The Washington herald., 1909-03-04
JEFF IN new YORK
Big PugiliSt Greeted by an
Immense Thr0Dg.
IS STILL MUCH OVER WEIGHT
Former Champion Denies Rumor
that he Smokes 200 Cigarettes n
Pounds to Get Into His Best Form.
After that lie viii Talk.

New York. March s-No heavyweight
champion returning from a triumph IN
the ring ever received such an uproaroUs
ovation as that accorded to James J.
Jeffries when he stepped OF the Twen-
tieth Century Limited at the Grand Cen
tral Station to-day. One hour before the
train was due a big crowd gathered in
and around the depot. The moment the
big pHgilist was seen walking down the
platform, accompanied by sam Berger.
his sparring partner; William Morris. the
theatrical man, who win manage JEFF $
tour, and Mrs Jeffries. the crowd was
cheering wildly. When Jeffries reached
the iron railing hundreds cried out:
Bully for you. JEFF. Old fellow; you're
the man 10 whip Jack Johnson
VIII you fight Johnson roared others
IN chorus as they fought to get nearer
Jenries and his party had TO go through
the baggaSe-rOOm 10 reach the street. As
the pugilist emerged from the Vanderbilt
Avenue exit waiting crowd yelled more
questions at him as TO his intentions with
regard 10 Johnson. but a smile and a bow
was all the crowd got
Crowd Follows On,
Jumping into the cab WIKI his wife he
vas taken in hurry % William Morris
Office. in Broadway. with a regiment OF
men and boys doing their best 70 keen
Up. AT Morris Office there was another
enthusiastic crowd OF fans. who cheered
Jeffrtes 70 the echo. and asked him again
and again whether he intended 10 fight
the black champion or not But Jefrles
merely grinned and bowed. Later he
went TO the Hotel Albany, where he was
besieged with callers.
L have never said that I would fight
Johnson, said Jeffries to his question:
ers today. I'D be a fool 10 iSyue a
challenge 20 the negro now Why. I'm
nOt within twenty-five pounds Of nv hes,
torn, and how DO I know that 1 car
ever be the same as when I held and de-
fended the championship"
VIII you fight Johnson II you can get
right?' was asked
I don't know whether I can get right.
1 tell you, replied JefT, with a laugh.
Johnson says that he viii take YOU
o. for a S5.oo0 side be5. - said bystander.
Say. New York looks finer than ever,
doesn't it, exclaimed Jeff as he edged
away from the cross-examination. But
the queries were fast and furious Just
the same
Says Report Was n Joke.
III say ore thing exclaimed the big
fellow finally, that yarn about my snok-
ing 200 cigarettes 4 day was a Joke.
never had one in my mouth"
Jef isn't saying that he'll fight John
son." said Berger, his spsrring partner,
but you can bet he viii when the time
Gomez What do you suppose he's start
ed training for? he doesn't coafine an
his work 10 the stage: he's doing a lot
after the show. skipping the rope, punch
ing the beg, and working OF the road"
Jeffries took a ride about town in the
afternoon. and saw an array OF old
friends. He was congratulated on his
appearance.
johnson viii arrive at Vancouver on
TIE steamship Makura next Tuesday Or
Wednesday, and viii come East TO Chi
csg0. He viii rot arrive in this city until
about March -. Il is said. and will soon
leave for London. While he is willing
to fight Jefries, there Is no chance ot a
meeting in the ring before some time
next winter