The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-23
BIG JEFF IS READY
FOR JACK JOHNSON

New 1DTk. ort. A-*-JailIsS u Jti-
fries has come back from his European
trip ready and fit. it Is believed, to
fight Jack Johnson for the heavyweight
championship of the world. In the
enyirons of Carlsbad Bohemia. the
/ on.-tinse boiicrmaker is asserted to
have trained vigorously for the Johnson
mill. without giving the slightest hint
/ to his friends in America what he
was doing.
When Jeffrics walked down the gang
plank of the steamer Lusitania. which
arrived today. he looked as III he was
in fighting trim. His solid frame was
without superfluous flesh and his COM
plexfon was clear. Sam Berger. his
sparring partner and a host of adj
mirerx at the dock appeared surprised
at the physical condition of the re-
tired champion.
Now. I'm ready to fight Johnson tn
II orrow." said the big fellow. and the
sooner tho articles are signed the bet
ter. I'll live up to the Berger agree
mont. but as to details they can take
care of themselves
What about Johnson" was asked
Jeffries brown eyes snapped as he
replied:
Il care nothing about Johnson. That
niger has made more noise and done
less than any man know"
Re.ieent Abou. Weight.
Jeffrics tod how he had brought
himself into fighting condition. but he
was little reticent about his weight.
Il weighed under go pounds at
Carlsbad BEGAN Jeffries. slowly. and
the last time jumped on the scales
1t was In France-I tipped the beam
at 22s pounds. but you can't get me
on the scales row for $40.
How did | get into shape" he said.
1T SENS the newspaper men always
have me with lot of fit on the body.
did not have much when | went
away. and | haven't any now" And
To emphasize the point Jeffries seized
"A part of his vest I'm his hand to show
how small his waist line had grown.
Germans Thought Him Crazy"
Now. at CARLSBAD | did 10 miles on
the road every morning" continued
the former champion. 'and in the aft
ernoon ! nut in MY time In the gym
nasium, The Germans thought | was
crazv when they saw me running along
the highways. | did some more work
in France and trained at a place just
out of Paris. l had to look at the ad-
dress on the card every time | went
OFT there 10 work. The French are
crazy over fighting and | saw some
bouts there. | took I'm some of the eN~
hibitlnns at the National SPORTING club
at London. but their advertised heavy
weight contests are nothing more than
midaleaeisht affairs. I have done no
boxing while abroad"
Jeffries said he would undergo an
operation On his nose in few days
while I'm this city.
Il would have had ii done In carls-
bad. but they told me there that the
doctors here could do Il just as well.
and. again. the prices they charge are
something fearful. My nose was
broken and it interferes with my
breathing"
Jeffries said he had talked to no one
while abroad about his fight with
Johnson and denied he had said that
he wanted a purse nj sI5n. 400 for the
mill. Mrs. Ieffries accompanied her
husband on the trip and spent some !
tinse at her home in Sake Neiningen. !
Jeffries probably will meet Jack John !
son ana ms manager IN ms CITY early
next week. when the final articles for
the fight Will he signed
The Agreement.
Last August. in chieago. sam Berger
for Jefffiss. signed "A preliminary
agreement NTH Johnson for a contest
nj anywhere from ~ IL no rounds
before the cub offering largest purse.
which WAS Ia He divided on any terms
made hy Ieffries. The agreement pro-
Sid"d that the fight should take place
within six months after the signing
of articles, THE retired champion said
he had heard in Paris that Sam Ale
Sey. In his contest with Zoe Jeanette
in that city had really won the fight
and that il had been fixed for Jeanette
Ia win. Ieffries added that Mcyey
was only right handel fighter and
would have little chance with johnson. /
-'You want il left hand IL fight john
son." added Jeffries N he walked
away Ia Join an adsuiEiug crowd of