The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-29
Edited By
HUGH w. ROBERTS
Is JoHNSON'S NERVE SLIPPINGf
WILL MOB OF WHITES CAUSE OUT
CROPPING OF YELLOW sTEAksf
STUDIES OF TWO
BY BILL AK

BIZ BILL Ak
Reno, June 2S.-Jeffries is serious.
extremely serious.
Johnson has more of the frivolous
in his makeup.
When the time announced by JEFF
fries for sparring contest arrives his
trainers tell the people gathered that
the boilermaker, having changed his
mind, performed an hour earlier. jeff
did 1t to dodge the crowd
But when the mob gathers about the
camp of Johnsing. out comes the coon
and for the mere pleasure of hearing
the applause of the spectators, he dons
the gloves and goes a round or two.
Jen, In a sparring encounter never
smiles He grinds away. with stern
expression of his face. He is dead in
earnest He is training for the specific
purpose of beating Johnsing July A.
Not so with Johnsing. The negro
smiles often during his exhibition, and
sometimes laughs loud in bosterous
gunaws. He carries on chattering
conversation, and says those things
which he believes will make his au-
ditors laugh. Applause tickles him to
the heart
As general thing, in leisure mo-
ments, jeff is silent. He takes de-
light in running from the maddening
crowd. and strolling to the bank of a
stream for a bit of fishing. On rare
occasions the big fellow will frolic, but
his normal expression is that of a large
and fearless and thoughtful lion, who
lF17n
al switching of his tail.
Not so with Johnsing. The big negro
plays a banjo, sings loudly, laughs
loudly. He often INDUCES in dancing,
and 1t must be admitted that there is
certain class in his "buzzard lopes" and
pigeon wings" He does not talk fight,
and when that subject is preached in
stantly all merriment leaves his face,
and he becomes serious. 1 am impressed
dread on the coming mill, and that on
the day after he will be the happiest
man, whether victorious or defeated,
on the face of the globe.
If Johnsing loses, he will forget It
in a day.
If Jeffries loses, it will break his
heart.
There's the difference, and this DIFF
ference, in my opinion, will go long
way in deciding the issue.
Jeffries never figures on the possible
ity of his defeat.
Johnsing does.
The other day the negro said: IF Jef-
fries wins, he will retire. I will then
be champion again. So If I lose, VIM
John sing, too, Graves the opinion OF
old fighters and sporting writer's as to
his chances of defeating the boiler
maker
| One of them today spoke: We'll.
Johnsing, 1 must say that were the
conditions to be different, you would
have a 100 to l better chance than
you have today. But around the ring
there will be thousands of people, all
of them white, crying out in derision
towards your corner. and urging jeff
to hammer the steam out of you. This
will have it's effect. believe me-"
The big negro looked very serious for
few moments, and then without smiles
replied:
Now, say, do you suppose any of those
spectators will shoot?'
/ have been on the scene month. I
| have seen Jeffries practically every day.
and often have seen Johnsing.
l do not believe that Johnsing is as
strong as Jeffries, is skillful. I do
not believe he can land a punch with
the force which Jeffries puts behind his.
I do not believe he can stand the pun-
ishment which JEFF can
In the second place, he has not the men-
| tai qualifications possessed by Jeffries.
He is not taking the situation seriously.
| JEFF Is. I doubt his courage The bluff
which has carried him through many pre-
vious and lighter mills will not work
| In this and that he knows this Is a
canker which is eating away his heart.
| His courage is slipping. 1 firmly be.
| lieve this.
I feel convinced that he will be whipped
before he enters the ring.
| Despite his physical perfection, the fear
| of the white man will have great effect
and the mob of whites surrounding him
| will get his nerve.
| Johnsing is Handicapped, indeed. Jeffries
| has a marvellous advantage. not even con-
| sidering his physical superiority
| II Johnsing should win the fight he
will be the most marvellous man Of his
race. He will prove himself the most
| wonderful man who ever stood in a circu-
| lar rope
| The odds are too great.
| The fight will be short, not over ID
rounds, despite John l. Sullivan, jack
| London, w. w. Naughton and others who
are experts. =
It will be a battle of mind against mind.
| no less than muscle against muscle.
| And of the two the role Of the former
49, .