The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-08-19
Labor Day Celebration, Sept. 9th 1910

didn't change my plans in the ring. /
had planned to beat him down with
body punches as he rushed at me, and
carried that through the fight. The
body punches Slapped FitZsimmons'
strength.
My condition could hardly have been
better. although believe l was drawn
Il little too fine and might have felt it
If the fight had gone much longer l
had an idea then Il fighter should have
thin legs. just because Corbett and
FitZsimmonS had thin legs. So in
training / ran my legs nearly off on
the road. They were thin. l was too
fine, ] think. for l weighed less than
ever befoNe or since in the ring.
scaled only 2O4 pounds stripped. Aft
erward made up my mind never to
get so low again. and found that
with more of my natural weight on
had more speed and strength.
Fitzsimmons. l judge must have
weighed about ITO pounds. Just be
fore the fight Julian wanted to an
nounce Bob's weight as 15S pounds,
because he still claimed the middle
weight as well as the heavyweight
championship. Brady told Julian If
they did that he'd have my weight
announced as 147 pounds. and they
backed down.
It's funny how success changes a
fellows views of things. When the
reporters focked around me after the
fight l told them that liked the east
and intended to stay around New York
a good part of my time and go on
fighting there. 1t was little different
from the way felt after the fight with
ing me then. and now everybody was
slapping me on the back and making
me feel at home.
And here's another funny thing.
Billy Brady was so sure I'd win that
he had ordered a stack of big posters.
announcing "James ]. Jeffries, Cham
pion Of the World" to use on the road
tight after the fight. He was gam
Oling, of course. They wouldn't have
been worth nickel If l had lost.
The night after the fight l was to
Dox an exhibition with Jim DAILY at
the Philadelphia Academy Of Music.
I I
| tie with E'itzsimmons. My knuckles
were swollen a little from pounding
him. and there was small strip of
plaster on my eyebrow. but the cut
there didn't amount to anything. My
shoulders were stiff from the work l
had done. l slept until 10 o'clock in
the morning before starting for Phila-
delphia and felt fit to fight again that
night Grover Cleveland was on the
| same train when l boarded it with my
brother Jack, Billy Delaney, Billy
Brady and Tommy Ryan, but I guess
the eX-president didn't see so much as
u porter that day. Everybody connect
ed with the railroad was in my car.
AT Jersey City. after crossing the
Twenty-third street ferry. there was
such rush from the crowd that they
had to send me up Il freight elevator
at the depot to get away. l was get
ting my first taste of real popularity.
1t was amusing at first After awhile,
I'll have to admit, got awfully tired
OF it.
Those were busy days for the new
champion. The day after showing in
Philadelphia l umpired ball game at
Paterson. Monday night l went tC
see Handler and Walsh fight at Coney
Island. Tuesday night l was in Bos
ton. Wednesday l split up between
Hartford and Providence. Thursday
night l showed in Buffalo. Friday
afternoon | was billed at Rochester
Friday night at Syracuse. and on Sat
urday l appeared again at Coney Is
land. After that ! went westward
showing at the large cities along the
route.
Before going west. however, l had 6
pleasant experience. Admiral Dewey
was lying in the Hudson river will
his fleet, aboard his flagship, the Olym
pia. Somebody suggested that The
worlds greatest ring champion ough
to pay his respects to the world''
greatest sea fighter. ! was more thai
anxious to see Dewey, for l always
, had a great admiration for the mai
: who sailed into Manila bay at nigh
over the torpedoes and slammed tn