The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-16
Barons Tackle Crackers Today
RING GOSSIP
BY JEFF THOMPSON.


 From this distance 1t doesn't look as
 if he was
 l Moreover, it looks as if Johnson was
 just seeking little more advertising.
 He needs it all. He is not too we'll pro-
 vided with cash and any advertising he
 can get will help his vaudeville tour. It has always been the custom when
 a fighter covered another fighters forfeit 1 money to post the money with the one
 holding the first mans deposit. Not so
 with Johnson. Instead of coming to
 New York to cover Jeffries' forfeit or
 sending the money here, as he said he
 would when he first heard of Jeffries'
 deposit being up, Johnson puts his money
 in the hands of a Chicago man who has
 not figured in the negotiations l As 1t stands now the deposit of either
 men counts for nothing
 Either can pull down his money at
 any time.
 Johnson's statement that Jeffries would have to meet him and arrange the details
 of the match before the big boilermaker
 sailed for Europe does not sound like sin
 cerity.
 l When Jeffries deposited his $5000 with ! New York sporting writer he said then l and there that he would sail for Carls- 1 pad on August 5, to remain five weeks.
 leaving his manager. Sam Berger, to look 1 after the details. These facts were all made known to the mahognay, smoke
 but instead of coming to New York to arrange the match Johnson continued on
 his automobile trip. Johnsons statement that he would be here on Thursday. All
 gust 5, was the worst kind of A hluff
 He knew that Jeffries sailed for Eu- 1 rope on that day, and no amount of 1 money would have induced him to come : to Gotham before the steamer carving 1 the worlds champion had passed Sandy 1 Hook
 | To one not knowing Johnson's personal reasons for continuing his motor trip during the time Jeffries was resting up In New York, 1t looks like very poor ] Judgment and bad taste to rush into print on the eve of Jeffries' departure de- manding that the latter remain in New York until Johnson could reach here. The only conclusion to be reached at this time Is that Johnson is badly ad- vised, or else simply trying to get a lot of advertising for his theatrical engage ments But the sporting public cares nothing for his theatrical affairs. What they want to know Is whether Johnson intends to fight Jeffries or not and until they are actually convinced that he is. through the signing of iron-clad articles of agreement, with forfeit money and side bets in the hands of permanent staleholders, they will take Mir John sons statements and ultimatums with a i large pinch of salt.
 sporting editor on a New York paper Is much wrought up over the thought that the s5o00 deposited by Jack Johnson in Chicago to cover James J. Jeffries forfeit was wrung from Chicago's ten- , derloin.
 Poor fellow! He never was in Chicago Wonder if he thinks that John D. Rocke- feller, Andy Carnegie or the Sage Foun- l dation is putting up forfeit money or purses to have a boilermaker knock a black mans head of?
 Whats the matter? Won't somebody please fight Billy West, the Eastside welterweight, who has been cleaning them all along the line? West has thrown out challenge to Willie Lewis, Jimmy Gard ner or, in fact, any welterweight in the game, but no one seems anxious to ex- change wallops with him. West is in fine physical condition right now and couple of weeks training will put him on edge for battle with any man in his class.
 James Coffroth, the San Francisco pro- moter. Is taking rest after strenuous siege of managing fights during the past few months. Coffroth is at Lake Tahoe. one of the most beautiful places in the west, and will not get back into the i game for a couple of months Coffroth says that promoting fights Is hard work; that just now fighters don't know exactly what they want them selves, and he will take 1t easy until they decide just what they want and who they want to fight.
 Old Sailor Burke has come to life again, but only with a second rater Fred Lu- cas, who he put away in less than two rounds. The sailor is getting real sassy again and wants to fight Willie Lewis. ! If he does it will be one time that he will have to fight. There will be no stalling in that go. The sailor is demon with the smaller inferior lads, but quite cold when pltted against as clever man as himself.
 Sam Berger got away with 40 cents worth of drinks at the Albany the other night. He handed the bartender 5000 bill and the boozologist nearly tainted It is an old trick, but still goes on Broadway.
 Philadelphia Jack OBrien is not a dead one yet. Jack met Jim Flynn, the Pueb- To fireman, at Denver recently. and beat him by a slight margin. However, Jack showed that he still has some fight in him. and Is able to beat the best of them, barring Ketchell, Papke and Johnson. Billy Papke says that Ketchel will whip Langford when they meet before the Fairmount Athletic club on September 3. Papke does not agree with a number of critics that Langford is the more sci- entific of the two, and harder puncher. Billy says that Stanley will tear holes in the black man with his terrific body blows and that the Montana terror Is as hard a puhcher as there Is in the business. Papke should know, as he has met Stanley twice.
 Packy Mcfarland has come out of his sleep and wants a match with Nelson. Failing in that he will take on any man in the world at 133 pounds If Packy can make 133 pounds after two months rest he is a wonder
 Kid Mccoy thinks that Jim Barry cant beat all the lesser lights in the heavy 1t~~l,& 1ix rtrtA Y1fe