The Washington herald., 1909-10-30
FIGHTERS sign UP
JeffrieS- Johnson Match Is
Clinched After Debate.
MILL FOR NEXT SUMMER
Bout to Decide Heavyweight Cham
pionship of World L. Decided Upon.
Side Bet of $4,000 Is Placed an
observation-disclosures Is Star of the
Meeting Between Rivals.

New York. oct 29.-After a conference
lasting nearly three hours, James J. JEFF
fries retired champion, and Jack John
son. the incumbent to-day agreed to fight
forty-nve rounds or more TO decide the
heavyweight championship of the world.
Articles Of agreement TO this effect were
signed by both principals. who were pres
ent AT the session The papers, which
were drawn up at 3 o'clock, were not
ready for the signatures of the two rivals
until an hour later, when they both al
fixed their names.
VIII Fight I'm Summer.
The battle Will not take place until
away in the summer OF next year, and will
be held before the club donating the best
purse. A side bet of $4,000 is 10 hinge
on the outcome each side agreeing TO
wager 5000. Five thousand dollars was
also posted by each pugilist az guar
antee OF good faith with Robert p. Muir
phy. proprietor Of the Hotel Albany,
where the meeting was held Mr. Muir
ply was selected as temporary stake and
forfeit holder The meeting which was
arranged for 3 o'clock. was held in the
banquet hall Of the hotel on the first
floor. and was attended by cosmopol-
tan gathering. including fighters. actors,
and sports. Then there was an army
of photographers who leveled a battery
of cameras on the principals and filed the
small room with smoke
Those who came merely TO see the two
big representatives Of the roped square
and listen 20 the proceedings spent an
ENJOYABLE and interesting afternoon
Others who came with the expectation Of
seeing Jeffries and Johnson maui each
other with all sorts of recriminatons
and explosives were agreeably disap-
pointed.
There was no idle talk. in 1act. the
men discussed matters with Chesterfield
ian politeness. and the entire session was
conducted in an earnest, businessilke
manner
johnson Is Star of Meeting.
Johnson was the star Of the meeting
He made an excellent impression. because
Of his willingness TO concede many
vital points The only time that he balk-
Cd was when Jeffries suggested they
make a side bet OF $4,000
He would have consented 20 invest this
sum had not his manager interviewed and
convinced him that he could get a much
better return for his money by betting
zee amount at the prevailing odds.
Jeffries was the first 10 suggest that
the contest be for forty rounds or more.
This was perfectly acceptable to the
negro. who demurred only when he
thought that there might be a possibility
Of the big match going 10 San Fran
cisco. where. according to law. en-
counters Of twenty rounds only are per-
mitteG.
Jeffries was earlier on hand than John
son The white man took a seat at the
tables beside Berger with George Con-
sidlne q few feet away. Jeffries sent for
Considlne. who. Il is believed. furnished
the 5000 side bet for the brawny boiler
maker. At any rate. he took more than
q perfunctOry interest i'm the proceedings,
Tor he had several private consultations
with both Jenrles and Berger during the
session.
Johnson sat at a direct angle with
Jeffries. with Little close by. and Al
Woods. the theatrical manager just be-
hind. There WAS not the slightest nod
or sign OF recognition between the
fighters
several tunes IN tne course or the aIler-
noon Johnson addressed Jeffries a;
mister" Jeffries. on the other hand
treated the negrOs presence with in.
difference, and only once spoke to him
and that was when the question Of how
the purse should be divided came up
Fight for Championship.
The agreement entered into between
Johnson and Jeffries provides FOR th'
following:
They agree TO box for the heavyweight
championship OF the world.
They agree to box for the club. orSani
zation, or person offering the best finan
ciel inducement.
Bids for the contest must be submitte,
on December /, 1909. at p. m. at tn
Hotel Albany, New York city.
Each club organization, or person