The San Francisco call., 1909-01-20
JEFFRIES OFFERED
100000 STAGE
CONTRACT
Manager Willis Britt Wires
That He viii Be Home
Again Today
BY William j. SIaffery

Jim Jeffries is now the greatest card
in the theatrical as well as the pugi-
listic world, and if the present flood of
footlight offers continues to pour in
upon him the big fellow can pick out
the pest of them, affix his name to the
contracts, fulfill the engagements and
retire from public life for keeps at the
end of a year with more money than a
ring engagement with Johnson would
ever net him. 1t is up to the great re-
tired champion to become q fayorite of
the footlights or a hero of the "a foot
arena. Which is 1t going to be, jeff?
The human mountain last night re-
ceived what is purported TO be the
most dattering theatrical coaxer that
any star of past or present period was
ever tempted with. 1t came from Sam
Wheeler of ST. Louis and it stated that
jeff could make 100000 if he would
a period of 33 weeks to appear In
vaudeville all over the United States.
The offer was marked urgent" and
Jeff was requested to answer immedi-
ately, which he did. stating that he
would consider it carefully.
The telegram. startling as it was,
did not take Jeff off his feet. He read
1t over a few times and then tossed it
aside and opened another This was
from Oscar Hammerstein, the great
New York theatrical magnate. who
briefly stated that he would like to
have Jeff sign UP with him for 10 weeks
at the modest salary of $4,000 a week.
Scarcely had the big fellow dis
carded this one than he was handed a
third from James Maxwell, another no.
ted New York director of stage af-
fairs. who wanted him for II weeks at
$4,000 a week. BY the time he had
done with the last offer the big fell
ing out what he should do with all of
them.
Jen has so many offers now that he
is bit puzzled. He would like to find
out more about Wheeler and his $780,
900 proposition, and to this end he
wired the st. Louis man shortly after
he received his offer. Thirty three
weeks on the road is long time, but
$780, 300 is a lot of money, provided
that left is not called upon to kill a
few men in order to earn it.
While the offers continue to come
thick and fast and the whole town is
busy talking about him Jeffries con-
tinues to do his stunts with Sam Ber-
ger at the Wigwam theater daily and
at the grind for three days now and
still there is apparently no falling off
in the attendance. They do not seem
to tire of Jeff's work
hurled at the champion every afternoon
and evening, but he sidesteps them all.
The best he does is to come through
with a few words and bows himself off
the stage. He has nothing to say yet,
although everybody is looking for him
to toss out a challenge at Johnson at
any time. If he does not do so very
soon the popui.ace will be disappointed.
THE manager of two worlds cham
pions will arrive in the morning;
This is the latest bit of intelligence
to be received from the wonderful
young pirate of the ring. 1t comes
from Barstow, Cal, where Britt evi-
IDENTIFY is delayed owing to slow train
service. When jim Coffroth received
it last night he sighed a deep sigh,
but said nothing.
Britt does not state whether or not
he is bringing either of his champions
with him. but from the tone of the
wire he is presumably on his way un-
accompanied. for the last time he wired
he intimated that Ketchel had been
booked for ten weeks theatrical
tour in the east.
Eddie Graney arrived on Monday
night from Goldfield, where he acted
as referee of the Attell- Weeks fight
last Thursday night. Graney was de-
layed about a day near Reno and this
caused him to miss the curtain raiser
afternoon, for which he was billed as
the third man to the set-to with Sam
Berger.
Graney says that the fight game is
booming In the Nevada mining town
again. According to the horseshoer
Attell and his easy mark played to a
$4,000 house, which is more money than
late. The fight. according to Gr;lney.
was a cake walk for Attell in every
round, Weeks never having as much as
a peep in at any time.