The San Francisco call., 1909-04-21
Jeff Sets Gotham Wild BY
Saying, "TH Fight johnson !"
Retired Champion Finally Makes His Long
Looked for Speech From Stage

NEW YORK. April 2O.-"I will fight
Jack Johnson. I will defend my title
as undefeated heavy weight champion
of the world"
Before an audience that packed the
American music hall, in which there
were as many women as men, James ].
Jeffries made this formal announce
ment tonight.
1t was the signal for great JOY. Ex-
cited men leaped from their seats.
applauded Their shrill and excited
cries of approval as they stood up and
waved their handkerchiefs and even
their peach basket hats to the pom
derous, bowling and blushing "unde
feated champion" added picturesque
ness to the scene.
In the streets were hundreds of per-
sons who could not get into the the
ater, although high premiums were
offered for seats Early in the day
way for him to his automobile, or he
might have been captured and borne
off by his admirers.
JEFF APPEARS ON STAGE
After his sparring exhibition with
Sam Berger, the audience shouted for
Jeffries 10 come out and make the
statement he had promised Ihe pig
fellow soon appeared, his dressing
gown only revealing his shaggy head
and great red fists.
The house went wild, literally, and
Jeffries stood near the footlights bow
ing and raising his hands for order.
After several minutes the audience be-
came reasonably quiet, and Jeffries
began:
Ladies and Gentlemen
Cut that out. jeff. come to the
point" cried a voice in the gallery.
Il thank you from the bottom of my
Never mind that. Are you going
4 suppose you want 20 bear bear some dllS :.
smiling siliiif at the interruption.
You bet we do yelled dozens OF
well, 1 am satisfied after about
Quit your kidding" came another
that / can get in just as good
condition as 1 ever was and will fight
Jack Johnson.
AUDIENCE GOES WILD
If Jefries had had anything more
to say he could not have been heard
He ran off the stage while the audi
torium became Bedlam of noise and
There are several conditions attached
TO Jeffries' re-entry into the prize
ring. First, Johnson must defeat
Ketchel. Then Jeffries can not sign
he insists that the fight shall take
place in this country and that it shall
be unlimited TO rounds.
orally to the New York papers when
he handed out the following written
statement:
Il will say that ] never felt better.
1 have held of making the announce
ment until I became sure that l was
absolutely the same Jeffries as when
I retired four years ago. l did so then
after defeating every possible con-
tender for the title There was no
The present heavy weight situa-
tion is the only thing that could have
brought me from retirement. ] have
all the money 1 will need and there is
tempt me into the ring if I was not
sure that I could easily defeat any
challenger for the championship.
WANTS TIME TO TRAIN
LAS for Mr.. Johnson. the tactics
which he has employed. presumably to
attempt to force match. have been
such that I felt that | would only
lower myself by replying until / felt
was prepared to say that l would fight.
AT the expiration of my contract
with William Morris. which positively
forbids my signing any contracts,
pugilistic or otherwise. l will be ready
TO discuss terms for an unlimited
round contest.
"AIl / will ask after that is suffi :
cient time to thoroughly condition my
self and should Johnson care TO chal-
lenge me for the title ! will do what
] think I owe the public. that is, to
defend my title of undefeated cham
pion of the world.
Jeffries' theatrical contract has five
months yet TO run with an option of
five months more.
Johnson Says He's Ready
PITTSBURG. April 2O.-Jack John