The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-24

Jeffries sailed Johnson was trying to
explain to a Canadian magistrate that
he didn't mean to run into an automo-
bile with his own car. but the magis-
trate had his own idea OF what Mr.
Johnson meant and remanded the me-
gro to Canadian lookup until he could
furnish bail. which was later in the day
put up so that the negro's vaudeville
engagement would not be interferred
with
According TO all reports, Mr.. john
son did not get a very cordial recep-
ton in the Canadian metropolis and
Toronto's music hall managers will be
little wary in the future about book
ing the big black, unless ne should
whip Jeffries-which he will never do
But about the Berger johnson meet
ing. Berger heard that johnson In
tended leaving for San Francisco on
Aug. IL and wired a sporting man in
Chicago asking II Jack would not post
pone his coast trip for twenty -four
hours until he (Berger) could get to
Chicago. Hours elapsed and no reply
and Sam went TO bed. About 4 O'clock
on the nrning Aug. 10 Sam was
awakened by bellboy of the Albany
hotel who handed him a message
which said that Johnson would not
postpone his trip. Sam sat down on
the bed and thought And then ne
thought again. Then he called a mes
senger and sent a message which said
that he could not possibly reach Chi
cago before Thursday, Aug. IL. Did
Sam return to bed7 Not on your Sam
uel. He dressed, went down to the
hotel Office and instructed the clerk to
inform all callers that he was Ill and
unable to see anyone. Then Samuel
hurried to ticket Office, got his trans
portatiop and boarded a Twentieth
Century fiier for Chicago. Mr.. John
son was seated in the most comfortable
chair In the lobby OF his hotel I'm Chi
cago when a bellboy handed him q
card, which read: Samuel Berger,
New York. representing James J. JEFF
fries. champion heavyweight pugIlist
of the world" Mr.. johnson had been
fairly caught. There was no escape.
After hours of haggling. a tentative
agreement was drawn up which must
be ratified by the principals within
sixty days, the fight to take place
within six months after signing Of the
final papers.
Friends OF Jeffriea are wondering
what excuse Johnson viii invent for his
failure 90 meet Jefrrie9 on the latter's
return from Europe four weeks hence
1t is possible that Stanley KetcheI
and Sam Langford will not meet az
the Fairmont Athletic club, Of this
city on Sept. 9, as has been arranged
Word comes from the coast that James
]. Coffroth, the San Francisco promot-
er, is endeavoring to have the match
called of. as he believes that Ketchel
and Papke in a forty five-round bout
on Labor day at Colma will draw an
immense crowd, which would give the
fighters ten times as much purse mon
ey as they could possibly get in New
York with Langford as an opponent to
the Montana whirlwind. Ketchel has
not left the coast yet, and the outlook
is that New Yorkers viii be forced to
go to the coast n they want to see
Ketchel fight within tine next six
months.
Johnson has announced his mention
OF going to the coast at once to get
into shape for HIS battle with Ketchel
which is scheduled for October, but no
one seems to know where Ketchel Is
Even his manager, Willus Britt, claims
to have no knowledge OF KetchePs
whereabouts, although when Ketchel
left San Francisco he announced that
ne was going up in the mountains for
a few weeks. Well-informed fight fans
on the coast say that Ketchei has gone
into secret training in the mountains
far away from temptation, and that
when he emerges from his retreat he
will be in fine fettle. ready to take on
any and all comers.
Another match Coffroth has in view
is a bout between Philadelphia Jack
O'Brien and AL Kaufman. O'Brien beat
Kaufman in twenty rounds a couple
of years ago. O'Brien is willing TO
meet the big blacksmith in a twenty
round go, but AL, remembering his for
mer experience with the tricky Phila-
delphian, insists on twenty-five rounds.
II this is the only bone of conten-
tion between the pair, II should not be
hard to arrange the match