The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-04

minute rounds at the hippodrome last
July. He made speech here in which
he stated he would fight the negro and
would win. His condition at that time
was not such as to induce conserva-
tive man to 'shock" the family jewels
in order to gamble on the white mans
hope" jeff went to New York and on
July %, posted $1,000 as a preliminary
sum for an agreem ont to meet johnson.
This sounded businesslike to nearly ev-
eryone but the negro champion.
I expected him to make some big
bluff like that" Johnson said. but I'll
go to New York and cover his money"
The owner of the golden smile then
declared an overwhelming anxiety to
bet some large money that Jeffries new
er would meet him. The Johnson end
of the money soon was forthcoming.
Jeffries Starts to Train for Fight.
Jeffries declared in the latter part of
July that he expected to go to Carls-
bad, Germany, to drink the health Civ
ing waters and do some preliminary
training He made the trip and re-
turned to New York the last of Oc-
tober saying that he was satisfied that
he could get in shape. He was sub
jected to critical inspection as to his
physical condition. Stories were sent
out that he was the Jeffries of old-also
that he was human wreck. He de-
clared his intention of going to the
met Johnson in New York and they
agreed to fight As rounds before the
club offering the most suitable induce
mentS. This meeting was followed by
ever connected with history of pugi.-
ism.
Richard Pulled the Plum
TEX Richard, who had gained some
reputation as a promoter through his
staging of the famous Nelson-Gans
fight in Goldfield, was announced as the
successful bidder with miserly offer
Of $101 900. Such old stagers as James
Coffroth and Thomas McCarey found
they had been sitting in a game where
the roof was the limit with a bunch OF
white chips, although they believed
they were gambling when they made
their offers Richards bid also includ-
ed the controlling interest of the NOV
ing pictures for the fighters. which in
these days of penny arcades and
nickelodeons has been estimated as be-
ing worth at,least $500, 900. Richard an
nounced that Jack Gleason would be
his partner in the big affair.
After the signing of the articles in Ho-
boken, N. J., December 8, the one ques-
ton which agitated the public mind al
most as much as the now famous Can
jeff Come Back was the place where
the battle would be held. It was believed
by the majority of the fight fraternity
that California was the one best bet, al
thought the promoters-probably with a
view of additional press notices.hinted
that Salt Lake was the spot After a
lengthy wrangle and many stories, the
race track at Emeryville, Cal. was an
nounced the right place. Everything
was lovely and the plan for converting
the race track into fight arena was pro-
mulgated.
Selecting the Place.
Then came the uprising of the righteous
citizens of Alameda county and Emery
vile was declared unfair to organized
oic ITr{S 10 oar Frisco the town
where people live at night and sleep in
the daytime; Frisco the Paris of America.
Surely everything goes there and there d
be no interference.
famous for its native sons and other
things, made trip across the country and
was careful to give out interviews that
HE positively would not interfere with
the fight The sports sang For He's a
Jolly Good Fellow" and everyone was
happy.
Governor of California Interferes.
But one afternoon the governor took his
pen in hand and wrote the attorney gen.
department of the state of California to
take steps to prevent the fight between
nor Gillett had spilled the beans would
be putting it mildly. The governor not
only spoiled the salad but put hair oil
Another wild scramble and a fight be-
tween Reno and Goldfield for the priv
ilege of keeping open house for the indie
pendence Day celebration, with Reno win
ming.
In the meantime Jeffries, after signing
the fight articles went on the road with
an "AN STAR road show and gave the
American public an opportunity to see
This sort of training was not considered
conducive of getting in shape, and the
public protested, although they flocked
to see the show.
Jeffries finally played the entire circuit
from New York to Frisco. and decided
to train in the California mountains. He
started to work in real earnest April Z,
and since that time has been doing al
most as he pleased, but is reported in good
physical shape at the present time.
johnson stalled around in vaudeville a
few months was arrested on average
of twice week for exceeding the speed
limit and, after considerable coaxing and
threats on the part of the promoters, went
to Val training