partner, and Mrs.
Cutler.
AS Johnson walked down the station
platform hemmed in on all sides by
friends. station men and curious specta-
tors. the crowd outside the gates caught
| sight of the negro and greeted the cham
I pion uproariously.
The cheering increased in volume, and
| the neighborhoOd of the Grand Central
station was transformed into second
| bedlam. Standing up in the tonneau of
the machine. Johnson DOTTED his hat. sec
onded by Sam Langford, in response to
| the expressions OF good will that welled
from thousands of throats. 1t was with
| difficulty that the car was started. and
] people were thrown right and left and
| trampled upon as the machine slowly
! made its way toward 42d street.
! number of automobiles occupied by
negroes. who cheered uproariously and
| frantically and waved American flags, fell
| in behind the champions car. The pro-
I cession turned AID street toward Broad
way. All along the line of parade the
| crowds cheered. while johnson stood up
and dotted his hat like a conquering gem
| eral returning from a victorious war.
/ Upon being asked as to what his future
plans were. Johnson said:
| Il Will post a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for
| felt in this city today for a match with
Jim Jeffries. l have not yet decided how
| long / will give him to cover, but the
| probability is that it will be only few
| days. However, / must first look around
and get matters straight. If Jeffries fails
to cover the forfeit l am willing to fight
any man in the world, providing suitable
| inducements are offered
In reply to a question to whether he
would meet Stanley ketchel in ten
round bout i'm this city the champion said:
| Bring the money. I will fight anybody,
| big little, with the understanding, of
course. that the match is made worth my
| while"
| He concluded by saying:
/ ANY engagement made by Sam Fitz-
patrick my former manager. is off. will
not fight Sam Langford at the National
| Sporting Club of London: the purse is too
| am through with Fitzpatrick for good and
all dates made by him are Cancelled.
have taken on considerable weight since
the Burns fight and now scale at about