Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
RENO awaits HOUR
SET FOR BIG FIGHT
Nevada Town Is Filled With
People of All
Classes.
MANY CROOKS TO BE
FOUND IN VAST THRONG
Fighters Appear Undisturbed
as Hour for Entering Ring
Approaches-Jeff Fishes.

RENO, New, July Z-Reno Is just
waiting now for Monday morning, and
then the moment when announcer Billy
Jordan will climb out of the ring with
all the speed that his fat legs. can carry
him, crying: Let 'er go"
Another languid sunset In these brown
hills and the great Jeffries-Johnson bat
tie will be on.
In the meantime the desert city rap
idly is taking on the appearance of a
national convention. The delegates from
the worlds sporting centers are arriving
on every train. The streets and hotels
are filled with shifting mob of gentle
men, thieves. gamblers and pugilists.
The hum of conversation on the street is
punctuated with the click of the roulette
wheels and with the cry of souvenir
hawkers.
And all are awaiting the event that
nothing but earthquake. fire or death
can now prevent. The camps of the
fighters are quiet, with the peace of sus-
pense. The arena is waiting out in the
white dust, an ugly skeleton that in q
few hours will be palpitating with life
and thrills that the red gods send down
mems spineS in moments of physical
strife Probably not another stick will
have to be touched.
Purse Is ALI Up.
The purse money is up-all Of 1.-THE
sum of s1O1 600 which the fight lovers
will pay Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson to
measure their sinews, their brains and
their fighting hearts. The only movement
from the rival camps today was in the
way Of pleasure and thought killing Both
Jehries and Johnson made automobile
trips into town, Johnson just for fun and
to have the crowd stare at him, and JEFF
fries because he had to. in order to get
to the fishing grounds that he decided to
visit late In the afternoon.
The critical time of waiting is being
watched closely by fight experts. Jenries
has surprised them all by his apparent
unconcern on the eve of the greatest mo-
ment in his life. Nothing else was ex-
pected from the black man.
To the sporting men who made the trip
to Moana Springs in the early afternoon
q restfur scene was presented. On the
lawn at the side of the white cottage sat
Jeffries and his cronies around a small
table. The fighter had on a soft shirt
and a soft cap rested careIessly on the
back Of his head. He was leaning over a
hand Of cards figuring now to win a few
cents from his opponents. When he sue
ceeded he was happy and his laugh rang
out so that the crowds hanging over the
fence marked Private smiled in SYM
pathy.
JEFF Plays at Cards.
Over the group a great willow spread in
restful branches. From a branch hung
. cage with two pigeons. On the green
lawn tiny white dog played, running oc-
casionaIly to lick Jefries' hand. Around
all swung the great bare hills and the
green meadows
OF the thoughts that passed through
Jeffries mind-between hands-as he
glanced past the group out into the
brilliant sunshine and the blue sky, no
nrPtQndp6
Sometimes his eyes would take on a
deep somber look and he would scowl
Again his eyes would flash in fun. a
Gimple would show and all would be as
merry as a wedding morning.
To those who brayed the sunshine and
the dust. the bumps in the road, and
made their way to Kicks roadhouse, on
the other side of town. another scene
Of rest was shown. but it was rest of
a different kind. There was more
hilarity and loud merriment here, and
music breaking out a: odd times proved
that the black champion and his crew
were amusing themselves as though
the fight were already over and they
were way down south in Dixie
On the outside there was absolute
certainty in each champion.
Nothing has arisen to add or detract
from the arguments. pro and con, that
have been agitating the sports OF the
country for a year.
trainers Wiling TO Bet.
In the Jeffries camp the hangers-on and
trainers are willing to bet their last dol
lar that the man whom no man ever has
brought TO his knees by blow will make
Johnson look like the outside of a storm
cellar after a hurricane. They can see
nothing but the huge fiaying arms of
Jeffries moving down his opponent. They
predict less than seven rounds after the
first blow is struck
On the other hand there is plain joy in
the hearts of the men who follow John
SON They see the negro astrfde the
world They depend on youth and
science-espeecially that right upper cut.
The dead level of opinion among the fight
experts Is that the fight will be long
one and hard one-in other words, the
greatest ring battle of these times.
We will get our moneys worth" said
an eastern sporting man. who had look
ed the situation over carefully. This
Tight will be talked of for twenty years.
The men who stayed at home will be
kicking themselves all over when they
read the rounds
Few Stay-at-Homes.
From the vantage of the hotel door
way, however. ii looks as though few