The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-06
JOHNSON D|SPOSES
Of BLACK OPAL
Big Damage Suit, Fines, and
Twelve Times Arrested, Is
His Record.
COL0RED CHAMPION FEARS
THE UNLUCKY THIRTEEN
JeffrieS VIII Not Allow Conf
dence to Interfere With
His Training,
BY JEFF THOMPSON.
used Wire to The Tribune.

BY Leased wire TO Ihe Tribune
NEW YORK. Feb. 5.--Twelve arrests
in eight months. one $4,000 damage sui
and $500 in fines-that Is the record fol
Jack Johnson. The champions friends
blame his downward progress upon un-
limited prosperity, but the fighter blames
IL upon a black opal which he bought fol
$500 and has subsequently sold for 500.
Dat stone were sure a hoodoo." says
Johnson, II Jest caint get arrested nc
more nohow sence ] parted with dat
black opal. II had a-kept dat dar stone
/ would ashore lost TO Misto Jeffries IN
the fairst round"
johnson is superstitious. He has been
living In hot water for fear Of the thir-
teenth arrest. for that would be just as
ominous TO his mind as the black opal.
j am happy to announce that Jeffries
has begun his preliminary training. The
big fellow is not allowing confidence or
too much optimism 10 wreck his plans.
"a lot of fellows look me over and say:
You're in tip-top shape" declared JEFF
fries but / want TO satisfy myself that
] am 1T before go TO issuing any bulle-
tins. l know il requires lots of hard
work TO get back into shape after an abb
sence from the ring especially If n fellow
has been leading an easy life like me.
They can't fool me by telling me that a
couple OF weeks training win make me
tit TO meet Johnson. l will be in condi-
Iion TO light III the drop OF the nat l when
skip into the ring. Don't ever think
that am letting over-confidence spoil my
chances. / Will utilize every bit OF time
at my command for good, old-fashioned
Jack Johnson will introduce new fea-
ture in training. He will run Mara thon
races as a part OF the workout method
George Little. Johnsons manager. mas
been trying To annex Fred Simpson, the
Canadian marathoner as fixture for
the Johnson outfit
ear Constant hammering upon the
auricular appendages OF the demon Dane
have not only transformed them into the
caullnower variety but has injured the
muscles about the drums, Nelson admits
that be is getting deaf but declares that
II Is not hurting his lighting chances,
There Is one thing about 1t, The ap-
preaching deafness is making the Dane
more cautious In the ring.
Stanley Ketchel thinks he can do bet
ter In Europe than in America, Ketchel
pionship, he says. He has now given up
all hope Of becoming a heavyweight
Burns In the fleld. Stanley showed good
sense In cutting away from his heavy
weight aspirations
America is about denuded of first-class
fight boys. Abroad are Willie Lewis.
Billy Papke, Packey- Mcfarland. Harry
Lewis and others Jimmy Britt. Burns
and Innolz are In Australia.
Jem Driscoll should be a drawing card
In California. The little featherweight
has never fought in California but II is
admitted that he can put up a stlffer
battle than many who have fought there.
II seems impossible to reconcile Ameri-
can and English boxing methods: Eng
lsh sporting writer's are continually rail-
nS against the Invasion of American
methods. First they kicked against the
constant cliuchlng In the ring; next they
found fault with the American weights.
again they complained OF the American
referee system, next they declared that
American purses were too big and that
the American Institution of moving pic
lures was degrading ighting; and now
wearing bandages in the ring. Bandages
were first introduced In America and
National Sporting club of London has
taken a stand against bandagcs and an
effort is being made to bar them in fights
on British territory
smith Is showing class which indicates
that we shall hear more of him In the
future, We are At last brought 70 rccog-
milton Of the fact that Philadelphia Jack
O'Brien has seen his best days. O'Brien
has been for years one Of the most pic
turesque fighters in the game. For years
and ii was not until he met Keichel
that he redeemed himself in the eyes OF
eastern fight critics. Jack is a game
man. hard fighter and shrewd ring
general. He has taken more or less care
OF himself and his purse. and nlngles in
the -Four Hundred in Philadelphia
rich Philadelphia Clubman. Jack will
likely finish his days as a real estate
man and boxing instructor. =, But l do
not say positively that he will not fight
some more big battles before he quits
entirely. In the mind of every boxer
that ever lived and ever will live. there
Is a spark OF hope that he can come
back" and be ms. good as ever:
Jack Johnson's brother Charley will
graduate from college as an undertaken
on July J.. Do you see anything signih-
cant in this information? / do.
Like our old friend Mahomet, who.
when the mountain would not come TO
Nahomet. Freddy Welsh. the lightweight
champion Of England. is coming to Mel
son now that Nelson showed that he
the report cabled 10 this side, Welsh viii
soon sail for our fair shores. and he
hopes TO compel the Battler, to meet him
Welsh is willing to fight on any terms
and at any place In the United States.
Canada or Mexico that the Dane may
suggest; can already hear the Hege-
wisch literary light exclaiming;. Forty
five rounds or nothing. at equal weight
with 75 per cent OF the receipts TO the
winner, and the fight in Nevada"
Jack Goodman, the New York light
weight. who has not fought since he was
beaten by Freddy Welsh, will meet John
ny Dwyer a Jersey lad. at the Sharkey-
a. C. on the 10th.
The fight game is evidently catching
on well in Denver / understanI that
Harry Lewis will make the Colorado city
his headquarters upon his return from
Paris.
battling Nelson and Jack Johnson have
both Joined the Y, NJ c. a. johnson was
made q member OF the colored branch
OF the New York Y, NJ C. A., anj the
Battler was enrolled in Memphis. Both
lighters made speeches. the Batter's be-
ing something Ike this: "If thine one-
my hittest thou upon the left check then
turncs, thou the right check, After ,.e
hittest thou thereupon smash him In fhe
brisket with n short-arm jab."
HNlnMECTER,C BILLS