Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-09
UPS AND DOWNS
OF JACK JOHNSON.
Worlds Champion Started as HostIer--
Licked Five Men for SIS.

TO Mark Shaughnessey of California
is given the credit of launching Jack
Johnson into the boxing game twelve
years ago. The new Champion has seen
some hard times and Travelled some
rocky roads, but has gained the zenith
of the pugilistic ladder. When a young
fellow he took care of horses. He
drifted from his home in Galveston to
a small town in Illinois. Shaughnessey
was training there at the time to box
"Reddy" Brennan. One day Johnson
appeared at the training camp. He
was bright looking. stood feet IL 3-4
inches tall, and weighed 10 pounds
stripped.
Johnson had quit his employer and
was in need of money. When asked if
he had ever done any boxing, john
son said that he had not but would
like to learn. Shaughnessey took him
in hand and he took to the game as a
duck does to water and in two days
he could use a, straight left and right
cross. Shaughnessey put him against
several rs pound boys and he won.
Johnson took on weight so RAPIDLY that
he was soon a middleweignt.
Later he drifted into Springfield, o.,
where the game was going good, and
what the late George Siler saw John
son do there made the veteran referee
pick him out as a conner. 1t was in
battle royal that Siler saw him in ac-
ton. Five Of the negroes in this par
ticular battle were acquainted. John
son being the stranger He had landed
in the place that afternoon, broke and
hungry. Hunting up one of the pro-
moters he told his tale, saying that be
was a boxer of merit, but could get no
matches and consequently was down
and out. He wanted TO know if by any
chance he could appear that night
against anyone if only for feed.
Z The promoter looked him over and
saw that the big bruiser really was in
need of nourishment and he took him
into nearby saloon and sent him at
the free lunch. As the banquet pro-
crossed the promoter told his charge
that if he could fight as well at he ate
he would be champion some day.
As the black fellow showed great
anxiety to get into fight after the
meal as before, the promoter thought
it would be worth while to try him
out, and Jack was named as one of
the six for the battle royal. He was
weak and in poor condition when he
went into the ring that night, and, be-
sides, the other five blacks combined
against the stranger. The whole bunch
made rush at Jack when the bell
rang, and Siler said that at first he was
sorry for the friendless negro. But
his sympathy soon changed into ad-
miratfon. Johnson dashed out with his
left and caught his foremost opponent
flush on the jaw, dropping him in his
tracks.
The next got right swing on the
jaw and he also fell, and then Jack
backed up into a corner to await the
other three. who were given some
pause by the fate that had overtaken,
or, rather, had come to meet their two
leaders. In g. moment a third black,
urged on by his comrades and the spec
tators. went to the attack. Johnson
stepped forth to meet him and, feinC-
ing with his left to the body, drew
down his opponents guard and then
whipped over the right like a flash,
with the result that a third negro was
hauled out of the ring. And by the
time the attendants had lugged the
fallen boxer away the other two op-
ponents of Johnson had made up their
minds that the big stranger was bad
medicine, or a vOOdoo man, or some
thing, for they jumped the ropes and
amid the bowls of the spectators left
Jack the victor and owner of the purse
So.
Shortly after that johnson went to
Chicago, but found things in poor con-
dition for a negro fighter. This was
the lowest ebb Of his career as a boxer
He got few unimportant bouts and
MS money ran low. lie supported NM
self as best he could and the free
lunch suffered in proportion as his for
tunes ebbed. At one time he had gath
cred the immense sum of a dime and
went forth in search of a place where
he could get the largest amount for
his money At length he found a place
on Clark street where. upon the pur-
chase Of a glass of milk, one could
have as much bread as desired. Jack
-
over to where the pile of bread was
highest.
Here he intended to get a feed that
would last him for day at least. But
he forgot to guard the milk. While
procuring his bread some other hungry
human without the necessary five cents
had bounced upon the unguarded milk,
and when the big negro returned with
the dry bread there was no milk TO
wash it down Jack said that was the
nearest approach to a knockout he ever
received.