The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-04

was filled all day with men and women.
The only privacy. allowed the co1ored
man was a rooi11zupstafrs and 1t took
two strong negroes to keep back the
crowds that surged constantly up the
stairway.
johnson will win; of this there Is
no doubt" Delaney said after he came
out of the room where Johnson was be-
ing rubbed down after his Smile run.
And there was a smile on the face of
the old man that told his thoughts
palmer than words.
Hundreds who did not care to make the
effort to get to the camp made their
way to the arena, mile from the city
and entertained themselves staring at the
workmen still busy with the last touches.
There was a strike of the carpenters
in the morning when they found that
they had to erect screened boxes for the
women who have bought tickets to the
fight. The carpenters said this was not
In the contract-that they were through
and 1t looked serious for the comfort
of the women for while. But Tex Rick
ard smoothed matters by signing a new
contract with the carpenters and the
work resumed.
Telegraph offices were busy installing
ringside wires.
Painters were busy marking off seat
numbers and sections
Every seat, it was found. was SO ar
ranged so a clear view of the ring could
be had.
Ring Is Very solid
The ring looked solid enough for an
elephant to tread upon. There was
white rope about 1t, a purity that wont
last long when perspiring bodies bear
against it, and the blood of the fighters
stain It,
There is not home or a telegraph
seat may be found to view the fight
Natures arena is around this little spot
on the map, faultless In beauty wild
and free In its sweep. It is fit place
for this battle of glants-this struggle
for first place as a fighting man.
The thousands who did not go around
this triangle of attractions filled the
main streets of the city in waiting
crowds. 1t was an aimless crowd moved
by one fever. Pugilists were the centers
OF a dozen groups. Bob Fitzsimmons
moved around the hotel corridors telling
how the man who licked him was going
to play the steam roller on the black
boxer.
Stanley Ketchell who was beaten down
by this same black fighter, shook his
Jeffries would fail and would go out of
this town with broken heart.
Sabbath Day Gambling
Owing to the Sabbath day roulette
wheels were abandoned and only card
games were permitted in the way of
gambling.
Around the ticket. sellers window a
long line was waiting all day and $40
seats went like hot waffleS
Police arrangements for the day have
been perfected. In the doorway Of a main
hotel stands, day and night, quiet man,
wearing a quiet suit of clothes and a
hat His steel blue eyes
rest for q moment upon each face that
passes and the little pockets of his menu
DRY fly open and tell him whether that
is a good face or dangerous one. Once
In a while this watchful man mods and
narrows hts eyes almost imperceptibly
as one or two other conspicuously dressed
men drifting with the crowd catch his
glance.
This man is Captain Cox who is here
to see the fight crowds go home with
all the money they do not spend on their
own accord.
: The men whom he greets are newly
arriving members of his staff CT MEM
bers of the secret service and the de-
tective bureaus of Chicago, st. Louis,
Kansas City and San Francisco
There are 120 members of tho rogue's
gallery in town and more are coming
every hour. 1t is not anticipated that
these men will attempt much at the arena
besides pocketpicking. but the police
think they plan to make a cleanup
in the city of Reno, while the citizens
are at the ringside. To thwart this, the
streets will be patrolled and the banks
will be guarded by special watchmen
armed with rifles.