The sun., 1909-01-04
CURRENT SPORTING GOSSIP
RLPORT THiT JOHNSON not
BLE CROSSED BURNS.
~ May Bc True, M, Experts say Negro
Would Have Won anyway How
; Gerbett Got similar Deal Cana
man Tracks Expect Banner Year.

Did Jack johnson double cross Tommy
,Rnrns n the fight At sydney sporting
mon IN various cities would like To have this
,point cleared w. for they have heard
.rumur 10 the effect that Johnson. after
'Hgreeng IN lay down, went In and fought
on the level H. will be remembered that
ten days before the fight letter from
johnson toa Western man was made public
In Witch the negro declared that he in
tended TO beat Burns mo matter what
arrangements had been made between
Burns and Fitzpatrick. johnson also
wrote that he cared more for tho champion
ship title than money aud that Burns didn
have enough coin to make him throw the
nigh,
10 also viii be recalled that Tor weeks
before the man entered the ring the general
belief WIS that the mill was queer, and for
that reason there was little or no betting
on the result In this country. Furthermore,
~ IL a fact that Johnson and his nana ger,
Fitzpatrick. dd not leave England for
Australia until they had received word
from Burns to "Come along" Burns went
TO sydney and fought Squires. working
up the public interest TO a high pitch, Then
heSniade a match with Johnson and the
latter agreed to let Burns have $50 900. win.
lose or draw.
According to the rumor that is in Circu-
johnson nXed that is to say he got 4 promise
from the negro 10 lay down. and in that
way, making the result sure thing IL was
arranged TO lot Johnson have the privilege
of betting $4,000 OIL Burns, Meu who
klow Burns's methods say that from ths
time he double crossed Philadelphia JacS
.uBrien In Los Angeles he proceeded TO
niake all Oi HE fights sure thugs ihcy
declare that Suuires was stihened when
ba Ia Arv in
and was knocked out IN d punch that
!Sguires was again CinChed when Burns
put him away In France bur that when
they met for the third time In sydney In
'a,bsout that was or the level Sduires came
within an ace OF putting Burns to sleep
Moir, Palmer. Roche and smith, whom
.inuus knocked out on the other side, we're
such easy marksthat they uce1ci no per-
spasion.
J, The reason Burns avoided johnson 80
ong, says Dame Rumor, was to force the
negro to accept the French Canadian's s
terms, but the crafty Fitzpatrick. sure
that johnson could lick Burns on the level,
was ready TO enter into any kind Of frame
.up enIanating from Burns so long Ms John
son could get u chance at the white man
in the ring.
II have excellent reason for believing. 3"
said q veteran referee and matchmaker
was discussed yesterday, that Burns was
fooled at his own game. Burns insisted on
having $50. 900 Of the purse with only S5OoO
for johnson. because he thought IL would
compel Fitzpatrick and the negro TO do
business with him for a bunch of coin.
III there " a. an y deal on OF this kind you can
bet that Burns told Fitzpatrick that II
johnson would lie down there would be
possibly $4,000 cash 10 IL for him which
l.tx
Anybody that knows Fitzpatrick will
tell you that there isn't a crooked hair in
ihs head, but I'll bet that II Burns made
any such proposition to him Fitz accepted
IL Hke,a flash. In that case Burns was
assured that the big colored man would
mot try to knock him out and for that rea-
son he agreed to fight Then johnson. II
lodesth on the level, there being no escape
foI thewhite man. Fitzpatrick could easily
exptsip 70 Burns that johnson had double
a1ptbe time Fltz was In with Johnsons play.
for the negro's manager knew that by do
ip VARIOUS parts OF the world than by fakins
me at all il johnson d work in the double Ii5
cross. but whether he did or not Burns
never had chance on earth to beat him
spesking of the double cross recalls the
tapt that Tom O'Rourke worked II beauti-
fully on Jim Corbett when the latter agreed
70 hght ,Sharkey AT the old LenoS A. {.
CorbSett did 9oi %ant to tisht because he was
O'Roprke told him that Il he would make the
match With Sharkey things would be. 80
would stop the mill ia the sixth round,
Corbett, feeling that lie would be able 10
make a daz%ling showing iog about that
get his hands on the dOi!ar-, fell for this
clever rpso end signed arto.es,
But when y cslCe 70 lighting Bill Deyery.
i'm ls.Ea TlIt - tT,Il IA
Of u ullOurEes promise TO COrbett, did not
interfere III the sixth round. Then Corbett
for for him hin % By ipi1g INTO % The RI fnE s'sr't in tie
rsady 10 apply the kIockout wallop, The
noe result In a Knockout but II revealed the
fat.t that pr!Ieighting In California has
no. always been entitled 10 clean bill OF
health.
Coroett is still talking about lighting
and can win bdek, the heavyYelsht title
,.e-ts 40 hard rs nails lie declares that he |
be can get = match With The negro, AZ |
johnson Will not Sight IN this country for /
az leAst q year CorbeLt issdfe for that time
az least aud Will not be compelled TO retire |
from the sluge,
Matt J. Vim, president of the American
Turf Association and manager OF the En-
pife City Track. left Louisville last SatuI-
day for Mexico, where he intends 10 look
plan to establish rtCing on u large scale |
IN that country. Ii Is said that Vim rep
fesents I syndicate Of American tuTfmen.
some OF whom ere members OF the Jockey /
Club and that when he arrives In Mexico |
Sliy he viii be Joined By AlGenon DANGER
ield. assistant secretary OF the Jockey
Club. j. q. FOllansbee Is among those who |
are Interested IN the venture.
IN reviewing the season Of 0oS. W. P.
FRASER SECRETARY of the Ontario Jockey .