The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-05
Prize Fight Crowds Leave the
Nevada City.
Exodus Began Soon After the
Big Battle.
WHO WILL BE NEXT?
LangfOrd'S Claims Are Not Con-
sidertd Seriously.
Gossip About the Victor and the
Vanquished.
WHO WILL BE NEXT?

CO4AAlAS LICAl. llC SCI away OC6dA
within three-quarters of an hour after
Jeffries went through the ropes yes
terday afternoon.
Here and there where groups OF
fight experts still linger in cafes and
hotel Hobbies, the big battle is of course
the one topic and is discussed in the
cold calm that has followed previous
enthusiasm. The big mans decisive
unqualified and thorough whipping
seems a personal sorrow to these men
of the sporting world. With Johnson,
the one undisputed worlds champion
the next question is who will wrest it
from him. Ring followers agree that
no man now in the game measures up
to the job. Very little attention is
paid to Sam Langford's challenges
and the black champion himself re-
CARDS it as a joke. He said last night
he would disregard a challenge from
that source so apparently it means a
wait for an unknown.
The lowest estimate of the gate
money is $230,000 and the highest
$4,000. Guessers among the promo
ters' staff place the attendance at
from $4,000 to 10000. 1t was the
biggest crowd that ever saw prize
fight
In all the fight talk and the discus
sion of yesterday afternoons event one
thing stands out sharply-there is no
more mention of Johnson's yellow
streak, the thing that has been writ
ten and talked about ever since he
came into ring prominence. The ex-
perts who sat at the ringside agree in
saving that not once did he give any
indications of fear.
Jim Corbett, who was Jeffries' chief
adviser, said last night while the day
was being talked over at Jeffries'
camp:
"Jeffries did not box often enough
to give us a line on him. We all knew
him to be in great shape as far as
running miles on the road was con-
cerned but he did not spar enough
for any of us to guess how he would
show UP on the firing line. AS soon as
he had boxed two rounds today 1
knew he had nothing.
'Jeffries would have done better in
a Marathon race than he did in a
prize fight. 1t was only his courage
and his condition that kept him there
so long"
Frank Gotch said "Jeffries head and
heart were right. but his hands and
feet were not Early in the fight no
ticed him fail on some of the stunts he
used to perform so well, and right then
and there, 1 knew he did not have a
chance"
Sam Berger. Jeffries' business man
ager. admits that the black man won
TIE fight, but insists johnson could not
have beaten Jeffries when the latter
was in his prime.
True to his character, the vanquish-
ed fighter after the fight remained hid
Gen from the gaze of chance visitors.
A few of his old friends, faithful in the
face of disheartcning defeat, remained
around him and these fingered under
the cottonwood trees that shade the
lawn at Mcara Springs.
Jeffries reiterated his purpose of de-
parting for his home in California as
soon as his arran gements could be per-
fected The swelling about his batter
ed right eye was much reduced this
morning.
At the resort where the new cham
pion prepared for his fight there was
little to Indicate that he had ever been
there. When suddenly he withdrew to
his private car last night, sparing no
sffort to get started toward the ap-
pIause that awaits him in the east. his
packing was done at great speed.
Johnson's departure was delayed until
almost 2 o'clock this morning by a
tieup in the railway trains. The party
is due 20 arrive in Chicago Thursday
afternoon.
Only a few people were present when
the champion went. There was lit
tie cheering and then he came out on
the platform and bowed.
The banquet that James J. Jeffries
friends had planned to give their idol
tonight at a local cafe will never be
given. When Jeffries returned to his
training camp after the fight he re-
and say that he would not be present
at the dinner.
What johnson Says
Jack johnson gave out the following
statement after his decisive victory
over Jeffries:
1T won from Mr.. Jeffries because T
outc1assed him in every department of
hn AOhffnO Af4 T
the ring 1 was certain 1 would be the
victor. I never changed my mind at
any time.
"Jeffries' blows had no steam behind
them, so how could he hope to defeat
me? With the exception of a slight cut
on my lower lip which was really
caused by an old wound being struck
I am unmarked. / heard people at the
ringside remark about body blows be-
ing inflicted upon me. 1 do not recall a
single punch in the body that caused
me any discomfort. I am in shape to
battle again tomorrow if it were neces-
sary.
zone thing I must give Jeffries credit
for is the game battle he made. He
came back at me with the heart of a
true fighter. No man can say that he
did not do his best.
"I believe we both fought fairly
There was nothing said between MS
which was rough. He joked me and
bear. but I was gorilla and would de-
feat him.
For the next few weeks shall play
in, vaudeville. Then 1 shall go to my
home in Chicago to rest. do not think
shall fight for several months, be-
cause do not know a man now who
could give me a good battle. No at
tention will be paid to Sam Langford's
challenge by me. 1 don't consider ne
could give me fight that would
draw"
James ]. Jenries, the defeated fight
er. offered the following:
II lost my fight this afternoon, but
did not have the snap of youth I
used to have. I believed in my own
heart that all the old time dash was
there, but when I started to execute,
tina speed and youthful stamina were