The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-12
JACK JOHNSON Is
Big TANTALIzER

Phil Fl. Sheridan, manager OF q bur.
lesque company, had Pugiiist Jack
Johnson under his charge during last
December.
Il would liked to have continued
Johnson with my company, as he was
considerable Of an added attraction"
said Mr.. Sheridan, but he had other
fish to fry, and so / lost him at the
end Of our Philadelphia engagement.
He is keeping himself In good con-
dition, despite designations which would
serve to weaken a younger man.
What do ] think of the negros
chances against Jeffries?" repeated Mr.
Sheridan, the question put to him.
Are the very best--but / believe
jeff will prove too much for him in the
end. I believe when the boilermaker
says he viii be In shape to give the
negro of his best that he can be taken,
at his word. That best is far better
than Johnson's best. u watched the
latter in all his bouts while with our
company, and, OF course, was inn
pressed with his stiffness. Johnson
seldom forces the fighting, appears to
be on the defensive most Of the time
| His wind is perfect, his late hours not
having affected his breathing appa-
ratus as yet. s. Ss IA
GAS result, ne never seems to tire
while having the gloves on and can
go route with any of them.
HE is a great kidder,' and to this
fact may be ascribed his success, pos
sibly. In several of his battles. There
is nothing that worries a white man
more while in the ring with q negro
than to have the latter kid him along
For instance, Jack O'Brien said he
would have done better than he really
did against Johnson II the negro had
refrained from haunting him during
the early rounds Of their match last
year. Now where do you want me to
hit you this timer Johnson would ag-
gravatingly ashland then O'Brien
would in turn lose his temper.
THE negro Is a great big kid in a
great many things. most noticeable
when he is in an automobile. He proud
| ly told me that he killed two pigs and
several chickens while driving his car
| from Chicago to Detroit last year. He
regards his arrests for fast driving al
ways in the light of a joke.
las MaHH1oIH ApPetttSs
"He lis the biggest eater / ever ran
across. Six sandwiches at 9. luncheon
devoured in rapid succession and
washed down by several bottles of
beer, give an idea Of his rapacious ap-
petite,
HE never swears and avoids the use
| Of vulgar language, although he is pro-
| f1cient In the current slang of the day.
/ "He is an enthusiastic and success
| full crap shooter. While waiting for
his turn on the stage he was invaria-
bly, found engaged in a crap game be-
| hind the scenes with some .colored
friends, or even white acquaintances
who saw fit to lose their money to him
! with the worries.
HE is a most charitable negro. Ev-
cry colored prea cher in each town he
l visits is right on the job when John
son arrives and Is rewarded with a do
nation OF no mean amount. He will
give up generously to the colored
churches and societies, but the politi-
1 clans are unable to extract a penny
from him for any purpose whatsoever
AS for the law and its course, in his
many escapades, 1t is a case with the
negro fighter OF millions for defense
but not one cent in tribute
i "No one Is more. fond Of diamonds
than Johnson. He is buying them con-
stantly and Is accommodating a. great
collection of the precious gems. He
also lavishes them, freely upon his
wife, who is again with him on all OF
his trips.
i while with my company he receiv-
ed $1,000 per week and was worth It,
SO far as the augmented crowds that
came out OF our performances, were
+. concerned, Half of this amount he
sent to Chicago, where he Is constantly
decorating the big mansion he has built
for himself. He aspires to have one
of the most elaborate homes that a col
ored man ever owned"