Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-02-26
Big Jeff Tells
of Black Hand
Note

Los Angeles have received some
queer odds and ends OF mail matter
recently. Cranks, beggers. speculat
Ors. investors and prospectors OF all
descriptions poster me with their
wants only see few OF the letters
that are addressed to me for the sim.
pie reason that II ! attempted to read
them all wouldn't have time for any.
thing else
What | started out to tell you about
was the Black Hand letter that turned
up at my breakfast table during the
last day of my recent stay In San
Francisco. How it got there | don't
know, but II was there all right and It
looked to be the real thing
The letter went on to state that IL
| didn't come out and say that | was
going to fight Jack Johnson soon that
would receive personal call from
the gentleman with the black hand"
the inference being that said gentle.
man would have something in his
hand besides his palm. II also rccited
at great length the dangers to which |
would he subjected to during my com
ing Eastern vaudeville tour unless |
acknowledged that I was going to
meet Johnson. Can you beat that for
impudoSce? The letter probably was
written by some porter or buOtbllCk.
anticipate a great deal Of pleasure
La, ,,T II Eel. l..
when revisit Chicago. New York
and other Eastern cities soon. It has
been quite a while since | strOllod up
old Broadway and down State street
and | am wondering how my former
friends and acquaintances will receive
me.
Here In California the public has
seen me day by day, and consequently
have not noticed the growing change
In my appearance. Back East they
remember me as looked when left
there several years ago They will
take one look ut me. and then ! will
be able to tell by the expression on
their faces whether or not they are
disappointed in me. They will notice
the change quicker than the people
who have been with me day after day,
and their decision IL going 10 carry
great weight with me.
AS everybody knows, | am going
out on long theatrical tour. and
am going TO be well paid for my ser.
vices. ! am simply taking advantage
OF the opportunities that are present.
ing themselves. and want to call at.
tentlon once more that | am not talk.
ing advantage of the public by limiting
or insinuating that intend to return
TO the ring.
] say now, as ! have said all along.
that ! have retired from the ring and
| that | intend To stay retired. Now. II
the press agents want 10 put any other
construction on my movements. that's
their business. not mine. My con.
science Is clear. am dealing above
the board to the public.
a laughablc item was brought to my
notice recently. In this article Jack
Johnson was made 10 say that if he
fought me he would demand n negro
referee as he was champion of the
world and would take no chances Of a
prejudiced white man officiating.
Now as n plain matter of fact Jack
Johnson would not he the heavyweight
champion were to re.enter the ring
and declare myself. would be the
champion and Johnson would be tho
challenger. As such he would be prct.
~ small potatoes when II came 10
swinging In colored man as referee.
Can you see Jim Jeffries in the ring
with two colored men?
have private cablegrams to the
effect that Johnson has signed up for
several weeks OF theatrical work I'm
England so that II appears that the
big fellow is not anxious to fight. He
Is entitled to make all the money ne
can, as Johnson was compelled Ia
chase Tommy Burns over half wav
across the world before he could get
the chance to elevate himself to his
present position, The less that John.
son has to do with Sam Langford the
better 1t will he for the former. Lang,
ford might make such a showing as Ia
greatly cheaper Johnson's prestige.